Species profile
Spotted Seatrout
Cynoscion nebulosus
Identify Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 13 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 15 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Virginia); the most generous is 100 (Florida).
Across 12 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 14.2 in (≈ 1 ft 2 in).
Confirmed by 2,566 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Despite the name, spotted seatrout belong to the drum family, not the trout family.
- Males produce a loud drumming sound using their swim bladder to attract spawning females.
- The IGFA world record weighed 17 lbs 7 oz, caught off Fort Pierce, Florida in 1995.
- They can live up to 10 years and grow to over 30 inches in length.
- Spotted seatrout are among the most targeted inshore sport fish along the Gulf Coast.
Where Spotted Seatrout are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Spotted Seatrout
Background
Spotted seatrout, also known as speckled trout, is a common estuarine fish found in the southern United States along coasts of Gulf of Mexico and the coastal Atlantic Ocean from Maryland to Florida. While most of these fish are caught on shallow, grassy flats, spotted seatrout reside in virtually any inshore waters, from the surf of outside islands to far up coastal rivers, where they often come…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Spotted Seatrout article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Spotted Seatrout?
Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 15 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Spotted Seatrout?
Spotted Seatrout is Cynoscion nebulosus.
Is Spotted Seatrout regulated for fishing?
Yes — Spotted Seatrout has fishing regulations in 13 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Spotted Seatrout?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Spotted Seatrout along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.