3 minute read
Fishing with Captain Jay
Understanding Speckled Trout
By Captain Jay Cranford www.coastalgafishing.com
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Speckled trout. Photo by Jay Cranford
There are a lot of important factors that go into having a successful day when searching for and catching speckled trout. Tide changes, location and water clarity are a few but the most overlooked, in my opinion, is the salinity of the water.
Salinity is measured in parts per thousand (ppt). Speckled trout need salinity in the range of one to five ppt to survive and 17 ppt or higher to spawn. Average salinity in coastal Georgia is 35 ppt, though that level can vary in inshore waters due to rain and freshwater river stages.
See waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/rt for more info on salinity changes and other conditions.
The spawn
Speckled trout spawn during the summer and, as stated above, in order to have a successful spawn they need to be in water with salinity of 17 ppt (or higher).
Water temperatures rise on sunny days and when they do speckled trout to go deep and rest until it's time to spawn. You can still catch them here and there, but the best way to get a few in the cooler is to fish in the morning. Early in the morning, when water temps are a bit cooler.
That's the normal summer pattern of the speckled trout.
With all the heavy rains we've had lately, saline levels have varied a lot. From a science standpoint you can do a little research to learn how speckled trout adapt with freshwater inflow into an estuary. Some of the more seasoned anglers do not fish for trout until the "water gets right." Those who make the effort to learn these factors waste very little time "finding" the fish and are catching more speckled trout.
The old timers who know what to look for have learned to look at all signs and not necessarily look just at surface conditions. I once had a very good angler tell me, "Pay attention. The fish will show you where they are, and they will usually be concentrated in that area.” Which usually means those who make the effort to learn about fish and their habits, rather than just casting around in hopes of finding them, often found them in abundance. And they’re usually nice-sized fish, too.
The "how to" when it comes to salty water
Fish near deep structure and work it close to the bottom. Use an ample weight and slow it down; too little weight or working it too fast, you won't catch many fish. It’s okay if you catch a snag every once in a while. That means you’re in the right place for the bigger fish.
If you’re looking for big trout, look for big structure liked docks, rock piles, etc. Oyster bars are a given, especially in the early morning or late evening, according to the tide, when water is moving. Croaker and mullet are probably a trout’s favorite summertime foods, so if you see these fish running, there are probably quite a few trout around.
Don’t let the surface salinity determine if you are going to fish or not, and if the water column from top to bottom is fresh all the way down, you won’t find any trout there. As the incoming salty tide creeps under the freshwater you will usually find trout in that lower water column where there is a minimum salinity in the 1-5 ppt range.
Here's your sign....
Still, there’s no real need for you to go looking for salty water with a salinity meter. Just go look for the "signs" of speckled trout. Slicks, baitfish, deep oyster reefs, drop-offs, and deep underwater structure. Cast in those areas with live bait or the lures that have worked best for you in the past. We've had much success with the Egret Baits 3 ½-inch mambo mullet. Fish close to the bottom, and continually move around until you start getting bites.
Remember, abide by all boating laws, be sure you have all of your safety gear and keep your licenses and registration up to date. Be safe!
Don't wish ... let's go fish!
Captain Jay has over 20 years experience fishing the Georgia coast. He's passionate about fishing and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with you!
