Photo by Lee Leschper

Spotted seatrout. Specks. Just plain old trout -- whatever the name, this member of the drum family is one of the top three species pursued by Florida anglers. In some sections of the state, they are No. 1. Speckled seatrout are both abundant and relatively easy to catch, especially during the spring and summer months.

To see just how this fishery is doing, we contacted Jessica McCawley, a Biological Scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), Division of Marine Fisheries Management. She is the analyst for all finfish species managed by the state. Her current seatrout analysis projects a sort of double-edged sword.

McCawley indicated that over the past several years, the Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) for seatrout has remained stable. The SPR is a measure of the annual spawn, as compared to what the estimated spawn would have been if no fish had been harvested. The current state target is 35 percent. At that level, the fishery is projected to be able to sustain itself under the current size and bag limit regulations.

On the Gulf coast, the most current estimated SPR levels are 38 percent in the Northwest and 44 percent in the Southwest Region. On the Atlantic coast, current SPR levels are 62 percent in the Northeast and 51 percent for the Southeast.

These estimates -- based on catch reports and sampling done throughout the state -- essentially mean that the fishery is currently healthy and not declining. That is very good news!

The other edge of that sword is that every year, the number of anglers is increasing. Between the state's general population growth and the increased number of visitors that are now fishing, the catch rate -- and consequently, the mortality rate -- for trout is expected to increase as well.

Even with that increase, the current SPR levels should allow current regulations to stay in place, at least for the near term. So the fishery is healthy, and spring is the ideal time to head for the grassflats in search of Old Snaggletooth.

Though trout are caught in literally every corner of the state, the methods and tactics vary slightly from location to location. The variance is partly due to the trout's habitat in those areas, and partly due to angler preferences.

Where and how can seatrout be caught across the state? Let's see, starting this month and continuing through the summer.

FLORIDA BAY
In Everglades National Park, the seatrout reigns as one of the fish most sought after by the average angler. While some fishermen sight-cast to redfish on the shallow flats, other fishermen are in the deeper water, drifting grass flats for some very large seatrout.