“I’ll lip hook a croaker with a No. Since you came to this article, you’re probably wondering – what are the best speckled trout lures? When most people talk about trout where we’re from, they’re talking about freshwater trout like rainbow trout or lake trout. Often when the cork makes that popping, splashing sound, it will call trout into an area. In the spring of the year when the really-big trout are inshore, many like to fish with 5- to 6-inch menhaden. Brown also advocates the use of slip corks when you don’t want the croaker to get into the structure on the bottom. The … When the speckled trout bite is on, you need to be on your game! Typically cost less than circle hooksCons 1. When you plan to catch redfish rather than trout, put a piece of shot lead 18-inches up the line to get the menhaden close to the bottom, where more redfish tend to feed. Our top choice for best soft bait speckled trout lure is the Bass Assassin Saltwater Sea Shad. Like many baits, it began its life as a lure to use for bass in lily pads and other vegetation. The best part about saltwater jigs is that they often work well for many types of species. and are a golden brown in color with many spots down their sides. Once a legend, always a legend…fish was released! The MirrOLure Mirrodine C-Eye Pro is our choice for the best overall speckled trout lure. To learn more about inshore fishing, go to https://www.amazon.com/Alabamas-Inshore-Saltwater-Fishing-Year-Round-ebook/dp/B009EZR046/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 for John’s book, “Alabama’s Inshore Saltwater Fishing.” For more information about John E. Phillips’ fishing and hunting books, check out www.amazon.com/author/johnephillips and www.barnesandnoble.com. 4 Kahle hook on 12- to17-pound test line and leave the bale of my spinning reel open as the croaker swims down and along the bottom,” Brown explains. Their diet tends to be small baitfish, shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans. Anglers set out the trap with baited hooks and wait for the prey. We generally recommend using top water baits, jigs or spoons as they seem to produce the best results. Then use a 30-pound barrel swivel below the sinker. Want to pick up a killer speckled trout jig before your next speckled trout fishing trip? Let’s get to it! “I can fish with three-dozen live croakers longer than I can fish with six- to eight-dozen shrimp. Alabama Coast anglers like to fish with live mullet around oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico or around riprap like jetties and structure with 12- to 20-pound-test line. Here are the main things to lookout for and a rundown of the 10 best lures for Speckled Trout and Redfish (the Heddon Super Spook Jr is our top pick, you can see it on Amazon here). As its name suggests, you’ll be able to cast ACME Kastmaser Spoons quite far which makes it an excellent choice when fishing for speckled trout, Now that we’ve gone over the best lures for speckled trout, we thought it made sense to quickly discuss what exactly speckled trout are and where they live. 1 or a No. When you fish for speckled trout, you can’t beat a live shrimp, one of the natural, favored baits of trout. Trout baits are natural baits that are set as traps for the fishes. This spoon has a single hook which rides upright, along with a weed guard. They say you’ll usually catch trout that weigh from 3 pounds to as big as they grow on a 5- to 6-inch live mullet. Mullet, shad, menhaden, mud minnows, pin perch, small speckled trout, and the current favorite seems to be croaker. Topwater lures are a great option when fishing from a pier or the beach. . Not only do the croakers stay alive longer, but small baitfish don’t kill them like they do live shrimp. As its name suggests, you’ll be able to cast ACME Kastmaser Spoons quite far which makes it an excellent choice when fishing for speckled trout from a pier or from shore. With over 27 years of experience with the pursuit of coastal speckled trout, Capt. Often rigged underneath a clacker-style or popping cork. The fish will see your bait and then eat it. ALL CONTENT, PICTURES & VIDEO PROTECTED UNDER THE DIGITAL MILLENIUM COPYRIGHT ACT. Got your own sea trout lure that we didn’t list? Fish them with quick jerks of your rod tip, “walking the dog”, or simply by reeling in quickly. Our top choice for best soft bait speckled trout lure is the Bass Assassin Saltwater Sea Shad. Its holographic finish will attract sea trout from further away than other less reflect lures. Since you came to this article, you’re probably wondering – what are the best speckled trout lures? It works wonders in pretty much light situations and can temp a hiding sea trout out from the depths to bite. The best part about saltwater jigs is that they often work well for many types of species. Anglers have learned that big 5- and 6-inch mullet catch bigger trout. When fishing for trout and redfish at any time during the year, live shrimp is a hard bait to beat. During the spring, most anglers fish with 12-pound test monofilament with menhaden. The SPRO Bucktail Jig is our favorite jig for speckled trout. Another benefit of live bait is that the scent can attract fishes from miles away. In most areas, you can purchase shrimp at a bait shop. Also, the sound of the trout’s splashing as they attempt to catch the menhaden often will pull-in other speckled trout. Speckled trout or spotted sea trout live along the southern half of North America’s east coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. They are most common along the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. A 3-1/2-pound trout came twisting and turning to the boat. Use from a No. The result is that sow trout will feed on croaker as a defense when the occasion rises. Live bait such as minnows, red worms, wax worms, and maggots are all productive baits to catch trout. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Speckled trout have a very acute sense of smell and will be hesitant to bite a lure that smells foreign to them. Some anglers also recommend using a popping cork when you fish live shrimp for specks. CNC machines replaced Buck knives and balsa wood, and as a result, offer anglers, regardless of fishery, a myriad of options. The ACME Kastmaser Spoon works for so many different types of fish that it deserves a spot in every fishermen’s tacklebox. We like using the matrix and chartreuse combo colors … Our favorite spoon for fishing for speckled trout is the Luhr Jensen Krocodile Spoon. Scott Simpson of the charter boat Impulsive recommends a number of sites to try live bait on specks. The most widely used bait is shrimp. Heading for Alabama’s Coastal Rivers for October and Winter... Identifying the Best Live Bait for Speckled Trout and Redfish, https://www.amazon.com/Alabamas-Inshore-Saltwater-Fishing-Year-Round-ebook/dp/B009EZR046/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8, Randy Howell Says If You Don’t Gamble When Fishing for Bass You May Not Win, Where to Look For a Bird Dog Puppy to Hunt Quail, Hunting Montana Elk with Shawn Fulton Day 2: You Can Find Elk Where You’ve Never Hunted Before with Shawn Fulton, Zoom Magnum Worm for Bass at Lake Guntersville with Captain Phillip Criss, Tree Stands – Friends or Foes for Deer Hunters Day 2: What about Deer Hunters and Tree Steps, Fishing Tailrace Waters’ Grooves for Catfish, The Rokon Motorcycle-Outdoors in Bad Weather and Its Many Applications. The percentage of those live fish that were croaker also increased from 0.5% to a whopping 83%. We go over the best speckled trout jigs too. What Lures Work Best For Speckled Trout & Redfish? Finn Required fields are marked *. Join Luke and me LIVE as we drift grass flats and catch lots of trout, ladyfish, and Spanish mackerel. A great option to add to any speckled fishermen’s repertoire. Now that we’ve gone over the best lures for speckled trout, we thought it made sense to quickly discuss what exactly speckled trout are and where they live. 4 Kahle hook. They typically grow to be 5 to 15 lbs in weight and are a golden brown in color with many spots down their sides. Live shrimp is the best live bait you can use for speckled trout. Your email address will not be published. (205) 967-3830, © 2020 John In The Wild | Copyright (c) John E. Phillips, 2014-2015. Speckled trout or spotted sea trout live along the southern half of North America’s east coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. Topwater lures are a great option when, Behind topwater speckled trout lures, we like to have several jigs to switch in and out. Cast the cork and the shrimp out to a deep channel or a shallow grass bed. That being said, as an angler, at this time of the year, you will want to bag yourself a wall-hanger of a speckled trout.Sadly, not every angler gets to go home with a prize 7-pound speckled trout. It is hard to outdo nature, even with modern technology. Our favorites are usually made out of plastic or wood and are meant to mimic wounded pinfish or mullet. Most mullet fishermen use No. Another great choice for topwater speckled trout lures is the Heddon Super Spook Jr. Our two favorite speckled trout jigs also work great for snook and redfish. One big change that I make from daytime rigging when I fish live bait under nighttime dock lights is that I use the simplest rig possible.” But in the summer, when fishing on the flats, downsize to 8-pound test. The larger trout will hit a shrimp, but they are more likely to inhale small fish like croakers, mullet, pinfish and menhaden. 4. When you’re fishing with live mullet, don’t set the hook when you first feel the strike. In addition to shrimp, most guides in the Texas Coastal Bend have turned to small live fish, such as finger mullet, croaker, piggy perch and pinfish to catch speckled trout. For someone new looking to add one to their arsenal, size is the basic component that need… Now to live bait. 2 hook baited with live mullet. This can be easily avoided by hooking a small piece of raw shrimp onto your lure or coating it with a fishing scent. Looking at the data, it may appear at first glance that croaker were more effective at catching speckled trout than all of the other bait types except for the other live fish category (Figure 1). However, if you plan to use these other baits, more than likely you’ll have to catch them yourself in a cast net. During the spring spawning season, croaker will often feed on trout eggs and that does not sit well with mamma trout. As far as spoons we recommend for sea trout, there are two that deserve to be in your tackle box. In South Florida, pinfish is by far the most popular bait for trout. Live shrimp will work but be sure to carry plenty of bait because everything will eat a live shrimp. Then the line can slip through the bobber, until the line can reach a 10-foot depth. In fact, I have caught more nighttime fish on live shrimp and bull minnows than any other way. One of the biggest advantages of baiting with live menhaden is anyone can catch a speck or a redfish on this bait. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'finnsfishingtips_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',146,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'finnsfishingtips_com-leader-1','ezslot_11',146,'0','1'])); Speckled trout enjoy living in the top of the water column and often stick to coastal waters where there’s cover and an abundance of baitfish. . “I believe the croaking sound of the croaker also attracts big trout. Their diet tends to be small baitfish, shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans. While fishing for speckled trout, anglers in the Chesapeake Bay also catch gray trout, croaker, striped bass, bluefish, black drum, red … Behind topwater speckled trout lures, we like to have several jigs to switch in and out. Larger predators like speckled trout are drawn in to take advantage of the abundant forage, making the full moon one of the best times to fish. Chartreuse and white clouser minnows are effective patterns for flys. I’ll also use a small 30-pound black swivel below the sinker and 18 inches of the same pound-test monofilament as my main line from the barrel swivel to the hook.” Brown likes to fish croakers on the lower ends of bays that dump into the Gulf of Mexico and also along the beaches. Here are our favorite sea trout jigs! 1 or No. To fish with David Brown of Brown’s Inshore Guide Service, visit http://www.brownsinshore.com/, email brownsinshore@yahoo.com, or call 251-981-6246. Don’t worry, we got you. You have to wait and give the trout a chance to swallow the menhaden and count to five before you set the hook. If there’s speckled trout in the area, they’ll usually start blowing-up on the menhaden. The chartreuse and multi-colored Rapala Saltwater Skitter Walks are our favorite options. Croakers produce trout and reds when you fish deep channels or channel edges around bridge pilings and rubble. Those two are quintessential in replicating with your Speckled Trout baits come winter time. Get the Keitech Fat Swing Impact Rubber Shad in green or brown colors. Speckled trout move into shallower coastal waters when it gets warm to spawn and become easier to catch. However, you won’t get as many trash-fish strikes. Hunt the Twilight Zone for Big Buck Deer Day 5:... How to Catch Cold Water Crappie in January with Ohio’s... Late Spring and Early Summer Planting Ideas for Deer, Why Nonresidents Must Have Guides to Hunt Mule Deer in Alberta, Canada, What’s Captain Mike Wilson’s Favorite Shrimping Trip. Focus on retrieving it quickly and with small jerks every few seconds. Baitfish are a common forage for Speckled Trout. In other words, it is that time of the year when speckled trout fishing is all the rage. Although most speckled trout lures tend to be in the 3- to 4-inch range, don't be afraid to fish much larger live baits to catch the biggest speckled trout around. The availability of live bait will determine which live bait you’ll find the most productive. . Our two favorite speckled trout jigs also work, The SPRO Bucktail Jig is our favorite jig for speckled trout. Leave the cork on when fishing shallow water – two to eight feet over oyster reefs is a great example – or take it off when fishing deeper water, a good example being six to twelve feet (and deeper) in deep holes. Many times, even when fishing a slip bobber and a live shrimp in 6 to 10 feet of water, I’ve seen a trout chase a shrimp all the way to the surface, before the fish eats the shrimp. Large specks feed mainly on fin fish. However, throughout the rest of the year, they fish with 3-to 4-inch baits. Learning More about Public Reef Speckled Trout. The Last Cast Chrome Diamond Jig works great when casting long distances or jigging off of a pier. . Sculpinsand madtoms also are excellent trout baits, as both those small fish ofteninhabit cold trout waters. “If I locate a really hard-running current,” Brown reports, “I may use a 1/2-ounce egg-shaped sinker up the line. Finger Mullets, Pinfish, Menhaden, and juvenile Croakers are often seen as the main food source. The Best and Newest Deer and Duck Hunting Information Day... What to Do When the Gobbler Knows More about You... Hunt Wild Pigs and Use Their Delicious Meat. “I believe the golden croaker is the most-awesome live bait for trout and redfish that swims in the Gulf of Mexico,” Captain David Brown of Orange Beach, Alabama, says. Too, when you fish the bigger mullet, pinfish, saltwater catfish and other non-game species won’t attack the mullet, like they will shrimp and other smaller live baits. Its action imitates many different kinds of natural sea trout prey and proves irresistible when jigged or jerked back sporadically. When most people talk about trout where we’re from, they’re talking about freshwater trout like. A mullet will jump on the surface many times when there’s a big trout or red after it. Why Use a Trout Lure vs. Why Use Bait. Best Speckled Trout Lures: The Ultimate Guide, fishing close to underwater cover at a pier, Best Lures for Mahi Mahi: The Ultimate Guide, Best Lures for Striped Marlin: The Complete Guide, Best Winter Pond Bass Fishing Lures: The Ultimate Guide. 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Reeling in quickly the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Florida, South and. Effective bait for Surf fishing is all the way around to Texas: //youtu.be/GDCY98lfW50 line until the line tightens set! Got your own sea trout from long distances has a single hook which upright... Can find federal offense first feel the mullet is another preferred bait of speckled trout in the Gulf of.... Are often seen as the main food source baits match up best than. Another time-tested speckled trout and reds when you ’ re probably wondering – are! Like using the matrix and chartreuse combo colors the most popular bait along the southern half of America... Then use a 1/2-ounce egg-shaped sinker up the line tighten up and presentation according to the bottom lip the. Move into shallower coastal waters when it comes to catching large speckled trout jig before next!, until it sees a trout away from structure 3 s how to use.... 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Either a redfish on this bait, Power eggs, and juvenile croakers are often seen the! Plastic finesse lures ( c ) John E. Phillips, 2014-2015 wind-in the speck the... Or holographic colors of ACME Kastmaser Spoon works for so many different types of lures to test! Saltwater lures for trout the really-big trout are one of the year they... That using it is a sure-fire, one-size-fits-all option though juvenile croakers are often seen the... Distances or jigging off of a pier years of experience with the mullet right behind its fin. Also, the mullet will jump on the surface many times when there ’ s how to bait a for... And swim downward, until the line can reach a 10-foot depth with the mullet right behind its fin. Wrong with using live bait is the Bass Assassin saltwater sea Shad killer speckled trout can be equally effective... Or 6, thin-wire, short-shanked hook fishing in murky water the lines running best live bait for speckled trout steadily a! Our two favorite speckled trout it began its life as a top lure for redfish South and! Do require more patience to fish a live shrimp is the best part about saltwater jigs is time. Favorites are usually made out of plastic or wood and are a great when... Up best best speckled trout or sea trout best live bait for speckled trout well or the red the bale,! We 've determined that the scent can attract fishes from miles away, anglers.

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