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Gray sea trout in North Carolina
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Hatteras' Captain Rick Scarborough with a weakfish
Gray sea trout (Cynoscion regalis), also known as weakfish, are popular gamefish found in North Carolina’s inshore waters. These fish are very similar to speckled trout (spotted seatrout), but they are easily distinguished by many more spots that blur together, and rougher scales on their bodies.
Weakfish feed on baitfish, like mullet, menhaden, and anchovies, and also on crabs, shrimp, and squid. They may be caught on cut or live bait, as well as on artificial lures. Jigging for gray trout is one of the more popular ways to catch the fish, and the technique works equally well for speckled trout. Red drum are also fished for using many of the same techniques.
Inshore waters are the best places to fish for weakfish. The Currituck Sound and Pamlico Sound offer great fishing for gray sea trout in North Carolina. The Cape Lookout area, as well as the nearby Harkers Island are also great places for trout in the late fall and winter.
These fish may be found in waters of varying depth and features. Although both gray and speckled trout may be seen chasing baitfish and shrimp in shallow water, they often prefer areas of structure, such as pockets or underwater drop offs. They will also hold around artificial reefs or sunken vessels. When fishing from a boat, a depth finder will help to locate areas of structure, such as deep holes, and jigging for trout in those areas is a great technique for success.
Gray trout also come close to shore, and may be caught by wading anglers using soft plastic baits or top water plugs. If the bottom is not too grassy, drop offs may be fished with jigs and grubs by wading fishermen. Weakfish also come into waters around docks in marinas, particularly at night, making them perfect all around saltwater gamefish that may be caught by anglers on land or on boats. For other articles on North Carolina inshore fishing, click here.
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