Specks are fast-growing fish that engage in a protracted spawning season that takes place over the summer and fall. In North Carolina, cold winters are bad news for specks and speck fishermen, since extended freezing temperatures can cause the population to plummet. Hurricanes, red tides and excessive fresh water entering estuaries also ruin speckled trout habitats. For this reason, speckled trout boom-and-bust cycles have become legendary.

Winters of 2004-2005 were mild, resulting in some spectacular speck fishing, with plenty of big fish caught and large numbers of fish being caught at Wrightsville Beach, Cape Lookout and Pamlico Sound. Barring any bad weather events over the winter of 2006, speck fishing should remain excellent.

Average recreational landings were 366,166 pounds from 1996-2005. In 2005, recreational landings were 621,016 pounds. Average number of citations for specks over 4 pounds from 1996-2005 were 366. In 2005, 290 citations were issued.

Anglers catch speckled trout with jigs, lures and live baits. Live croakers and pinfish are excellent baits for the biggest specks. Jigs with grub trailers are good choices for those who want to catch big numbers of specks.

Jetties and oyster beds are great places to fish. But speckled trout are also caught from ocean piers, along grassbeds and in shallow channels. The fish can be caught all year long, with the best fishing in late summer, fall and winter. The limit for specks is 10 fish with a minimum length of 12 inches.

STRIPED BASS
After years of concerted effort on a coastwide basis, the recovery of the Atlantic Migratory Ocean Stock of Striped Bass has been phenomenal. The stock is listed as "viable." Coastwide, the ages and sizes of ocean striped bass continue to increase, with fish aged 13 and older becoming more abundant. Like many fish, the bigger and older a female, the larger the number of eggs she produces.

The spawning stock biomass is well above the target of 38.6 million pounds at 54.8 million pounds. Young fish continue to recruit into the adult category.

In North Carolina, the big news is in the Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River Management Area, which has an increasing abundance and age structure. However, the downside is there continue to be problems in the Central/Southern Management Area, where the stock is classified as "overfished."

Nevertheless, the Cape Fear River has a good run of stocked Albemarle striped bass, which are hatchery raised and released by both the NCDMF and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Albemarle Sound is full of striped bass and the fish now migrate far up the Neuse and Tar rivers.

Alongside the bridges spanning the rivers and sounds are excellent places to catch striped bass weighing up to 20 pounds. In the inland waters, striped bass can be caught all year long. The larger fish are most abundant off Oregon Inlet, Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout. The big fish can be caught from the surf or from boats and the best time to catch them is in January. Seabirds, gannets in particular, attracted to schools of stripers feeding on baitfish give away the presence of fish weighing 30 to 50 pounds that can cover many acres of water.