With water temperatures falling the local seatrout fishing is definitely heating up. This ever popular fish ranges from New York to the Gulf of Mexico but if you’re looking to catch a really big one, without question Florida is the place to begin your search. Unfortunately SW Florida isn’t the place to start as they just don’t get that big down here where a 5 pounder is considered a big or “gator” sized trout. The really big boys live and grow huge further north in the Indian River, Melbourne, and Fort Pierce area the home of the current all tackle world record of 17.7 pounds caught in 1995.

The IGFA not only keeps records on the heaviest fish but also on the longest like Luke Ledbetter’s 34.25″ giant taken at the Indian River area on a live mullet. If you’ve only tangled with our little local schoolies check out the internet for a picture of this huge trout. Due to the delicate nature of this species the fish wasn’t hung and weighed, just measured and carefully released.

Although the Indian River area has suffered habit destruction over the last several years with grass beds dying it’s still the place to start your hunt for a massive seatrout.

No matter where you fish for this popular game and table species the little guys are typically easy to catch once you find them. Catching a trophy on lures or fly is a different story as the big ones are bonefish skittish, usually travelling alone stopping occasionally to eat a big meal then disappearing for a few days to digest it. Loud noises and poor boat handling in skinny water will send a trophy trout far away before you make your first cast.

For the first time in quite a while our trout are open to harvest with a 3 per angler limit or 6 per vessel maximum.

It’s no secret that the number one way to find and catch seatrout is by using the classic live shrimp under a popping cork rig, but for those that don’t like the live bait game a soft plastic grub, paddle tail, Mister Twister, fake shrimp or even a fly, under that cork works almost as well.

If you haven’t tried them I highly recommend trying a DOA Tiny Terror Eyz in the 2″ size under your float. I typically use loop knots to secure my soft plastics to the leader, but when using the Terror Eyz I cinch it down tight to the jig head to keep the lure in a more natural looking horizontal position as it swims. The DOA Shrimp in the 2 and 2.75 inch model is also a killer bait to put under your float while others swear by a GULP shrimp.

To catch a jumbo specimen on a lure get out early and throw a big top water plug, the biggest in your box. A 6 pound seatrout has no problem inhaling a 10″ mullet so a bigger, 3 hook Zara Spook is a good choice to toss on a quiet morning.

Like redfish, big trout will often shadow or blend in with mullet schools looking for an easy meal, so a cast to the edges of that school might pay off with a trophy sized specimen.

Although there have been some big tripletail caught this season most anglers have been seeing lots of smaller ones hanging under the crab buoys which is a good sign for future catches.

Seems like most of the kingfish have passed us by and have moved south to the Miami area and below, but don’t put away those trolling plugs just yet as gag grouper are looking to eat yours over your favorite close to the coast rock pile.

Keep an eye out for cobia that might show up just about anywhere, while continued hot weather isn’t helping the winter sheepshead bite get underway.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. Contact him at 239-282-9434 or captgeorget3@aol.com.