Thread: How can I catch Speckled Trout off state park pier

I am coming from Louisiana in April and would like any info on catching specks off the pier. I came twice last year and could not catch one even though I could see them in the water and a few other people were catching them easily, they just ignored every type of bait I threw at them. Louisiana water is definetly not as clear as water at the pier so I think that is my biggest challenge. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Straight tie on a hook a lot of people use number 8 trebles and you can use a cork or free line, some times of the year they will readily gulp down a live shrimp but most the time they're around the trash fish are too thick. A small alewive is the best bet for catching a trout off the pier. Never seen much luck off artificials except very very very few times. It's a totally different way of fishing then Louisiana. I went to Delacroix in January and it was unreal how well matrix works over there but never have had great luck on them down here.

I was there last April during a spec chew down at the pier. The locals were murdering them and everyone else was fishing in the midst of them and catching nothing including myself. After about an hour of watching 3-6lbers hit the deck and not getting so much as a ####ing sniff I took my lightest combo-a small spinning outfit with 6# clear mono and tied on a #2 bronze bait holder hook under a weighted float about 5' above the hook and baited with a live shrimp hooked through the horn. I landed 7 and lost that many more in the next 2 hours. This good bite is very temporary. For some reason they tend to get lock jaw the rest of the time they are around. Some can be caught at night under the lights using the same method but the bite is SLOW and by May the pinfish, bluefish, hardtails, and baby jacks will eat every shrimp you own before a spec looks at it. Live shrimp and small live L-Y (scaled sardines-caught on sabiki and ribbon rigs under the pier) are the only thing I have ever seen anyone catch them on. A few of the regulars catch them on artificial lures but they are few and far between. If you go under the fishing reports section and search the word "pets" you will get a good idea what I am talking about. I hope your luck is mirror opposite of mine.

Last year I learned from pier#r to downsize everything I had tackle-wise. As soon as I started using lighter rigs, very small #8 trebles, and light line I caught a ton of specks. Live shrimp also worked really well for me.

Wow!! Thank yall for all the info. Hopefully I will have some good reports to talk about when I go. Thanks again!!

When I have the patience to fish for those squishy, wormy, lock jawed bastages, I use baby LYs and a #4 Kahle hook tied to the main line; I don't use a leader.
If you want to use a leader, eliminate the swivel and double uni to the mainline.

Take a look at this recent thread:
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...rod-reel-9866/

Originally Posted by chillinfish

I was there last April during a spec chew down at the pier. The locals were murdering them and everyone else was fishing in the midst of them and catching nothing including myself. After about an hour of watching 3-6lbers hit the deck and not getting so much as a ####ing sniff I took my lightest combo-a small spinning outfit with 6# clear mono and tied on a #2 bronze bait holder hook under a weighted float about 5' above the hook and baited with a live shrimp hooked through the horn. I landed 7 and lost that many more in the next 2 hours. This good bite is very temporary. For some reason they tend to get lock jaw the rest of the time they are around. Some can be caught at night under the lights using the same method but the bite is SLOW and by May the pinfish, bluefish, hardtails, and baby jacks will eat every shrimp you own before a spec looks at it. Live shrimp and small live L-Y (scaled sardines-caught on sabiki and ribbon rigs under the pier) are the only thing I have ever seen anyone catch them on. A few of the regulars catch them on artificial lures but they are few and far between. If you go under the fishing reports section and search the word "pets" you will get a good idea what I am talking about. I hope your luck is mirror opposite of mine.

You summed it up perfectly.

Last summer I was headed to the octi. to king fish. Buddy was in the shallow fishing for specks. I stopped to talk to him and noticed that the specks were feeding. I caught a large ely and put it on my king rig, seven strand and 4x tremble hook. I caught two specks in the 5 to 6 lb. range. I swear it's the truth ask buddy.

I believe you Mr. Dog Man. I've seen strange things like that as well. Hell, the biggest trout ever caught off the pier fed on a bull minnow with huge mono and a chunk of lead! Sometimes a fish is just a fish guys!

I have caught a few of those f%&##@rls (new cuss word they taught me) and had most success with light line and small hooks as previously recommended, but they have driven me to the brink of insanity and beyond by their refusal to bite while closely inspecting every offering, millimeter by millimeter, and swimming off. I have tried special, rare baits, such as gas rig lizards and oyster fleas---the ones guaranteed to catch any fish---and had the l@@!&^ing fish swim off giving me "the fin". I wish you good luck with them, and hope that you are there during one of their "turn ons".

You might try a concrete block on a rope to stun them, and a snatch hook to snag them while thus distracted, but I'm pretty sure that's illegal.