Ed Snyder Outdoors
Rollover Pass, Gilchrist, TX.
It’s wafting aroma is unmistakable! An aromatic fusion of watermelon and fish is like an intoxicating perfume to us speckled trout anglers, causing our predatory eyes to glisten and our ids to run amuck. This happens when speckled sea trout on a feeding binge regurgitate their masticated prey back into the water, creating an oily slick on the waters surface. This in turn emits the odor that’s so intoxicating to us speckled trout anglers.

The speckled sea trout of our Gulf Coast area have long been the #1 sport-fish of choice for us salt-leggers. A sporting fish that cause us to step blindly within the aquatic environment of our worst wade-fishing fear, “The Shark!”

I myself am totally guilty of this after experiencing two shark incidents! For when the specks are biting in the surf all fear fades when sliding our feet into those often shark filled waters. This is due to the often discolored waters we fish here in our area of Texas. As they say, iffin you can’t see them then just pretend they don‘t exist. BUT, That thought is only good until a shark arrives to wrest your catch away from you!

Case in point, a wade angler friend had hooked and landed a nice six pound speck, tethered it to his belted stringer, then re-cast his lure for another. “WHAM” another hit, bowing his rod, and the fight was on!

The angler estimated this trout to be an eight pounder or so. On finally reeling the big trout within his grabbing reach the frightening sight of a large shark suddenly flashed in front of him, jaws agape and snatching away his trophy trout whole!

“I quickly got out of the water after seeing that, explained the still frightened angler! But then, after only a few minutes, the once fearful angler, but now becalmed, moved back towards the water, which still held that large, hungry shark. Wading back in he looked over his shoulder, and quipped, “What the heck, the specks are still biting and maybe I can get a bigger one!

And that’s the creed for most dedicated speckled sea trout anglers who seek the bite of those silvery, spotted fish. They don’t cast for reds, sit around patiently for flounder bites, nor fish for anything else. Just the exciting hookup of a speckled trout!

Whether your manning the nocturnal walls of the cut, fan casting the surface of the bay flats, or side stepping into the rolling surf of the Gulf, dedicated speck anglers are basically all the same. Fishing for and catching specks.

This fishing attitude is much like that of Black Bass fishermen, who think all other species are but under dogs to their fishery. I’ve spent a lot of time with the bassers and an equal amount of time with the speck anglers. Although I’m a multi-tasker with my fishing choices, I do look upon the bass and specks as superior species. But so to the Chinook, Musky, Steelhead, and Tarpon with a special slot for Peacock Bass. (One of my favorites)

Rollover Pass is experiencing one of the most active speckled trout seasons ever right now with live bait, dead bait, or hardware anglers connecting to some really incredible trout action that we once could only dream about.

When February arrived chilly and wet, local anglers began catching several heavy fish over 10-lbs specks kicking off a season that would see anglers tethering many 9s. 8s, 7s, and 6-lb specks from February till today’s hookups in the dog days of August.

But the main event was, and still is, the trout runs through the cut during day or night outgoing tides. Night lighters saw hard to believe action under lights, but so did day anglers find the action heating up with the rising sun with full limits of trout for both the cut and surf anglers.

Anglers of all genders and ages have been able to take advantage of these incredible runs through the pass creating a proverbial “SPECK FEVER” among the fisher people who’ve visited Rollover Pass.

The prime fishing area has been the Gulf side of Rollover, but the bay side has also produced with night and early morning anglers taking trout on live and artificial baits.

“We don’t know how much longer this speckled trout fishing phenomenon will last, stated one local angler, but it sure has been a memorable one for the record books!”

The dog days of summer has changed to the trout days of August, but will soon drift into Septembers Golden Croaker phase, which will bring the annual Redfish run that was spectacular last year. But then October arrives with its Annual Fall Flounder run. This long awaited event will draw 100’s of flounder anglers from dozens of states.

For now though Speckled Trout Fever is still HOT as anglers fill their larders with the tasty critters. And it’s hard to believe that the trout bite can get any better but when the bay waters begin to cool the speck action usually intensifies.

This has been one very exciting speckled trout run for Rollover Pass this year folks!

This article sponsored by Miss Nancy’s Bait Camp and Crystal Beach Local News.

For Rollover Pass updates contact Miss Nancy’s Bait Camp at 484-560-9323
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