Speckled trout are ambush feeders and can be caught on a myriad of live and artificial baits by shore anglers, wade fishing, or from a boat. When speckled sea trout reach trophy size, they become gator trout. During the cooler months, deep water is a key ingredient for gator trout. Men’s Journal has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Speckled trout are ambush feeders and can be caught on a myriad of live and artificial baits by shore anglers, wade fishing, or from a boat. At the pinnacle of targeting trophy gator trout is sight fishing in shallow water with a fly rod. That fish was caught off Ft. Pierce, Florida, in 1995.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'mensjournal_com-incontent_8','ezslot_3',180,'0','0'])); Spotted seatrout, members of the drum family, inhabit the western Atlantic from about New York to the Gulf of Mexico, and prefers shallow portions of bays and estuaries. There is a picture that still hangs in my hallway that my father took nearly 30 years ago. Luke Ledbetter, visiting the Melbourne area from Alabama, thought at first that he had hooked a large snook or a redfish, based on the weight being applied to his line. Trout are ambush predators, so areas with moving water, definable structure or areas holding bait are key signs to identify when fishing for gator trout. I am in diapers, sitting on his tackle box, with a gator trout hanging from a stringer just behind me. The current IGFA record stands at 79 cm.” It typically takes weeks before the IGFA officially approves record submissions, but Deeks said he and Ledbetter followed IGFA rules. There is more angler content on Social Media! They’re really sensitive fish.”. The IGFA maintains the World Records for all species of game fish. The current IGFA all tackle world record for Lake Trout is 72 pounds. “The largest trout I’ve ever weighed was a 33-inch trout that was 13.9 pounds, but this one was even fatter. “I had no idea speckled trout got that big,” Ledbetter told Florida Today. You can search all IGFA World Records for freshwater and saltwater fishes in All-TackleLine Class, All-Tackle Length for male, female and junior anglers. Deeks, who is serious about catch-and-release, kept the fish out of the water just long enough for measurements and photos. Coastal Angler Magazine and our interior (freshwater) publication, The Angler Magazine, are monthly editions dedicated to fishing, boating, and outdoor enthusiasts. See how and where the big ones …. soft plastic jerk baits in white/red, chartreuse and pearl are strong options in the wintertime. Throw top water lures early in the morning and late in the afternoon to trigger strikes from big trout. These baits can be fished free lined, under a popping cork or even with a split shot, jig head or small egg weight. Camp Walker of Catalyst Fishing Charters (@catalystfishingcharters). With over 1 million print readers per month and the industry’s most expansive distribution network, we have emerged as one of the largest outdoor publications in the United States and abroad, thus solidifying our place as a preferred resource. “During the intense fight, the fish made two long runs. Just recently while fishing the north end of the lagoon, my friend Amanda Bottenberg (@manduhleighb), guided by her boyfriend Mike Bloch (@fly4poons), sight fished on fly an IGFA world record 33-inch, 9-pound gator trout on 6-pound tippet. Follow us and be up to date with upcoming giveaways & outdoor news! Photo: Peter Deeks, We Ranked the Best Epic and Ikon Pass Resorts to Visit This Year, Mysterious Metallic Monolith Discovered in Remote Utah Canyon, How to Support the Stressed Outdoor Destinations You Love, Learn to Ride This Holiday Season With Harley-Davidson™, 10-Year-Old Makes History As Youngest Person to Kayak Grand Canyon, The Inspiring Message of the Underground Railroad Ride Cycling Tour and Film, Study: Mountain Bikes Disturb Wildlife More Than Previously Thought, Meet the Monied Gearhead Rebel That Beat Ford in the 2019 Baja 1000, We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Men's Journal and its partners. “The girth on this one was just incredible,” he told Florida Today. For those looking to catch a gator trout on artificial, large profile lures such as Heddon’s Zara Spook, the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow, D.O.A. A Florida angler has reeled in a massive spotted seatrout that’s likely to recognized as a new world record. Or, if you prefer digital, our magazines are also available as a, 126-C North Atlantic Ave.| Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 | 321.777.2773 |, Trout Fishing in Blue Ridge GA. It’s the Trout Fishing Capital of Georgia! But I hate weighing them; hate hanging them by the jaw. The couple had caught some fish that morning and decided to tie on an IGFA legal leader provided by Capt. Oftentimes, setting out a live bait far behind the boat will trigger a strike from a fish that is reluctant to feed when the boat first floats by. The Florida record speckled sea trout is 17.7-pounds and was captured in Fort Pierce. Getting started in saltwater fly fishing can seem like an overwhelming task, but it is really uncomplicated. © 2020 Coastal Angler Magazine Franchising, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Fly Fishing the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia, FWC UPDATE: Make a difference for manatees this November. An 83 pound Lake Trout was pulled out of Great Bear Lake, a fish that would’ve broken the existing world record by a whopping 11 pounds. But a ferocious head shake during the fight reveled a “gator trout” that would tape out at 87 centimeters, or 34.25 inches. For the sake of comparison, the IGFA all-tackle record for a spotted seatrout that was killed and weighed stands at 17 pounds, 7 ounces. The Indian River Lagoon is without question the epicenter of trophy class gator trout in the entire country. It has been 16 years since Carl “Bud” Rowland caught a 15.6 pound, 37.25 inch monster on a fly rod to break the state record. The gator trout, a term used to describe unusually large seatrout, struck a live bait and immediately turned to Ledbetter’s right, then surfaced and tried to shake the hook. Congratulations on your world record, Amanda! For the sake of comparison, the IGFA all-tackle record for a spotted seatrout that was killed and weighed stands at 17 pounds, 7 ounces. Anglers looking to target big trout on live bait should consider offerings such as hand-picked shrimp, large finger mullet, small silver mullet, or a large pilchard. As water temperatures drop and the heavy rains of fall subside, the waters of the lagoon will clear and big trout will warm up by hanging out in shallow water when the sun is high in the sky. You can pick up your area’s local edition at over 11,000 marine specific businesses, retail outlets or big box stores. Coincidentally, that world record Lake Trout was also caught in Great Bear Lake, the same place the fish at the center of this story was caught. The IGFA has made note, stating on its website: “The fish measured out to an impressive 87 cm (34.25 in) and was released alive – qualifying Ledbetter for the All-Tackle Length world record. If fishing the flats, try putting a live mullet, free lined, out the back of the boat while you cast from the front. “It didn’t register in my mind how special it was until Peter made that phone call,” Ledbetter said. Massive seatrout likely to break world record, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Luke Ledbetter poses with giant spotted sea trout. Peter Deeks of Native Sons Fishing Guides. The Indian River Lagoon is without question the epicenter of trophy class gator trout in the entire country. That is a long time for a record to stand especially since I have no doubt there are multiple fish in the Texas right now larger than that. Ledbetter was fishing with spinning gear in the Indian River Flat area with Capt. Try fishing these types of baits on deep mangrove shorelines or around resident sea walls and docks. “When she breached the surface of the water, I realized it was a massive seatrout,” Ledbetter recalled on Facebook.
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