Overview
Speckled trout males average 19 inches (48 cm) in length. Females are 25 inches (63 cm) long on average. Males and females weigh 2 to 3 lbs. (1 to 1.3 kg). Distinguishing characteristics include a dark gray or green back and silvery-white below, with distinct round spots on back, fins and tail; black margin along the edge of tail; soft dorsal (back) fin with no scales; and one or two prominent canine teeth usually present at the tip of the upper jaw.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Sciaenidae
- Genus
- Cynoscion
- Species
- nebulosus
Habitat
Bays, Estuaries, Lagoons, Bayous, Back Lakes, and Creeks or Rivers that run into saltwater.
Diet
Mullet, Shad, Pinfish, Small Crustacesans, Shrimp, and other fish,
Behavior
Spotted Seatrout prefer shallow grassy areas during the spring, because its good place for them female to lay her eggs with less predators to worry about. They usuaslly spawn between dusk and dawn. During the summer months trout tend to move to deeper reefs, jettis, or to deep sand bar. The winter months they usuaslly go to shollow reefs or deep holes.
Fishing
This bottom dwelling, predatory fish feeds at any level. It may be taken by chumming from a drifting or anchored boat, by trolling, jigging, surfcasting or fly-fishing. Shrimp is the most popular and effective bait. Whenever shrimp are abundant, spotted seatrout feed on them almost exclusively. It may be caught in salt or brackish water and shows a preference for shallow waters of estuaries. They rate highly as a food fish, but tend to spoil rapidly so should be eaten soon after capture.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.