Houston Fishing Show and the Pursuit of a State Record Speckled Trout

measured and weighed in the boat, on the water, was photographed and released. Until then, the record was held by the late Jim Wallace, who caught a the fish on conventional tackle, using a Corky lure. Wallace took the fish into a local marina where it was weighted on certified scales in front of other anglers not fishing with him as witnesses. Wallace's fish weighed 13.69 pounds.

Now, lets say your fishing a bay, and on that day you land a speckled trout measuring 34 inches. You then take the fish in to be weighted on a certified scale and it ends up weighing 14 pounds. A great fish but not a record. How would you feel?

I presented this scenario to Capt. Mike Williams who has pursued trophy trout for a number of years. He replied, "Highly disappointed."

I would agree, considering the fish was weighted on a certified scale in front of other witnesses besides those who fished with you. Williams believes the current record speckled trout should be listed in the Texas Saltwater Fly Fishing Records only, not in the conventional (rod and reel) records for the state. I agree with Williams 100 percent.

Rowland's record catch on a fly will be tough to beat. Wallace's record fish on rod and reel can be beat. In my mind, Wallace's fish is the state record trout on documentation alone. I wish Texas Parks and Wildlife would amend the record book and place Wallace's fish back on top in the Saltwater Rod and Reel category. Not just for the record to be broken, but the late Jim Wallace deserves the title as Current Speckled Trout Record Holder on Rod and Reel.