Tricks For Catching Trophy Speckled Trout
By Capt. Michael Anderson
In Florida, trophy speckled trout fishing is usually considered an east coast thing. But over the last several years the west coast has gained some ground on what I consider trophy sized trout.
Speckled trout in the 28- to 32-inch range are becoming more and more common, and January is the month I traditionally start to see these beasts show up. Cool crystal-clear shallow water, normally over some dark bottom, is where you’ll find these trophies, and they’ll usually be alone or hanging with just a few of their large pals. Stealth will be a big key, as these fish are old and smart.
I use 10-pound Spider Wire Ultracast and a 15-pound Berkley Pro Spec leader for long casts. A large pilchard or pinfish is hard for them to turn down, but you’ll cover a lot more ground and get your bait in front of more fish going with your favorite artificial bait. My favorite for big Trout is the MirrOlure Lil John XL fished on a weedless weighted bass hook. This assists me in making those long casts and having a snag free retrieve. I like my Lil Johns best in pearl and gold/red glitter for big trout, but other colors may work as well.
On calm mornings, topwater plugs will work well, but again the clear water and shallow conditions these fish live in this time of year make bait presentation everything. Make a long cast past your target pothole and work your bait toward the edge of the hole—not directly through it. Your line coming through the hole in front of your lure could be enough to spook that big trophy.
Suspending baits fished shallow can be effective as well. It’s hard to beat the MirrOLure Mirro-Dine for action and results. Early morning and just before dusk are your best bets, as light conditions become favorable. So, remember stealth is everything, moving water is always best, long casts are key, and precise bait presentation can all lead to that 30-inch trophy trout of a lifetime!
Catch Capt. Michael Anderson every Saturday morning on News CH8 at 6:30 a.m. for the Reel Animals Fishing Show and Saturdays for Reel Animals Saturday on 970WFLA from 6 to 8 a.m. and Sunday mornings on AM620 for the TA Mahoney Co. Reel Animals Radio Show from 7 to 9 a.m. To book a trip call 1-866-Gamefish.