Whats happened to trout fishing?

[Dhawk]

Generally....whats happened to trout fishing?

Seems its gotten more difficult to find/catch legal fish. The shorts, even when they are biting, seem to dominate mostly, with just a few keepers on a normal day.

We always try all the baits, grubs, shrimp, cut bait, with/without popping cork. In shallow water, deeper water, creeks, bars, low tide, high tide and between. Fall, Winter,
Spring....St Marks, Keaton, Steinhatchee, Fenholiway, Aucilla...

Still love to go and be on the water, it just seems keeper trout are more scarce these days. Still, there are an occasional day when you do well, but they are more rare
of late.

[DixieReb]

That's what I have noticed, too. I think they are just in certain areas now and you have to hunt for them more. Like my old Daddy used to say, if you're not catching fish, then move!

[Dhawk]

Agree.....you have to move around. Frequently.

[tailwaters]

I'm on the water most weekends and have noticed the same thing. Although my attention is mainly on reds we use to pick up some nice trout in the process. Over the last couple years I've seen less and less. In the last couple months more times than not we don't even catch a trout. I think with all the regulation changes to offshore species it has pushed more people to start fishing inshore. Also they use to close trout during the winter which they don't any more. That's the only thing I can think of because we haven't had a red tide, the winters haven't been too cold and there is plenty of bait around.

[rockyg]

Where are the Trout?

More fishermen in Florida every day, with better equipment, better baits, unlimited internet to provide solid intel on where and how to fish, combined with Less undisturbed shoreline and lower water quality equals more stress on every fishery.

What phrase do you hear on here over and over and over. "got my limit" "we all got our limit" "limited out every day".

Reduce the limit on trout to near zero for 2 or 3 years and the flats would be teeming with fat gator trout......but that will never happen.

We are all fishing on borrowed time.

[Salty Gator]

Where are the Trout?

More fishermen in Florida every day, with better equipment, better baits, unlimited internet to provide solid intel on where and how to fish, combined with Less undisturbed shoreline and lower water quality equals more stress on every fishery.

What phrase do you hear on here over and over and over. "got my limit" "we all got our limit" "limited out every day".

Reduce the limit on trout to near zero for 2 or 3 years and the flats would be teeming with fat gator trout......but that will never happen.

We are all fishing on borrowed time.

Well said Rocky

[Dhawk]

I love to fish and catch trout and would hate to see limits lowered even further....but something is amiss. And it seems to be getting worse.

[DixieReb]

I agree, it needs to be closed in February again. And I would be OK with limits being lowered some, it's hard to catch 5 good fish anyway.

[JIm Smith]

I would go along with a closed season as it used to be.

[tabb]

I was down this weekend and still see lots or sand where there use to be grass.
I have a hard time going down for five trout if I can catch them. If it were lowered
I would probably find something to fish for at home or target another species.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

WHY DO I SEE TROUT IN THE FISH HOUSES AND GROCERY STORES, THEY SHOULD BE LAWS TO PROHIBIT TROUT FROM BEING CAUGHT BY NETTERS AND SOLD, TROUT SHOULD NOT BE SOLD ANYWHERE, STRICTLY RECREATIONAL FISH, TO BE CAUGHT BY RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN.
PA
SEMPER FI

[DixieReb]

You're right, Pa. But go eat at Deal's Oyster House and he has redfish on the menu. I thought they were strictly game fish, what's up with that?

[Steve Stinson]

PA - I WONDERED THE SAME THING. I WAS IN SOUTHERN SEAFOOD HERE IN TALLY LAST FRIDAY PICKING UP SOME SALMON. THEY HAD SPECKED TROUT ON ICE IN THE SEAFOOD DISPLAY...?

[Aucilla]

I just looked it up, because I was thinking the specs we see in the store must be from out of state. But no! It is legal, with limit of 150 per boat! Here's the Commission webpage on it: http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recr ... -seatrout/

Here's what it says:

At the Nov. 2011 Commission meeting, the following rules were approved, becoming effective February 1, 2012:

Commercial

Southeast and Southwest region defined
Increase in seasons
Southeast: May 1- Sept 30
Northeast: June 1- November 30
Southwest and Northwest: June 1- October 31
A commercial vessel limit of 150 with two or more licensed fishermen are aboard
Sale of seatrout inventory will be allowed for 30 days after the season closes

Plus some more here: http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/comm ... -seatrout/:

I wonder if they have to keep track of the number caught by the commercial boats.... Like any recreational fisherman, I'd like to start the protections by cutting back on the commercial!

[homboyfsu]

So if I have 5 boats and 2 licence fishermen per boat then I can catch 1500 trout. Wow anybody want to go fishing? I read the above and did I miss something there is no limit size?