Spotted seatrout caught near Anna Maria Island

Spotted Seatrout

Also called: Speckled Trout

Spotted seatrout are the bread-and-butter of inshore fishing — silvery with scattered black spots and an eager appetite. They school over the grass flats and bust topwater plugs at first light.

Plentiful and willing, trout are a great way to bend a rod and learn the flats, with the occasional 'gator' trout for a real prize.

Size
Typically 14–24 inches; gators top 25 inches
Fight
Lively, head-shaking strikes
On the table
Good — delicate, white, mild
Best season
Year-round; cooler months are prime

How we catch Spotted Seatrout

We drift and wade the grass flats with shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater early and late on inshore, nearshore, and fly trips.

On the table

Trout are a tasty, delicate fillet best eaten fresh. Handle gently and release the big breeder females.