Spotted seatrout

Silver-gray body covered with round black spots on the back, dorsal fin and tail; two large canine teeth in the upper jaw.

12–20 in; fish over 24 in are called "gator trout."

About 39 in and 17 lb.

Shrimp, crabs and small baitfish such as mullet, pinfish and menhaden.

Moves with the tide between grass flats, oyster bars, mangrove edges and deeper holes; feeds hardest when water is moving.

Found from Florida Atlantic Coast, Florida Gulf Coast, South Florida & Keys, Northern Gulf (AL–TX), Mexico Gulf Coast, Georgia & South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia & Chesapeake Bay. Seagrass flats, sand potholes, oyster bars and estuary channels.

Seagrass flats, sand potholes, oyster bars and estuary channels.

2–6 ft on grass flats; deeper holes and canals in cold weather.

1–8 ft on flats and shorelines; 6–20 ft in channels, holes and docks.

Fishable all year in Florida and the Gulf; cold fronts push fish into deeper creeks, canals and holes in winter.

Dawn, dusk and the first hours of a moving tide are the best windows.

A moving tide — especially the last of the outgoing and first of the incoming — is best.

Calm to light wind for sight-fishing; a light chop helps in clear water. Fish slow after cold fronts.

Live shrimp under a popping cork, live pilchards or pinfish.

Soft-plastic jerkbaits and paddle tails, suspending twitchbaits, and topwater walking baits at dawn.

7 ft medium-light to medium spinning rod with a 2500–3000 reel.

1/0–3/0 circle hook for live bait; 1/8–1/4 oz jig heads for soft plastics.

10–15 lb braid.

20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.

Drift grass flats and cast ahead of the boat; work a popping cork with live shrimp over sand potholes.

Trout have soft mouths — use a light drag and don't horse them, or the hook pulls free.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Mild, white and flaky — best fried or broiled the same day; it gets soft if frozen long.

Watch the sharp gill covers and dorsal spines; use a lip gripper or wet hands.

Florida uses regional size slots and bag limits for seatrout; other Gulf states set their own. A Florida fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida rules are set by FWC (myfwc.com). Federal waters fall under NOAA Fisheries. Other states and countries set their own limits — check before you keep fish.

Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.