Seatrout - Net or bring onboard?

[Dubble Trubble]

I was having a discussion recently about landing seatrout. So I decided to create a poll. Just curious about the best way to land them.

The last option is for a few on here (You know who you are)

Dubble

[Mo Redd]

Rubber net or any net for keeper. Or use a lip gripper in the water and dehook there if you're going to release it. Remember, you can't effectively horse them into a boat like you would a black bass as their lips tear easily, and the hook comes out.

[SS-342]

I sling them in over the side unless they are to big than I net. I'd say anything over 18 needs to be netted.

[red_yakker]

I only avoid using a landing net when I'm using a lure with treble hooks. If it's a bigger fish, I use the net either way. If I had one of those no-tangle nets, I'd use it every time.

[Gulf Coast]

I so wanted to vote for # 4...I just bout always use a net....10lb line

[Salty Gator]

De hooker, so someone else can post a report about a 3 man trout limit

[SHOWBOAT]

I net (1) on tourney day (2) fish over 25" and (3) for women and children who may cry if I lose their fish. Otherwise, I'm trying to catch one too, so deal with yours.

[DEMON]

Net the keepers. No-touch with a dehooker for everything else.

[MudDucker]

Speckled trout are also known as weakfish due to the weak mouth. If it is a small fish, I sling them in. If they are larger, get the net. If they are hardly biting, I net all keepers.

[Salty Gator]

Speckled trout are also known as weakfish due to the weak mouth. If it is a small fish, I sling them in. If they are larger, get the net. If they are hardly biting, I net all keepers.

Weakfish are a different species than seatrout

From fwc

Weakfish are an Atlantic coast fish, possibly found in the extreme southeastern Gulf. Adults move inshore and north during warm months inhabiting the surf, inlets, bays, channels and estuaries and offshore and south during cold months. Juveniles inhabit estuaries which serve as nurseries.

[kikstand454]

This ^.


As far as the poll goes, I net the big ones in a rubber net. Little ones sometimes get the net, sometimes get shook off at the boat.

~~Dave

[Pirate]

We net any fish we are worried about losing at the boat or as a previous post mentioned, if things are slow and we are hungry!

[2true]

Anything with multiple treble hooks- No Net

Single Hook- Net

[MudDucker]

Speckled trout are also known as weakfish due to the weak mouth. If it is a small fish, I sling them in. If they are larger, get the net. If they are hardly biting, I net all keepers.

Weakfish are a different species than seatrout

From fwc

Weakfish are an Atlantic coast fish, possibly found in the extreme southeastern Gulf. Adults move inshore and north during warm months inhabiting the surf, inlets, bays, channels and estuaries and offshore and south during cold months. Juveniles inhabit estuaries which serve as nurseries.

I have heard the same thing and while it is technically true, the old timers called speckled trout weakfish as well, not as a scientific name, but because of how easy their mouths tear.