For many years Captain Gordon Churchill was one of the top fishing guides in NC, an expert on speckled trout and red drum fishing who prowled the waters of the Crystal Coast area. Although he spends most of his time teaching and coaching today he is still an avid angler with a big interest in conservation and saltwater fly fishing.
Continuing my series of talking to Carolina speckled trout experts, I asked Capt Churchill seven questions about our favorite winter fishing target.
Weeks: Why are speckled trout such a popular saltwater fish in the Carolinas?
Capt Churchill: I have heard they are usually one of the most popular fish everywhere in their range. I think it's a combination of their sporting qualities on the end of a line and the fact that they really are among the best eating fish you can catch inshore, with or without a boat. Plus you can catch them any variety of ways that you can think of. I personally have caught them on all manners of lures and flies. I have seen them caught on cut bait, live bait, single hooks, double hooks and every size or shape of hook imaginable.
Weeks: Although they are around all year many folks equate trout with winter and cold water. Why is that?
Capt Churchill: In our area (Morehead City, NC) October is usually when they begin to get into schools and it is possible to really catch a lot. In the summer they spread out and you have to work a little harder to catch a good number of fish. I actually fish for them at night in the summer. But in the fall they start to move and once you find them you can really get into them. Combine that with the fact that they become available to shore based anglers at this time of year and a tradition of fall/winter speckled trout fishing is born.
Weeks: Do you prefer to fish for trout with bait or lures?
Capt Churchill: I almost never fish with bait. I don't like the hassle of getting it then keeping it. I can catch the fish I want to with lures or flies. I really prefer fly fishing most of the time, but that is a whole other story from this one.
Weeks: Quite a few anglers have gone to the scented baits like Gulp lures. From what you have seen does the scent make that big a difference?
Capt Churchill: For soft plastics I prefer Tsunami jerk baits. I have gone side by side with good anglers and haven't seen a difference. Trout are sight feeders. Biggest fish I have ever caught have all been on hard plugs, with my very biggest being on a Rapala X Rap.
Weeks: Trout are known for having soft mouths. How does an angler compensate for that and not lose fish?
Capt Churchill: I think it all comes down to experience. Knowing when to keep the fish's head up and reel, and other times knowing when to drop the rod tip and not pull back. Basically, when the fish wants to go away you let it. If you pull back on the rod when the fish is going away, the hook is going to pull out, doesn't matter what fish you are going after.
Weeks: With size limits increasing and creel limits going down folks are targeting bigger trout. What are some tricks to catching larger specks?
Capt Churchill: To catch bigger trout you have to fish for bigger trout. If you want big ones and all you are catching are small ones then you need to do something different. Move to a different spot, try a different lure…something. Often they will all be the same size, as if a school of bigger fish has just come in. Other times you will seemingly be wading through the smaller ones to finally get a bigger one. Biggest trout I ever caught was the only bite I had that day.
Weeks: You have caught all kinds of fish. Where do trout rank on your list of favorite fish and why?
Capt Churchill: It's up near the top. As far as NC fish go it's in the top three. Basically it's a seasonal thing with me. I usually fish for reds on the flats in my poling skiff. But in the fall I really like to fish for trout from the shore, either from the surf or a few spots in creeks or other spots.
You can catch up with Captain Gordon Churchill on his terrific blog Captain Gordon’s Fishing Reports.
For more on catching and cooking speckled trout and all our Carolina inshore fish check out my new book Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas.
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