| The spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosis, is the most sought after fish by Louisiana coastal anglers. During the years of 1999 to 2001, Louisiana fishermen averaged boating 13.6 million spotted seatrout annually. During the same time period, coastal recreational and charter fishing activity grew exponentially with improved technologies and an increase in public leisure time. In spite of the increased effort and harvest, Louisiana’s trout stocks remain healthy. Speckled trout accomplish this amazing feat by sheer numbers.
Research has shown that 96 percent of age 1 females in Louisiana are mature and are spawners at a size of 10-13 inches. Female speckled trout can spawn as frequently as every four or five days and the spawning season lasts from the end of April into September. However, spawning activity seems to have two peaks, one in May and another in August . Older fish and those spawned early in the spawning season of the previous year produce the first peak. The theory is that the August peak is partly due to fish spawned late in the previous year coming into maturity. In light of this information, it is easy to see how these populations sustain themselves in spite of heavy harvesting.
They begin spawning at an early age, and have a long spawning season (5-6 months), which produces large numbers of eggs and larval fish. Even though survival rate is low, the numbers overcome the losses to natural and fishing mortality. The fact that these females begin spawning at such an early age and size dispels the belief of many anglers that large females need to be released in order to pass on their “big fish” genes. Actually, the really large females make up only a small part of the annual reproduction and their genes, which never change, have been passed along each preceding spawning season.
Spawning occurs at water temperatures of 71-93° F. About four to six hours before spawning, the eggs to be spawned begin to swell with water (hydration), roughly doubling in size, and then spawning begins at dusk. Salinity of 20 parts per thousand is ideal (seawater is 35 ppt).
For additional information on spotted seatrout visit the Louisiana Sea Grant website at: http://www.seagrantfish.lsu.edu/resources/factsheets/index.htm
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