Trout are one of the most popular game fish here in Florida. They put up a fun fight, they are delicious and are apt to great hits on artificial lures. Trout are also one of the best fish to target after the sun goes down.
Trout are very active hunters after sunset. They will often be heard blasting pods of bait fish off in the dark distance and frequently are found congregating around lighted boat docks/piers. The lighted boat docks and piers are where most action can be found for Florida Shore Fishermen.
Almost any dock/pier that has lights on it will attract baitfish. The baitfish will in turn attack the fish that eat them. Trout are one of the more active nighttime feeders and can be caught using live bait under the lights or by tossing artificial in the area as well.
Live Bait
Trout are ambush hunters at night. They like to swim up to the edge of a light field near structure and wait for baitfish to swim into their range. Once a baitfish swims near them they strike, and they strike hard.
Any of the common baitfish will work for trout, but finger mullet seem to work the best. A free lined mullet with a 1/0-3/0 light wire circle hooked tossed just up current of the light will often result in a trout being pulled over the rail.
Artificial Lures
Trout will readily take an artificial lure. Anything from a soft plastic jerk bait to a gotcha plug to a buck tail jig works. When fishing under the lights of a dock, one of the most effective baits is a soft plastic mullet.
Berkley Gulp Alive 4” soft plastic Ripple Mullet consistently produces trout under the lights. With a ¼ oz. Jig head, toss the mullet down current of the light and swim in trough the light. If no hit that way, fan cast around the lights. This will normally result in a trout strike and a flashy fight.
