Speckled Trout

[SongDoghunter]

During the early 1980's, it was child's play to go down to Brown, Bear or Bogue Inlets and catch a box full of 3 lb trout on any given day from early September to about Thanksgiving. We had alot colder weather then and the trout were far more plentiful than today. Brown's Inlet was always my first choice if we didn't get evicted for live firing. I literally gave up deer hunting in preference to trout fishing. Then, we had a few hurricanes, the channels shifted, the weather stayed too hot in Spetember and early October, and the trout populations and sizes declined along about the same time a size and creel limit was imposed. I understand that the last couple of years have begun to improve but not enough to defer me from deer hunting in which I have reinvested heavily. I hope I don't have to choose between the two again!

[waltoxie1]

I hate to break it to you but the big trout are in the area. I commercial fish and get them all the time (usually year round). The size limits just increased to 14 inches so the population should increase hopefully within the next few years. The smaller trout do not spawn until they are about 14 inches and spawn 4 times a year afterwards. From the reports and meetings I went to concerning the trout fishing in NC, the recreational fisherman have way more impact on the species than commercial. The surveys that were sent out to a small percentage of recreational fisherman were filled out with estimated amounts of fish caught and commercial has to fill out trip tickets daily with the numbers caught. The ratio was more than 3:1. I run big enough webbing in my nets so the smaller trout can swim through. I also do not leave them in the water 24/7. It is also good to see the red drum population coming back up as well. I have only got a few keepers this year (that I was able to keep) and have thrown many, many smaller ones back. If I go to keep a red drum, I have to have the equal weight in mullet, flounder, speckled trout, and/or black drum. If not, it goes back or I can get a fine. Earlier this year, they were all over the Swansborro area.

[SongDoghunter]

I'm glad to hear they're still improving. I've been an advocate for size and creel limits personally for years. The puppy drum should have been addressed 25 years ago. The gulf coast has always had plenty due to their management practices and vast areas of shallow bays. I'd rather have a spec or puppy drum to eat anyday over any other salt water sport fish including a flounder. i'd like to see some limits imposed on bucks for deer hunting. It would suit me fine to lower the number to 2 per year.

[waltoxie1]

This year I have seen more life in some of the rivers than I have in a long time. It is very good to see the fish stocks coming back. I hope it continues to do so. I am not sure how a 2 deer limit would work. Deer are very plentiful in the area I lived in Florida and they are small. There are just too many of them. What is hurting the deer population in this area is new construction. All of the areas I used to hunt before moving to Florida are now housing developments. I still have not scoped out any areas to hunt since moving back.