Spotted Sea Trout
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Cynoscion nebulosus

One of the most popular inshore saltwater gamefish in the Southern United States. They cam be found from New York to Florida and through out the Gulf of Mexico. It is not closely related to other member of its genus. They are also called Speckled Trout, Specks, and simply Trout.

They can be identified by there dark gray above, with a sky blue reflection, shading to silvery below. The upper parts of its sides are marked with numerous round black spots that also extend to the dorsal and caudal fins. Fins pale to yellowish-green, the dorsal and caudal fins spotted with black in the adults

Spawning takes place from March through November and mostly in coastal bays and lagoons. The eggs and larval stages have not been described, but are similar to those of the Weakfish. They live in shallow grassy areas in the bays and move into deeper waters when the cooler winter waters approach. Shrimp are the preferred food and will feed on them exclusively. When they are scarce, they will then turn to eating Mullet and small fish to Menhaden or silversides.

As a gamefish they are one of the most popular for the sport fisherman. They can be caught with jigs tipped with shrimp, plugs top water and sinking, spoons, Streamer flies, and popper bugs. Spotted Sea Trout can be caught year round but the best fishing for them seems to be the fall and spring. Mostly found in the Florida bay on the low incoming tides at cuts and on the flats.  Spotted Sea Trout can live as long as 8 to 10 years and get to be as large as 15 lbs but average size is around 3 to 4 lbs.