Looking for Big Specks

[Healthy Grin]

VIMS is interested in conducting further studies of large speckled trout (32 inches and above), to determine age and growth rates of Virginia speckled trout versus other states (Texas/Fla etc). To this point, they have seen some significant findings between our specks and other states' specks, but need a larger sample to further their conclusions. VIMS has been using citation data to locate anglers who caught these trophy sized speckled trout, in hopes of obtaining the carcass for examination.

John Lucy from the Va Game Fish Tagging Program & VIMS would like anglers to contact him directly at (804) 815-6231 or lucy@vims.edu if anyone catches a large 32"+ speckled trout and doesn't mind VIMS extracting the otilith bone after the fish is molded (for taxidermy) or after the fish is cleaned. Scientists from VIMS will study the otilith, which is a small bone found in the skull whose size increases with the age of the fish, to augment their research. If you know an angler who catches or who has caught a 32"+ speckled trout, and either they or their taxidermist has the fish (in a cooler, frozen), please contact John Lucy immediately!

[HatterasBound]

I just got off the phone with him bout an hour ago hope i will be able to help him out this winter!! He told me bout the that Barkley caught that turned out to be 12 YEARS OLD!! Thats an old fish the oldest recorded the the bay waters

[Healthy Grin]

From Barclay:

I just spoke with John Lucy from VIMS/Gamefish Tagging Program. He was trying to get in touch with me regarding aging studies of speckled trout. Dave Saunders did a mold of my 12lb 1oz 35 1/4" speck from 2 years ago and gave the fish to VIMS for further studies. What he found was really interesting, my speckled trout is officially the oldest speckled trout recorded in Chesapeake Bay waters. The fish was 12 years old (using the Otilith) and female. Apparently there was a 12 year old fish recorded in Texas a while back and a 15 year old fish reported in Florida, but the results cannot be confirmed due to using scales versus Otiliths.

[L HOLMES]

Yeah Im looking for some of them too.

[BYRD]

I mentioned this last night at the Bull Island Angler's Club meeting, I'm sure we have a few members who will donate the Otilith.

[hookinfinger]

Yeah Im looking for some of them too.

Dennis

[BigJim]

I mentioned this last night at the Bull Island Angler's Club meeting, I'm sure we have a few members who will donate the Otilith.

I'm like you Larry. I'm still looking for my first 32" speckled trout.

Byrd, how many members does the BIAC have that have ever caught a 32" speckled trout?

[HatterasBound]

This one has caught a share of them!! So there are poeple there that can get the fish!! Whats your biggest trout?

[BigJim]

My biggest trout is about 8 pounds. I think it was less than 30".
I have many between 7 and 8 but that double digit trout is not easy to come by.
In the five years that I have lived in Poquoson I have not heard of a trout that big (double digit) caught on the flats or in the river. The BIAC club record unless it has been broken in 2008 is no where near that large.

[BYRD]

Lots of things have changed! Including records. 10+ lb fish from the flats are available, I have seen several in the 22+ years I have fished the flats. They are rarely caught, but easily found if one knows where to look.

Hatterasbound - Everyone who knows you, knows the quality of the fish you catch. Some people just can't stand being outdone. Call me later on and we'll set something up for the weekend.