Old Speckled Hen

[Big Mike]

We’ve been catching some specks lately, but they were random and only one at a time. Today I got 3 in a little over an hour while fishing for them. Worked a 1/8 jig with a light wire hook and chartreuse gulp swimming mullet over grass flats in 2-3’ of water near Piney Point. No size but very encouraging. Saw Gary catch a flounder in the same area, and that was no fluke ( couldn’t help myself).



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[Jman]

Thanks for the report, that's great to hear. The bite is picking up down here with a few in the 20-22" range.

[yellowyak]

I got an 11 inch trout in Delaware bay a couple of weeks ago while trolling a white gulp shad.

[ski357]

Hey-where's the beer? Either way, very encouraging report. I may have to go out this evening.

[Big Mike]

Hey-where's the beer? Either way, very encouraging report. I may have to go out this evening.

Only true connoisseurs have sampled this nectar. Can I had was brewed in like 1962, major skunk factor.

[Kubishark]

So far this year I'm at 2 specks in the lower Potomac. Probably at about three dozen flounder though, which is more than I've ever caught in single season by about two dozen.

[J.A. Veil]

Location is everything -- that is true for finding and catching speckled trout too. Greetings from Tampa. I kayak fished near the mouth of Tampa Bay this morning and caught 17 specks up to 16" during the first two hours after sunrise. The fish were caught on grass flats with 1 to 3 ft water depth. All were caught on 3" Fat Sam mullet paddletails and a 3/16-oz jighead.

The photo shows the smallest one I got today. I show it because that fish has far fewer or fainter spots than a typical speck of that size.

2003-08-09 19-06-59.jpg

I think of specs somewhat like schoolie stripers in the Chesapeake region. They are not too difficult to catch. They are often found in schools allowing multiple fish to get caught. And even at small size, they pull hard on light tackle and are beautiful fish.

[Mark]

Good show guys.

I think of Specks as the White Perch of Tampa.

I wish they were as common here. Catching even a few locally is impressive.

They are fun no matter where you hook them.

[ronaultmtd]

Three for three...last three trips...no big ones, yet...saw a nice redfish yesterday broach in shallow water chasing minnows, but it refused all my efforts...yes, a Redfish with a spot on its tail...I went back deep into the creeks looking...ended up finding a 20 inch striper, but it was fun on the light spinning tackle...made some decent drag burns...a four species day...

[rob-kayak]

Thanks for the report guys... at least the big freeze last winter didn't totally devastate prospects..
Maybe the younger ones had more of a chance...

Well... did one of those should have gone last week.. and now with the hurricane approaching..
wish I did although it's just been so hot... took a week off...

Be safe all with the troubled weather coming up..

[J.A. Veil]

The specks got longer today.

20180908_081621.jpg

[Big Mike]

Nice fish John. Has the red tide limited where you’re going this trip?

[J.A. Veil]

The short answer is No. My guide Neil Taylor has a series of launch spots in Tampa Bay and near the mouth of Tampa Bay. The red tide is a major problem on the Gulf coast south of Tampa Bay but not where we were. In fact the water quality and clarity has been excellent, and the amount of bait in the water is exceptional. All three days have produced good catching results -- this morning was outstanding. In four hours of light tackle kayak fishing, I caught about 30 specks to 18", several ladyfish, 10 snook, 2 pompano, and a mangrove snapper. That ranks among the best outings in my five years fishing with Neil.

As the tropical storm passed through southern Florida last week, it seemed to help with the red tide.

[Mark]

John,

Outstanding results today.

Congrats to you and Neil.

[mchottie]

WOW John that 9/8/2018 Speck looks OUTSTANDING!