Species / Speckled Trout

Drum

Speckled Trout Fishing

Spotted seatrout live on grass flats and in bays along the Gulf and South Atlantic. Specks feed on shrimp and baitfish and bite well under a popping cork.

Best Months: Mar to May, Oct to Dec

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Plan by Month

Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Speckled Trout

Month

5 picks for October.

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Rod & Reel

Speckled Trout Setup

Speckled Trout

Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

The US

Where to Catch Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · Alabama

Mobile Bay

A broad estuary where redfish, speckled trout, and fall flounder runs draw anglers to the piers, causeway, and marshes.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Biscayne Bay

Flats and mangrove shorelines from Miami to Key Biscayne. Bonefish, permit, and juvenile tarpon.

Bonefish · Tarpon · Spotted Seatrout

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Destin Passes

East Pass, between Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf. Redfish, seatrout, and sheepshead.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Sheepshead

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Mosquito Lagoon

A shallow, clear lagoon famous for sight-fishing to tailing and schooling redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Pensacola Bay

A Panhandle bay system with bull redfish runs, speckled trout, and fall flounder.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Tampa Bay

The biggest bay system in the state. Speckled trout, redfish, and jack crevalle.

Speckled Trout · Redfish · Jack Crevalle

Saltwater & Coast · Georgia

Golden Isles

Marshes and sounds around St. Simons and Jekyll Island with redfish, trout, and summer tarpon.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Sheepshead

Saltwater & Coast · Louisiana

Grand Isle

Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island, a speckled trout destination with surf and marsh fishing.

Speckled Trout · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Louisiana

Lake Pontchartrain

A brackish lake by New Orleans with speckled trout around the bridges and trestles.

Speckled Trout · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Louisiana

Venice

The end of the road at the mouth of the Mississippi, with marsh redfish and access to offshore fishing.

Redfish · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · Maryland

Chesapeake Bay

Striped bass from the bridges to the flats, plus speckled trout and red drum to the south.

Striped Bass · Red Drum · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · Mississippi

Mississippi Sound

The waters off Gulfport and Biloxi with barrier islands, marsh, and speckled trout.

Speckled Trout · Redfish · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · North Carolina

Pamlico Sound

A massive sound behind the Outer Banks, famous for big bull redfish in late summer.

Redfish · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · South Carolina

Charleston Harbor

Marsh, creeks, and jetties around Charleston with flood tide tailing redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Sheepshead

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Baffin Bay

A remote bay with rocks and grass that produces some of the largest speckled trout on the coast.

Speckled Trout · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Bolivar Flats

Marsh flats at the mouth of Galveston Bay. Wade for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Galveston Bay

Wade and drift for speckled trout and redfish in the marsh.

Speckled Trout · Redfish · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Lower Laguna Madre

A shallow, clear lagoon behind South Padre Island with sight-fishing for reds and trout.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Snook

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Matagorda Bay

A large bay system with shell reefs, wade fishing, and redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Port Aransas

An island town with jetties, flats, and passes for inshore and nearshore fishing.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Tarpon

Recommended

Gear for Speckled Trout

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.

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Fly Rods

Orvis Clearwater 9 ft 8 wt Fly Rod

An 8 weight handles bass bugs, redfish flats, and wind. The most versatile warmwater and inshore size.

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Sunglasses

Costa Polarized Fishing Sunglasses

Polarized lenses cut glare so you can see fish, structure, and flats.

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Reels

Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel

A smooth, durable reel in sizes for trout through inshore saltwater.

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Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

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Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Line

Seaguar Red Label Fluorocarbon

Low-visibility fluorocarbon for leaders and clear water.

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Topwater

Heddon Zara Spook

The walk-the-dog topwater that works in fresh and salt.

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Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.

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Soft Plastics

Berkley Gulp! Shrimp

Scented shrimp that out-fish plain plastics on a jighead or under a cork.

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Soft Plastics

Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ

A tough, stretchy paddle tail that survives toothy fish.

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Speckled Trout Fishing by State