Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body elongate, moderately compressed; color grayish above, silvery below with small black spots on upper sides, dorsal fins and tail; lower jaw protruding, mouth supraterminal; inside of mouth orange; 2 fang-like teeth on tip of upper jaw; dorsal fin with deep notch; caudal fin truncate to emarginate in adults, pointed in juveniles; soft dorsal fin unscaled. |
Similar Species |
Sand and silver seatrout have similar shaped bodies but no spots, tails are S-shaped and part of soft dorsal fin is scaled. |
Habitat |
Bay and Gulf, common around seagrass beds and oyster reefs |
Maximum Size |
100 cm (3 1/3 ft), common to 60 cm (23 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. XI,24-26; A. II,10-11 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
speckled trout; speck |
Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
The most sought-after fish in Texas. |
State size/bag limits |
Minimum size 15 in., maximum size 25 in., no more than 1 spotted seatrout over the maximum size may be retained per person per day, counts as part of bag limit; from FM 457 bridge in Sargent, TX and north (Galveston Bay and Sabine Lake, including Gulf waters) bag limit is 10 and possession limit is 20; south of FM 457 bridge (all other bay systems, including Gulf waters) bag limit is 5 and possesion limit is 10; Check for state record. |