What a season its been! As soon as October hit and the water cooled off a couple degrees the fishing got hot. It doesn’t get any better than fishing back creeks at sunrise.
Right as the sun came up the topwater bite would turn on. For those who haven’t experienced it, watching a speckled trout explode through the surface attacking your lure is an adrenaline rush you’ll never forget (or stop chasing!). Once the sun got high in the sky soft plastics seemed to be the best with artificial shrimp getting the most bites. Bouncing baits off the bottom allows you to target flounder, speckled trout and red drum all at the same time.
The speckled trout bite has been phenomenal this year with the average fish being well over the 14″ size limit. I’ve been cooking my trout whole with the skin on using just a few simple herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil) and just a little bit of oil. Let it bake in the oven at 350 for 45 minutes of so depending on size. When serving, peel the crisped skin back with a fork and the meat is so deliciously white and delicate! The trout bite will continue to be good through mid December.
For gear the best option is light spinning tackle with 15-20 lb braided line. I prefer the moss green color. It is essential to use a flourocarbon leader though as trout can be easily spooked, especially as the water cools and the clarity improves. Mirrolure and Zaraspooks make great topwater lures and scent is key when using soft plastics.
If you’re interested in learning to catch fish on your own, we’d love to show you our spots and techniques. Our goal is not to be your guide for just 1 day but to give you the skills and knowledge to be successful without us! Give us a call if you’d like to schedule a charter (910) 256-0638