The Spotted Seatrout, often called "specks," is one of Florida's most popular inshore game fish. Despite its name, it is not actually a member of the trout family, but belongs to the drum family (Sciaenidae), similar to Redfish and Black Drum.
These fish are ambush predators that thrive in shallow seagrass beds, salt marshes, and mangrove-lined estuaries. While they stay in the same estuary for most of their lives, they move into deeper channels and holes during the winter to find warmer water.
They are easily recognized by their silvery bodies adorned with distinct black spots that extend onto their dorsal fins and tail. One of their most unique features is a pair of large canine-like teeth at the tip of the upper jaw, which they use to snag shrimp and small baitfish.
While the average seatrout weighs between 1 and 3 pounds, exceptionally large individuals over 25 inches are known as "Gator Trout". These trophy fish are prized for their aggressive strikes and are often released by conservation-minded anglers to preserve the spawning population.