Speckled Trout Fishing Good in Florida's Intracoastal Waterway

Speckled trout fishing is reported to be excellent in Florida's intracoastal waterway.  Cooler temps and plenty of shrimp have played a role.

Trout are near the surface right now so topwater plugs, Mirrodines and 1/4 ounce jigs with plastic tails have yielded results.  Fishing under lighted docs up and down the Intracoastal Waterway is also a good bet since specks tend to hang there. Plastic tail grubs and Mirrolures are good bets under lighted docks too.  If you have a boat, you might try trolling slowly on the creeks and grass edges

You cand read the full report on Speckled trout fishing in the Intracoastal Waterway by clicking here.

For more tips on speckled trout fishing, click here.

Speckled Trout Biting Feverishly in Florida

Captain Mark Howard reported today that the speckled trout in the Brandenton area of Florida are biting feverishly on moving water.  He also went on to say that shiners hooked in the pectoral area have triggered the most strikes. Captain Howard also recommends fishing the drop-off of flats and the intercoastal waterways.

You can read his full report by clicking here.

For more speckled trout tips, click here.

22nd Annual Trout Tournament in Florida

The Nassau Sport Fishing Association will host their 22nd Annual Trout Tournament on November 8th, 2008. The entry fee is $120 for per boat.

There will be a captain's meeting on November 7th, 6:30 p.m. at Tiger Point Marina. The trout tournament will begin at 6 a.m. at Fernandina Beach Marina. Following the tournament, there will be an awards dinner at 7 p.m.

For more information about the 22nd Annual Trout Tournament, click here.

Speckled Trout Fishing Excellent in Tarpon Springs

According to a recent fishing report, speckled trout fishing has really heated up due to warmer water temperatures. Folks in Tarpon Springs, Florida are pulling them in like crazy live white baits, live shrimp, jigs, and crank baits.

For more information, on speckled trout action in Tarpon Springs, click here.

For speckled trout fishing tips, click here.

Upcoming Trout & Fly Fishing Seminars in Tampa

There are two seminars during the first week of January for trout fishing and fly fishing enthusiasts.

The first is a free fly fishing seminar hosted by the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club. Captain Pat Damico will share information about fly fishing in Patagonia. The seminar will be held on Wednesday at 6 p.m. (January 2nd, 2008) at Compton Park Recreation Center at Tampa Palms. The club welcomes new members, also teaches tying flies at no charge.

The second is a free trout fishing Thursday at 7 p.m. at Jerry Ulm Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep center. This seminar is hosted by Rattlesnake Point Outfitters. The address is 2966 N. Dale Mabry in Tampa.

Spotted Seatrout Season Reopens January 1st in Florida!

After two months of closure, the spotted seatrout season will reopen in the southern half of Florida on January 1st, 2008.

The maximum daily bag limit for spotted seatrout in these areas is four fish per person. In all Florida waters north and west of these areas, the daily limit is five fish per person. All spotted sea trout must be 15-20 inches to keep them, but anglers may keep one spotted sea trout larger than 20 inches as part of their daily bag limit.

There are a few rules you anglers should be aware of:

• Multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait are not allowed
• Snagging or snatch hooking spotted seatrout is not allowed.
  
• Spotted seatrout may be taken only with hook, line gear and cast nets and must be landed in a whole condition.

Artificial baits like plastic shrimp or swimbaits will work, but anglers will definitely do better on live shrimp.

Spotted seatrout are currently active in the Gulf along the West Coast. For the last decade, one of the best trout areas in the state has been St. Joseph Sound,the shallow, grassy basin stretching roughly from Anclote Key south to Clearwater. The fish are typically found anywhere from 10 feet off the island to 50 feet out.

The spotted seatrout fishing season will close again during the month of February in northeast and northwest Florida waters.


For more information about spotted seatrout fishing in Florida (including the best fishing holes), click here.