What Hook To Use For Speck Fishing

Speckled sea trout, or specks for short, are among the most popular of inshore game fish along the Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico. These slim and streamlined fish strike hard on baits and lures, and run fast, providing a great fight for saltwater anglers. The type of hook you use for specks depends on the type of fishing technique you employ to catch these flashy and feisty fish.

Bottom Fishing

A form of live bait fishing, bottom fishing is particularly effective for specks when they are running low in the water. A 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook works well for this type of approach. Pass the hook through the lips or back of a small croaker, menhaden or mud minnow. The design of circle hooks causes the fish itself to set the hook. When a speck picks up your bait on a circle hook, let it run with it, then slowly reel it back in without jerking the line.

Float Fishing

Another commonly used method for catching speckled sea trout is float fishing. This approach uses a large float with a weight and hook suspended under it. Live shrimp is at the top of the list for bait on this rig, followed by small, live bait fish. The angled shank of a 1/0 or 2/0 kahle hook allows the bait fish to swim freely and aligns the hook point along the direction of the fishing line for better hook setting on a strike.

Jigging

When fishing with artificial lures for specks, jigs are a good choice. A 1/8 to 1/4 oz. jig head hook with a straight shank provides the perfect foundation for attaching artificial fluke, minnow or grub lures. The weight of the jig head and the position of the eye on the hook help keep the hook point facing upward to prevent snagging the hook on the bottom.

Fly Fishing

Depending on several conditions, including water movement, weather and available food sources, specks also take fly fishing flies. In most cases, top water flies, wet streamer flies and marabous all work well. The idea is the use a large fly hook. A No. 4 to No. 2 fly hook will work well even for larger speckled trout.