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Speckled trout · Speckled seatrout · Spotted weakfish

Spotted seatrout

Spotted seatrout, silver with rows of dark spots along the upper body and tail, photographed on black
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Recognition

Dark gray back with bluish reflections. Round black spots on the back and sides that continue onto the soft dorsal and tail fins. Two large canine-like teeth at the tip of the upper jaw.

SC DNR

Waters

Estuaries and rivers, salt marsh edges, grass beds, oyster bars, jetties and pilings. Schools use deeper channels in cold winter water and the open water along beaches in spring and summer.

SC DNR · GA DNR

Months

Year-round

Inhabit South Carolina estuaries year-round and spawn April to September. Georgia DNR notes artificial lures often work as well or better from mid-November through March.

SC DNR

Months present, by species
SpeciesJanJFebFMarMAprAMayMJunJJulJAugASepSOctONovNDecD
Spotted seatroutJan: presentFeb: presentMar: presentApr: presentMay: presentJun: presentJul: presentAug: presentSep: presentOct: presentNov: presentDec: present
  • Present
  • Peak
  • Not stated

Bait

  • Live shrimp
  • Finger mullet
  • Mud minnows
  • Menhaden (pogies)

GA DNR

Notes

Georgia DNR calls live shrimp the best year-round bait. Brown shrimp can be taken for bait with a cast net at low tide in early summer.

GA DNR · SC DNR

Size and bag limits