Last updated: October 20, 2026, 4:48 PM CDT

Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) in Texas: where, when & how to catch them

Speckled trout are the other half of the Texas inshore slam. They're aggressive, good to eat, and found in every Texas bay system, from the grass flats to the deep reefs.

Also called speckled trout, specks, trout, spotted weakfish.

How to identify speckled trout

Dark gray or green back and silvery-white below, with distinct round black spots on the back, dorsal fins and tail.
A black margin along the edge of the tail, and a soft dorsal fin with no scales.
One or two prominent canine teeth are usually at the tip of the upper jaw, and the inside of the mouth is orange.
Sand seatrout look similar but lack the bold spots.

Sources: TPWD: Spotted seatrout; TPWD: Fish commonly caught in Texas (PDF).

Where to find speckled trout in Texas

Spotted seatrout prefer shallower bays and estuaries with oyster reefs and seagrass beds that hold their prey, and they're most common in the shallow bays in spring and summer. As the water cools in fall they move into deeper bay waters and the Gulf, then return to the shallows of the primary and secondary bays as it warms in spring. In dry years many move into deeper rivers and bayous with the first cool weather of fall, and they also gather in dredged harbors and channels. Small trout eat small crustaceans, medium trout eat shrimp and small fish, and big trout eat almost only fish such as mullet, pinfish, pigfish and menhaden. Most big trout are females ('sows').

Source: TPWD: Spotted seatrout.

Texas bay systems

Speckled trout are found in every Texas bay system. Our bay pages have the NWS marine forecast, NOAA tides, water temperature, wind and sun & moon times.

Speckled trout month by month

General Texas patterns. Timing shifts by a few weeks from north to south and from year to year, and fronts, rain, wind and water temperature move fish day to day.

Month	What fish are typically doing
January	Winter: deeper guts, channels, bayous and harbors after fronts; mud and shell near deep water on warm afternoons. A big-trout month for slow, patient waders.
February	Like January; fish begin moving onto shallow mud between fronts as the water warms.
March	Trout move back into the shallows of the primary and secondary bays as water warms.
April	Spring patterns over grass, shell and sand pockets; wind-protected shorelines matter.
May	Fish spread across grass flats, reefs and guts; early topwater bites.
June	Summer: dawn and dusk in the shallows, deeper shell, reefs and wells in daylight.
July	Fish early. Deeper reefs, channel edges and gas wells; under birds working shrimp.
August	Like July. Watch for gulls diving on shrimp chased up by trout schools.
September	First cool fronts start pushing bait and trout; bird activity over open bays.
October (now)	Fall: trout follow shrimp and mullet out of the marsh; birds over open water and shorelines near drains.
November	Cooling water moves trout toward deeper bay water, channels and bayous.
December	Early winter on deeper structure and mud near drop-offs; slow presentations.

Proven baits and techniques

Live shrimp under a popping cork: The classic way to start; work the cork to make noise over grass and shell.
Live finger mullet, croaker and pinfish: Free-lined or on a light Carolina rig. Bigger baits tend to draw bigger trout.
Soft plastics: Paddle tails and shrimp imitations on a jighead, bounced slowly near the bottom or under a cork.
Topwaters: Walking baits early and late, especially for bigger trout over shallow grass and mud.
Slow-sinking twitchbaits: Suspending and slow-sinking plugs in cooler water.
Under the birds: In summer and fall, gulls diving over open water often mark trout schools pushing shrimp to the surface.

Sources: TPWD: Spotted seatrout (how to catch); TPWD: Fish commonly caught in Texas (PDF).

Texas speckled trout limits (statewide)

Daily bag	3
Length	15–20 inches
Over 28 inches	One per license year with a Spotted Seatrout Tag, plus one more with a Bonus Spotted Seatrout Tag
Possession	Double the daily bag

Check the current limits before every trip. TPWD also posts rules and guidance for saltwater freeze events. TPWD is the authority, and limits can change. See our License & regulations guide for licenses, tags and how to check a specific bay.

Sources: TPWD: Seatrout bag and length limits; TPWD: Saltwater freeze events.

Records

For Texas state records by category, search TPWD's official fish records.

Source: TPWD: Fish records.

Gear for speckled trout

TPWD notes that a light to medium-action rod and reel is appropriate because most trout caught are in the 2–3 pound range. A 7'–7'6" medium-light to medium inshore spinning rod with a 2500–3000 size sealed reel and braid with a fluorocarbon leader covers corks, plastics and topwaters. Waders need stingray protection and a belt to carry gear and fish.

Source: TPWD: Spotted seatrout (how to catch).

Examples from our comparisons (specs and dated manufacturer prices are on the comparison pages):

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Speckled trout FAQ

What is the speckled trout limit in Texas?

The daily bag is 3 spotted seatrout from 15 to 20 inches, and the possession limit is double the daily bag. You can keep one trout over 28 inches per license year with a Spotted Seatrout Tag, plus one more with a Bonus Spotted Seatrout Tag.

Where do speckled trout go in winter?

TPWD says that as water temperatures decline in fall, spotted seatrout move into deeper bay waters and the Gulf, and in dry years many move into deeper rivers and bayous. They return to the shallow primary and secondary bays as the water warms in spring.

What is the best bait for speckled trout?

TPWD lists live shrimp, live finger mullet, live croaker and artificial baits. Live shrimp under a popping cork is a reliable start; bigger live baits and topwaters tend to draw bigger fish.

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