While looking ahead at the year anglers should include plans to do something different, new, or epic all over again.

Story and photography by Danno Wise

Once again, a new year is upon us. Between starting a fresh calendar and the often inclement weather, January is a time for day-dreaming and goal setting.

Fishermen are no different in this regard. As the new year gets underway, they inevitably begin to envision all the outstanding angling adventures they hope to have over the next 365 days. With that in mind, here’s a handful of ideas every Texas inshore angler should consider putting on their bucket list for 2024.

Catch a Trophy Trout – Anyone who has spent any time plying the coastal waters of the Lone Star State with a rod in hand is aware of the almost mythical status big speckled trout hold. Over the past couple of years, the number of big trout being caught has once again begun to rise in most every Texas bay system. This means 2024 is a great time to catch a personal best speckled trout.

For those that are hoping to join the trophy trout clan – or to catch yet another trophy – there are some fairly well-established benchmarks to guide them. In general, fish over 28 inches are considered “trophies”. However, the 30-inch mark is the magical number that solidifies a speck as an apex specimen.

While fish in these length-classes can be caught throughout the year, the absolute best time to catch trophy trout is, well, now. From late winter through spring, big trout will be feeding fairly heavily as they attempt to put on weight for their upcoming spawn and their body mass with be at its peak. Slow-sinking plugs, topwaters and big (5- to 6-inch) soft-plastics are the best choices for serious sow speck seekers.

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