Bait for Speckled Trout

Speckled trout can be picky at times just like all fish. Live shrimp always seems to be a winner but you also attract so many bait fish that show up and steal your bait. A standard rig that will work the majority of the time is a popping cork, (I prefer the Cajan Thunder for its ease, noise level, and it is casting friendly. The problem you may find with each of these and especially if you attach braided line below the popper is a twisting affect of the line with the popper. You should be able to avoid this if you are careful when you cast it.

Below the popper I like to attach a D.O.A. ¼ oz shrimp. You can purchase these in packs of three in various colors. In the backwater I tend to produce more bite with the white body and red headed ones. Fishing with the popping corks can be hilarious especially if your not paying attention. It is almost as if the trout know your looking away and that is exactly when they take your popping cork under. Remember to set the hook and keep tension on the fish. Don’t rip their lips off or yank their spots off by pulling to hard.

With that being said you need to keep tension on the line at all times or they will free themselves. If you pull too hard the thin skin around their lips may tear and your fish will get away. If you give them slack, these trout are good at spitting the hook. It is not uncommon to see them spit the shrimp straight up your fishing line.

Double riggings work great and you can always add a hint or piece of shrimp to the hook for smell. You can attach these to a popping cork or cast and retrieve. Love Lures, are a Florida company that makes a great rigging.

I like the Mirrolures, I like the "Mirrolures, another Florida company in Largo. They offer many different colors and designs. I know what has worked well for me has been the catch2000 with orange belly. I also use Yellow “Pop-a-dogs” 52m’s with green backs or reddish in color. These are another solid lure I use on my charters.

I have praised the lures above but I have one more that I am finding works miracles. I know it sounds silly but the BERKLEY, GULP BAIT seems to out fish every live-bait I use. And it matches, if not out performs the artificial lures. When I put one of my customers on the “Gulp”, they will be pulling in fish in no time at all. Not every color works every time. Remember it is always about matching the hatch. Meaning, we are trying to match the bait fish color and size that are being eaten. I recommend using the 3 inch over the 4 inch. It would appear the inshore fish just don’t seem to have the patience for the extra inch and you will end up with more torn lures.

Color is important and I like the molting color, copper, and neutral. These seem to work well from Tampa to Marco Island. No, I have not been paid by these folks to advertise, but I believe in the tested performance of these lures and they do work. These companies have some great products that I use on my charters and they work. Try some of these and you are going to find your putting more fish in the color on your next trip. Fish can see colors and yes they can hear too. So get their attention and make a tasty presentation and you will be pulling in more fish on your next trip.