Jimbo Keith shows off a Suwannee Sound speckled trout as his dad, Jimmy Keith, tries his hand in the background. Photo by Rod Hunter.

It’s not hard to see why spotted seatrout are Florida’s most popular saltwater game fish. Not only are they well distributed throughout the state, but also -- thanks to careful management -- they are relatively abundant. Better yet, they can be relied upon to provide action throughout the year, although management policies do not allow their possession during some months in varying areas.

Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun catching and releasing them at those times.

As with any game fish, however, some months produce better opportunities than others. And when it comes to trout, the good news is that’s this month!

For trout, May is a major transition month. Warming waters have moved them from their deeper winter haunts, and an abundance of baitfish puts them on the feed. In most areas, that feeding activity will occur in the shallow inshore waters that are accessible to just about any boater. Better yet, they’re receptive to just about any angling technique you care to use.

Shrimp is a popular choice for those who enjoy watching a cork bob on the surface, and anglers can find them at most bait shops. For those who prefer to gather their own bait, warming waters assure an accessible supply of finger mullet, mud minnows and pinfish.

Those favoring lures find that topwater plugs can be a great choice, especially for larger trout. Whether you favor walking-type plugs like the Zara Spook, chuggers like the Storm Chug Bug, or propeller plugs like the Devil’s Horse, all are good choices early and late in the day.

If trout boil, but don’t take the lure, shifting to a hard-plastic jerkbait such as the Bomber Long A often puts those fish in the boat. Don’t ignore jigs matched with soft-plastic trailers or swimming minnows. Those can often be the most effective choice during periods of bright light.

Regardless of how you prefer to collect your trout, this is a great month to do it. And here are five top spots to explore.

ST. AUGUSTINE
If your goal is a trophy trout, the Intracoastal Waterway near the St. Augustine Inlet is one Florida’s best bets this month.

“I’d be willing to bet that more 7- to 10-pound trout are caught from this area in April and May than in many other waters that are well known for big trout,” said Capt. Dennis Goldstein, who has 30 years of guiding experience in the area. “One reason for that is the annual menhaden migration, and the fact that a lot of big trout follow them. Some of those big trout actually spend a lot of the year in the Atlantic, just off the beaches, and surf fishermen catch some of them. But when a big bait migration arrives, like pogies or mullet, a number of them move inside the Inlet, and those big trout will follow them.”

“Pogie” is a name commonly used for the menhaden.

While the trout are following the bait, those forage fish are following the tide. Timing the tides is a key to success in this area.

The northeast coast at the Ancient City sees four full tides a day, and the average tide is about 4.5 feet. Six-foot-plus tides are not uncommon on a full moon or if a northeast wind settles over the area. That means a lot of water in constant motion, keeping the fish in motion too. A spot may be really hot for 30 to 45 minutes, and then go virtually dead until the next tide hits the same stage.