He would go down to the beach with a long cane pole, twisted oiled line, and a handmade lure. His grandfather was a slave and obviously a great trout man. One particular story I always enjoyed was from an ancient angler. Some of the older trout men told stories that were quite amazing. Sadly, many stories and names of this wonderful heritage are fading fast. Other legendary names are out there, but they all fished way before my time. In the 1960s and 1970s there was a cast of characters I had the privilege to fish with: Gunner Charlie, Big John, Curtis Gray, and the Boogerman, to name a few. Stories and etiquette from back in The Day The speckled trout history throughout eastern North Carolina is very interesting to say the least. They may not know or care about this sacred pastime that has been passed down for generations. Some fishermen are willing to cut corners to catch trout. Keep them deep inside if you want to be alone. Years of experience are like the rings in a tree. Many books have tried to convey the magic behind it. Trout fishing has been a form of meditation for centuries. Years ago I fished with a retired judge who told me, "You don't need trout to trout fish." It took a while, but I thoroughly understand what that means. For many of us, the reward is in the search. The solitude and quietness are priceless. Whether it's casting a fly into a secret spot in a mountain stream or fishing the perfect slough on a lonely beach, trout fishing has an amazing effect on the dedicated angler. Popular among recreational fishermen, they average 15 to 25 inches and 2 to 4 pounds, but can grow as large as 40 inches and 12 pounds. Also known as spotted seatrout, speck and spotted weakfish, they are members of the drum family ( Sciaenidae), not the trout family ( Salmonidae). They are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so fish north of Virginia migrate here for the winter, according to the N.C. Speckled trout live in North Carolina’s estuarine rivers and sounds and in the surf off our barrier islands. I believe I am not alone when it comes to the mystique of speckled trout fishing in the evanescent surf. Nearly 50 years have come and gone, but the magic from that day is branded deep within my heart. Then WHAM! Out of the cold white water came a large shaking yellow- mouth with two fangs. The same mudflat would produce 10,000-year-old arrowheads at low tide. The ocean bottom there was not sand, surprisingly, but a slippery peat with scattered cypress stumps from long ago. A swift current carried my lure along with all the anticipation a 10- year-old kid could contain.
I vividly remember casting a red-headed Mirro Lure into the rolling waves at Onslow Beach. The second was my first trip fishing for speckled trout in the rough autumn surf. In the mid-1960s, my father gave me two of the best gifts I would ever receive.
Kevin McCabe’s wife, artist Kim Mosher, has artist’s proofs of her colored pencil work “Speck Attack.” They are available for $30 each, among other art, from
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