There are two types of seatrout anglers:
First are those who chase giants in search of fish weighing 10 pounds or more. These gator trout have a cult-like following, with fishermen regularly on the hunt for that once-in-a-lifetime catch. The second type of angler is in search of groceries and happy to catch a bunch of legal keepers to fill their limit and cooler. For example, in Louisiana, the trout don’t grow oversized, but they are plentiful, so a boat limit of specks is a sight to be seen.
Want to increase your seatrout catch count when fishing? Often, the best bait for speckled trout is actually a lure. Sure, live pigfish attract plenty of trout, but so does a perfectly worked topwater. Saltwater trout lures are as varied as the locations speckled trout range across the southeastern United States. The best lures for seatrout are not set in stone, but anglers can at least start by adding these dependable seatrout lures to their arsenal.
Topwater Plugs for Seatrout
Made of hard and soft plastic or wood, topwater plugs mimic mullet, needlefish and other forage fish. Worked with short twitches of the rod tip, “walk-the-dog” side-to-side movement triggers explosive surface strikes. To maximize action, tie to the leader with a loop knot.
Topwaters are ideal over oyster bottom or seagrass that might snag other lures. A topwater plug can also weed out smaller trout that are too small to swallow a full-size plug. Use in low light conditions or a light chop in depths less than 5 feet. If you plan to release your trout, mash the hook barbs down on your treble hooks with a pair of pliers.
Suspending Twitch Baits for Seatrout
Also considered hard baits, suspending twitch baits sink slowly to mid-depths. They are crafted to mimic pinfish, pilchards, mullet and other forage fish. Work these lures slowly, with an occasional twitch to create a wounded-bait impression. That walk-the-dog action works under water too.
Many anglers switch to twitch baits when the topwater bite isn’t producing. A twitch bait is especially effective in cooler weather to lure in lethargic fish. Think of it this way: Seatrout want a larger meal without expending much energy in the cold, so a wounded baitfish swimming by is a perfect offering.
Jerk Baits for Speckled Trout
Soft plastics such as jerkbaits (slow sinking or neutrally buoyant) excel in depths less than 6 feet. Rigged weedless with worm hooks or through the nose with a light-wire circle hook, jerkbaits dart and sink like a wounded eel, needlefish or lizardfish. A loop knot connection allows best action as the angler makes short, quick twitches of the rod tip.
Use jerkbaits over flats that have grass, such as those in Laguna Madre or Matagorda Bay, Texas. Here, a weedless rigged jerkbait darts through the grass with ease. If your jerkbait floats naturally, utilize a weighted worm hook to get the bait down in the water column.
Shrimp Lures for Speckled Trout
Shrimp lures remain a mainstay in any seatrout angler’s arsenal. In fact, it might be the best plastic bait for speckled trout. Designed to slowly sink through the water, shrimp lures should be twitched slightly every so often. Commonly, shrimp are rigged underneath a popping cork or tied directly to a leader. Shrimp lures are versatile.
Many of today’s shrimp lures come pre-rigged, straight out of the package. The most important tip when fishing this bait is to work the lure slowly. Too many anglers work shrimp baits quickly, and that’s not what seatrout are looking for. Instead, let the shrimp fall in the water column as long as necessary, then impart a twitch — that’s usually when the bite occurs.
Paddle Tails for Speckled Trout
A soft-plastic body in combination with a lead jig head mimics a small baitfish. Paddle tails, sometimes called shad tails, get their name because of the shape of their tail fin. These baits are available in a variety of colors and styles. Numerous lure manufacturers sell the popular soft bait because of its effectiveness.
A paddle tail is the ideal search bait, especially when fished in mud bottom creeks and bays. Reel the lure as a straight retrieve when trout are in a feeding mode. To produce a strike during slower feeding periods of hot or cold, jig the paddle tail along the bottom with irregular hops. Sometimes slowly lifting the bait off the bottom with the rod, letting it fall, and then reeling in the slack line is a deadly retrieval method.
Scented Baits for Seatrout
Scented baits, such as those by Berkley Gulp!, attract seatrout with a powerful lifelike scent. In fact, Berkley Gulp! baits should be kept wet to prevent them from drying out and hardening. Scented soft baits come in a variety of designs, including different shrimp, baitfish, crab and other marine creature patterns.
Most often, seatrout anglers use scented baits rigged on jigheads or weighted swimbait hooks. The most popular method is to pair it with a jighead. Should an angler happen upon a solo jumbo speckled trout sitting in the shallows, casting a scented soft bait beyond the trout and reeling it into the trout’s peripheral vision can be deadly. Be stealthy. If the bait is presented in a fleeing manner — not an attacking manner — you just might get that skittish trout to bite.
Popping Cork Rigs for Speckled Trout
Popping corks are not lures. They attach to lures via a leader. But popping corks are so good at attracting seatrout that some anglers joke it’s cheating. Yep, making the artificial clacking sound with a pop of the rod draws seatrout to your lure. Maybe the sound is similar to a baitfish at the surface?
Lures to tie under a cork vary, but jigs and shrimp are the top options. Of course, a live shrimp under a popping cork works too. After popping the cork, let your lure or bait fall to the bottom. That’s when a trout will strike, pulling your cork under the water. Most anglers prefer to cast popping corks with spin gear, not baitcasters.
Vibe Baits for Speckled Trout
Vibe lures have made their way over to the states, even if not all anglers know about them yet. Designed to fish in deep and shallow waters, some of the 3-inch baits are great at catching seatrout. What makes a vibe bait different from other lures is the vibration it emits.
Use vibe baits when fishing in deeper coastal waters, not shallow flats. Fishing near rocks at an inlet is a great example. Utilize start-and-stop retrieves, after first letting the bait sink quickly. Or commit to a steady retrieve; the lure vibrates either way. If there aren’t snags along the bottom, vibe baits also work well bounced along the bottom. Anglers who fish in current for specks stacked at the jetties should definitely give this bait a try.
Swimbaits for Speckled Trout
Swimbaits sized for speckled seatrout are a great option that many anglers forget about. It’s like buying a table from Ikea and having it built at the store before heading home. Swimbaits are ready to throw out of the package, just tie the lure to your leader. No extra rigging necessary.
And newer swimbaits are tougher than their predecessors, allowing multiple fish to be caught on a single bait. Swim the bait slowly, allowing the tail action to truly shine. Some swimbaits incorporate a hook that separates from the bait after a fish is hooked and thrashing around. This keeps the hook pinned, plus allows the angler to reset the hook for the next cast.
Soft Baits for Speckled Trout
Still a classic, Paul Brown’s famous Corky lures are a favorite for Texas anglers. Paul Brown lures are now produced by MirrOlure, so models such as the Fat Boy and the original are still widely available. The suspending twitchbait is soft, but it sinks slowly and has two treble hooks. It’s a mix of soft plastic and subsurface lure action that makes the lure unique.
And trout, in particular, are attracted to the action. More so than even redfish, speckled seatrout in Gulf states like Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi fall for Paul Brown lures. Keep a rod rigged with one for the shallows. When retrieving the lure, work the bait like a traditional suspending hard bait, even if the action is a little bit different than what you’re used to seeing.
