Speckled trout are very good to eat , and have a moderate-flaky, white meat. It is softer than other inshore fish, so it is important to not overcook it or it will become very mushy. Also because of its texture, trout is best fried or broiled, and does not freeze as well as other fish.
Are spotted sea trout really trout?
What are Speckled Trout? Scientifically known as Cynoscion nebulosus, speckled sea trout are not actually trout but are in the drum family. Other names you may hear used for them include seatrout, spotted squeteague, spotted trout, and spotted weakfish.
Is sea trout the same as speckled trout?
Speckled trout are known by many different names such as spotted sea trout , specks, yellow mouths, spotted weakfish, and paper mouths. Market Description: Some trout caught may have worms embedded in the flesh along the backbone.
Can you keep Spotted trout in Florida?
Limits. Bag limit: 3 per harvester with exception in SW Florida listed below. May possess one over 19 inches per vessel or, if fishing from shore, one over 19 inches per person, included in the bag limit.
What do spotted sea trout taste like?
They are technically trout, but they behave like salmon. They also taste like mild salmon The flesh has a medium flakiness. It also has an orange to pink color.
Do all speckled trout have worms?
Research has shown that approximately 40% of Louisiana and Mississippi speckled trout are host to spaghetti worms , with an average of between one and two worms occurring per fish. It may appear that many more worms exist, but often one worm is cut into several pieces during filleting.
Why do speckled trout have worms?
Down in the Everglades the speckled trout have very few worms either. This may be because the water salinity levels are higher in those areas You will find out why this may be a factor later on in the article. These worms are often called spaghetti worms because they look a lot like angel hair pasta.
Do spotted sea trout have teeth?
The upper jaw of the spotted seatrout contains a pair of large canine-like teeth with the lower jaw consisting of an enlarged inner row of closely set teeth. There are no teeth on the vomer, palatines, or tongue.
Are spotted trout bottom feeders?
Although seatrout are actually bottom dwellers , they will attack surface flies in shallow water at dawn, but the hookup ratio tends to be pretty low with that method.
What’s the difference between a spotted sea trout and a weakfish?
The spot pattern distinguishes weakfish from the spotted seatrout because the spots do not appear on the tail or second dorsal fins Size: Weakfish grow to 36 inches, but most catches range between 12 inches and 16 inches.
How old is a 30 inch speckled trout?
Anglers long ago recognized that most large spot- ted seatrout caught are females and appropriately called them “sow” trout. They commonly live to be 9 to 10 years of age and can reach lengths of more than 30 inches. The record trout taken by rod and reel in Texas mea- sured 37.25 inches and weighed 15.6 pounds.
What time of year is sea trout?
Generally, though, sea trout will begin to run in numbers in early summer, perhaps in May, and numbers will build up during June and July and into August Successful tactics for sea trout can vary somewhat from river to river and region to region but, in general, the hours of darkness are the most productive.
How big does a speckled trout have to be to keep it in Florida?
Modifying the recreational slot size limit from 15-to-20 inches to 15-to-19 inches total length Allowing one seatrout over 19 inches per vessel (currently per harvester). Prohibiting captain and crew from keeping a bag limit on a for-hire trip.
How do you catch spotted sea trout in Florida?
The most popular way to catch sea trout on the Big Bend is to use a popping cork rigged over a live or artificial shrimp, tossed out as the boat drifts over patchy grass and sand bottom Some anglers use simple J-hooks, while others use 1/4 ounce jig heads, to hold the bait.
Where can I find sea trout in Florida?
Spotted Seatrout can be caught in virtually any of Florida’s inshore waters, from the outside surf to far up coastal rivers, and, at times, in fairly deep Gulf water Most commonly caught from spring through fall on shallow grassy flats and in grass-lined channels and holes.
Do trout have parasites?
Typically there are two types that infect the trout population: they are Salmincola or Lernea parasites (also known as anchorworms) These external parasites cause the sores that show up on the skin of the trout that many are catching this time of year. As I mentioned before, this happens each year.
What is the best tasting fish?
- Cod.
- Sea Bass.
- Halibut.
- Red Snapper.
- Salmon.
- Catfish.
- Swordfish.
What fish is similar to sea trout?
Ocean-going trout varieties (like steelhead) are related to salmon. Flavor/Texture: A subtly sweet fish with a delicate texture and a slightly gamey flavor. Substitutes: Any whitefish with a delicate flavor will work here, like tilefish, flounder or grouper.
Is a sea trout a drum?
Spotted seatrout are a highly sought-after gamefish. This might not be big news to you, but spotted seatrout are a member of the Drum fish family.
What is the best bait for speckled trout?
Live bait like live shrimp, pinfish or greenbacks works exceptionally well with speckled trout. Still, the great thing about these fish is that they are very willing to strike an artificial lure as well. Consider fly fishing. It can also be a popular and productive approach in targeting speckled trout.
Do brown trout become sea trout?
This species has two possible life-cycle patterns. While brown trout are purely freshwater-resident, ‘sea trout’ migrate to the sea to feed and mature Some Scottish rivers are home only to brown trout populations. Other rivers may have populations of brown trout and sea trout.
What is the best time to catch speckled trout?
The best time of day for catching Speckled Trout is in the early morning before sunrise and up to a few hours after sunrise I usually target a different fish after the specks stop biting in the morning. You can also catch spotted trout from around 10 pm. to after midnight.
Are there trouts in Florida?
Call them speckled or spotted, trout fishing in Florida is plentiful and can be caught by anglers with any skill level The spotted sea trout, an inshore fish more commonly known as speckled sea trout, abounds in Florida waters, waiting to be hooked by beginners and experienced anglers alike.
Are rainbow trout in Florida?
Evidently for quite some time, a cardiologist has been stocking Kamloops rainbow trout in the pond on his plantation property creating a way for locals to fly fish for trout in Florida in the cooler winter months. It’s become somewhat of an annual tradition ever since.
What’s the best tasting trout?
When caught in the wild, rainbow trout have a pronounced nutty taste. The farm-raised version is milder in flavor and has creamy white to pink flesh. Another name that may sound familiar is brook or speckled trout. Considered by many to be the best-tasting trout, this fish isn’t actually a trout.
Does sea trout taste like salmon?
While trout and salmon are closely related and typically interchangeable in recipes, they do have slightly different flavors Compared with the mild taste of most trout, salmon has a bigger flavor, sometimes described as sweeter.
What fish tastes most like salmon?
Arctic char Arctic char is in the salmon family. It looks like salmon and its flavor is somewhere between salmon and trout, slightly more like trout. The meat is firm, with fine flake and high-fat content.
How do you tell if a fish has worms?
“The worms occur mostly around the belly cavity.” The worms in fish are usually small, white or almost clear in colour In some fish, like cod, they may be more prominent and darker—like stray pieces of seaweed.
How big can a speckled trout get?
Contrary to its name, the spotted seatrout is not a member of the trout family (Salmonidae), but of the drum family (Sciaenidae). It is popular for commercial and especially recreational fishing in coastal waters of the southeastern United States. Adults reach 19-37 inches in length and 3-17 pounds in weight.
Is it safe to eat a fish with worms?
Worm parasites only cause health problems when inadequately prepared fish are eaten (proper freezing and normal cooking kill the worms). The worms are not passed from person to person. Swallowing a live parasitic worm may not cause any illness if it passes through the intestine and is excreted.
Can you eat speckled trout eggs?
“Fry in a pan with about one inch of cooking (canola) oil and use a screen cover because they will pop, even though you put holes in them, but not as much as without the holes! They come out delicious.
How big can sea trout get?
Their average length is 60 cm, but they can grow up to 130 cm in length and weigh up to 20 kg under favourable habitat conditions. Their most striking feature is the long, elongated, torpedo-shaped body. They have silver grey sides and grey-green backs.
What is considered a trophy sea trout?
In 50 years of chasing speckled trout (which represents thousands of fishing trips), I have caught 6 of what I consider trophy sized or “gator” speckled trout – those are trout over 7 pounds Needless to say, that size fish are indeed rare along the northern Gulf Coast.
Do speckled trout eat squid?
Squid, smaller cut fish, and crabs work well for speckled trout as well.
Are weakfish good to eat?
Is Weakfish Good To Eat. Yes, weakfish are excellent when prepared for a meal The fillets are white and flaky when cooked with a mild flavor. One of the most common methods of preparation is broiling.
Are weakfish and speckled trout the same?
One of the most significant differences between a Weakfish and Sea Trout are the coloration of the anal, pelvic fins, and pectoral fins Each of these is almost always bright yellow. They do not have well-defined spots and can vary in color from gold to green, purple, or even blue.
How do you identify a weakfish?
- Back is dark olive or blue-green, fading to silvery sides and belly.
- Upper sides have wavy lines of small, irregular, dark spots.
- Pelvic and anal fins yellowish, other fins more pale.
- Pair of large canine teeth at tip of upper jaw.
- Tip of tongue colored with black.
- Lack barbels on lower jaw.
Sources
https://www.chesapeakebay.net/S=0/fieldguide/critter/spotted_seatrout
https://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/species/spottedseatrout.html
https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/spotted-seatrout/