Black Crappie Slabs Are Known As Specks, Speckled Perch, or Paper Mouth in Florida

Florida has started reporting Specks being caught, and I know us folks here in Memphis call them Crappie. So if you are in Florida or considering a freshwater fishing trip there, the crappie are called Specks or Speckled Perch.

Florida is not well known for crappie unless you live there and you better be talking Specks or they will know you are not from Florida. 

There is good crappie fishing throughout the State. They primarily hang out off shore feeding on little fish and grass shrimp.

Troll or Drift Method

Most of the anglers after the specks will troll or drift through deep water until they start picking them up and more than likely it will be a pretty good school.

If you use a small wire #4 hook with a small BB size tin weight below a float, adjust it until you hit the school.

Float and Fly Method

Another good tip to try is the method that is coming out called Float and Fly.

This isn't a hard way to fish at all.

Use a 8'-10" rod with a spinning reel spooled with maybe 10 pound line.

341-Piece Crappie Tube Kit	Bass Pro Shops Mr. Crappie Line - Super Vis
Berkley PowerBait Crappie Nibbles	BossTin 4 Way Split Shot Weights

Attach a three way swivel, and run maybe a 9' to 14' leader of 6 pound line to a tiny jig or hook with a grass shrimp, or small minnow.

Clip a small float on one of the eyes on the three way swivel. So you will have your main line on one eye, a leader on another, and finally the float on the third eye.

Give it a light toss and give the bait a chance to sink, then remove the slack line using the reel.

Start your retrieve with a jiggle, then let it sit for a short pause, then give it a gentle pull. Most of your strikes are going to come right after you give it a jiggle.

The Florida Wildlife officers say the jig should be 1/16 to 1/8 ounce either feathered or curly tail.

My choice of colors would be white, yellow, pink, chartreuse, and of course, try tipping the jig with a minnow.

When Are Most Specks or Black Crappie Caught In Florida

Most of the specks are caught during the cool months, but then you do have the die hards that will chase them on into the summer in deeper water, and night fishing.

Give this a try and let me know how you are doing as far as filling up the freezer.

If you would like to submit pictures from a fishing trip to the Crappie Slab Board like BOSS Turkey from Florida did here, use the contact page and let me hear from you.

Keep the Hooks Wet!

Steve McGoldrick

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