Carolina Classic Speckled Trout Recipes

Speckled trout are one of the most sought-after food and game fish of the Carolinas' inshore saltwater areas. Specks are a type of sea trout like their cousins the weakfish (gray trout).

Sea trout are not really related to freshwater trout at all, but are members of the saltwater family that also includes red drum and croaker. Like their freshwater namesakes, however, sea trout are noted for their excellence on the table.

Cheesy Speckled Trout

2 lbs speckled trout fillets
1 cup milk
I cup dry bread crumbs
1⁄4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1⁄2 tablespoon salt
shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Add oregano, garlic powder and salt to crumbs and mix well. Dip fillets in milk and roll in crumb mixture. Place in a well-greased pan, pad butter on top of each fillet. Bake for 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Top fillets with shredded cheese (enough to cover each fillet) 1 minute before the fish is done so it melts over fillets. Serves 4-5.

Kid's Favorite Sea Trout

3 speckled trout fillets
1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
dash each black pepper, Cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and salt
milk
olive oil

Heat olive oil in skillet on medium heat. Combine flour, cornmeal, and spices in a shallow dish and mix. Dip fillets in milk and then dredge through flour mixture coating fish thoroughly and evenly. Fry fillets in hot olive oil for 4 minutes, turn and fry 3 minutes or until fish is done. Drain on paper towels and serve. Serves 3.

Broiled Specks

1 1⁄2 lbs speckled trout fillets
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
salt and pepper
paprika

Preheat broiler. Coat both sides of fillets with mayonnaise and sprinkle with paprika, salt and pepper. Place on greased broiler pan 5 inches from heat. Broil 8 to 10 minutes. Serves 4.

For more fish and seafood recipes see my blog A Dash Of Salty.