What are some good methods for Speckled Trout fishing on clear water gulf coast grass flats????

Question

Nature coast out of Tarpon Springs Fl.

Answer 1

I like to use a "search" bait like a saltwater Rapala "X-Rap 13" topwater,(silver or gold), or any "pencil popper",( If it's a freshwater popper make sure to change the hooks to saltwater hooks). Or a Heddon "Super-Spook" topwater in Silver Mullet.

If you get a couple "swipes" at your topwater, SLOW-DOWN. Specks travel in schools. Where there is one, there are usually 3-6.

Once you find a concentration of fish, start flipping a live shrimp/w 1/4 OZ "bullet-weight" in "holes" in the grass.(If you don't want to use bait, flip a Berkley "Gulp" shrimp or a Chartruese curly-tailed grub.
This technique works VERY well .

You can also swim a jig, "swim-bait", or Yozuri/Rapala along grass edges.

FYI: You HAVE to use a flurocarbon leader where we fish in the Gulf, (Cedar Key area). It would be a good idea for you to do the same. A 12-14 LB fluoro leader works good for me.

Answer 2

I have friends that live in the area and they fly fish with a shrimp fly and we also light line fish with live shrimp rigged with a small splitshot and slowly work the shrimp.When we can use a float rig we will do that also!