While most associate trout with freshwater fishing, fishermen can also catch them in saltwater settings. Also known as spotted seatrout, the speckled trout can grow as large as 18 pounds and often inhabits shallow grass flats between two and four inches of water. Trout seek shrimp, small crabs, and bait fish, constantly shadowing prey. Therefore, successful anglers often change spots.

Speckled trout may congregate in inlets up to 15 inches deep and around oyster bars or shallow areas underwater during high water and come above water during low tide. One common sign that specks are present is birds, such as cormorants and pelicans, congregating on the water.

While present year-round, specks tend to move within bay systems on a seasonal basis. In spring, they often transition from marshes to the mouths of rivers and open coastal waters as marine temperatures rise and spawning occurs. In the fall, they return to marshes, where they feast on bait fish, and this is when many anglers seek out the species.

Specks fight hard and bite often, so fishermen use specialized artificial lures to catch them. These include soft plastic shrimp set under a three—to five-inch popping cork, which resembles the species' primary food source. Small metal spoons are appropriate for deeper channels when specks are feeding on abundant baitfish.