If you’ve spent any time fishing the inshore waters around Murrells Inlet, you’ve probably pulled up a fish that made you stop and think, “is that a speckled trout or a weakfish?”
They look almost identical at first glance, and even experienced anglers mix them up. Here’s how to tell them apart, and why Spring time is the perfect time to target them.
They’re Not the Same Fish
Speckled trout and weakfish are two distinct species, but they’re close cousins in the drum family and share a lot of the same water. Side by side, the differences become clearer. (Yup, you read that right, neither of them are trout, they’re in the drum family)
Speckled trout have bold, scattered black spots across their back and upper sides that extend onto the dorsal fin and tail. Their coloring tends to be a golden-olive on top fading to a silvery-white belly.
Weakfish have a more subtle, washed-out look — smaller, less distinct spots arranged in diagonal lines along the back, with an overall brassy or olive-green sheen.
The weakfish’s mouth is also noticeably more delicate, which is exactly how the fish got its name — the tissue around the mouth tears easily, making them tricky to keep hooked.
Both species have those distinctive canine teeth at the front of the upper jaw, which is a shared trait that trips a lot of people up when trying to tell them apart in the boat.
Where They’re Biting in Murrells Inlet
Both fish love the similar types of habitat, which is another reason they get confused. In and around Murrells Inlet, you’ll find them hanging out near oyster beds and shell rake, along the edges of marsh grass, in tidal creek mouths as the current moves bait through, and around docks, pilings, and any inshore structure that holds shrimp and small baitfish.
Why Spring is the Sweet Spot
Spring time is prime time for both species in Murrells Inlet. Weakfish are resident year round, but have a defined spring run as larger ones move through the area. They show up, the bite gets good, and then they move on, so it’s important to get on them while it’s hot.
Speckled trout are more of a year-round inshore resident along the South Carolina coast, but spring is when they’re particularly active and feeding aggressively after the slower winter months. As water temperatures climb into the 60s, the trout spread out across the flats and get much easier to locate and catch.
How to Catch Them
Both fish respond well to live shrimp under a popping cork, which is one of the most effective and beginner-friendly rigs in the inshore toolbox. Soft plastic paddle tails and shrimp imitations on a light jig head also work well, especially when you’re working the deeper channel edges for weakfish. Keep your presentation natural, work the current, and pay attention to structure.
One tip worth remembering: if you hook a weakfish, don’t horse it. Keep steady pressure and give it a smooth, consistent fight. That soft mouth will tear if you get aggressive with it, and you’ll lose the fish at the boat more often than you’d like.
Come Fish With Us This Spring
April and May don’t last long, and neither does the weakfish run. If targeting these fish is on your list, the window is now. Fish Finder Fishing Charters has been running inshore trips out of Murrells Inlet for over 15 years and our captains know exactly where these fish are holding and how to get you on them.
