Big trout season right around the corner

JW_YakAngler

So March has always been my best month for big overslot trout in SW Florida. I find them year round here and there, but they are much easier to find consistently in March. I went to scout a spot in the 10k yesterday that I have never fished in March, but I think will likely hold the big girls soon. I got two nice 19 inch fish and lost another nice one in just a few casts. I caught my PB last March in Pine Island Sound(26.25"). My biggest in the 10k was a skinny 24 inch winter trout. Has anyone here caught any real whoppers in the 10k? I really want to beat my PB this March, but by all accounts, the trout in Pine Island took a beating from the red tide event. Video of my scouting trip below.

https://youtu.be/b9WlIECb1sM

Spineyman

Haw! Knock em out John...

jcanracer

I love trout, they're a ton of fun and when they're around, fairly easy to catch.
But I also love to eat LOL and I find that so many trout in Dade county have worms, so I don't target them anymore (heck, I almost never fish inshore anymore anyways). Do you also have the same experience?

Lurchy

Kinda strange but the trout on the gulf side almost never have worms like they do on the Atlantic side. 

I have caught some surprisingly large trout around the 10k islands (not Ft Pierce large, but quality).  My biggest was right off choko on a live shrimp in May 2016.

JW_YakAngler

jcanracer said:

I love trout, they're a ton of fun and when they're around, fairly easy to catch.
But I also love to eat LOL and I find that so many trout in Dade county have worms, so I don't target them anymore (heck, I almost never fish inshore anymore anyways). Do you also have the same experience?

I do find a worm or two now and then, but never seen one full of worms like an AJ or anything. 

jcanracer

Over here on east coast you'll find a few in an overslot and maybe one or two in a decent keeper size.
Anyway, sorry if I sent your thread down a tangent!

JW_YakAngler

Lurchy said:

Kinda strange but the trout on the gulf side almost never have worms like they do on the Atlantic side. 

I have caught some surprisingly large trout around the 10k islands (not Ft Pierce large, but quality).  My biggest was right off choko on a live shrimp in May 2016.

Maybe I should plan a trip up to the IRL this spring. I know the world record was set in Ft Pierce years ago, but I have also heard they have been struggling with sea grasses dying off and trout can be hard to come by now.

Lurchy

Sad times there.. Used to be amazing fishing.  Usually very disappointing now.  Hopefully we have a drier than normal summer.  These warm winters do not help a bit.  Cold winters= clear inshore water

NopratKoons

Unless you are set on using live bait, your best bet for a truly monstrous trout is throwing a large topwater plug IMO. Hard to beat the Super Spook when its choppy or a Spook Jr when its calm out.