Speckled Trout - Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout are voracious predators, especially during the the summer. Small seatrout eat a variety of foods, primarily shrimp and other crustaceans. As the fish grow, they shift their food preference to fish.

Adult seatrout feed on smaller fish such as silversides and anchovies, then later in life being to prey fishes such as mullets, croakers and menhaden.

Spotted seatrout is typically the most popular catch among marine recreational anglers. The species is a common catch in the Gulf of Mexico and the south Atlantic regions, which have the highest combined concentration of saltwater anglers in the nation. More than 6 million fish were caught by saltwater anglers in 2006. Scientists estimate that 75% of spotted seatrout are released by anglers.

In the USA, speckled trout are found from Cape Cod to Florida. The majority of fish are found from the Chesapeake Bay south. In Florida speckled trout are often the most sought after gamefish.

In the southern states, a popular rig for spotted seatrout is the popping cork rig. Best results are achieved by popping the cork periodically to simulate live action. Anglers vary the retrieve, frequency of popping, depth of bait and action in order to catch trout. The standard bait for catching trout with a popping cork rig is live shrimp. Other baits used with this technique include baitfish such as mullet, spot or pinfish.

Spotted seatrout are also caught using fly fishing gear. Anglers often choose small to mid-sized patterns that resemble local baitfish such as menhaden, spot, pinfish, anchovy, mullet and others. Flies patterned after crustaceans also produce results, with shrimp patterns being especially popular.

photo credit: Josenhans Fly Fishing

Speckled Trout (Spotted Seatrout) t shirts are extremely popular among saltwater anglers. In addition to the design shown below, Fish - Fishing - Seafood online store offers untitled spotted seatrout logos on shirts, hats, stickers, and other items.


Spotted Seatrout (titled) by fish_fishing_seafood

Speckled Trout Stuffed with Crab Meat

Ingredients

2 pounds speckled trout fillets
1 pound lump backfin blue crab meat
1 egg
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup crab seasoning
1 lemon (juice and pulp only)
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. chopped parsley
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Line a baking dish with olive oil and place fillets in dish, skin side down.
2. Mix egg, melted butter, mayonnaise, crab seasoning, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, parsley and onion.
3. Blend in crab meat.
4. Spread stuffing over fillets and bake at 400 for 5 minutes, until juices begin to boil.
5. Move to broiler, watch closely, broiling until stuffing begins to brown lightly.

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