Spotted sea trout range throughout Florida’s bays and coastal waters. Studies indicate that spotted sea trout from various areas of Florida are more genetically isolated from one another as their geographic separation increases (Ramsey and Wakeman 1987, Gold et al. 1999). Results from a reanalysis of spotted sea trout genetic structure in Florida show the presence of five genetic spotted seatrout stocks (Wilson et al. 2002). These stocks and their boundaries are: 1) a northeast stock located from approximately northern Volusia county to the Atlantic state border (and possibly beyond) 2) a southeast stock located from approximately southern Martin county north to Volusia county 3) a Biscayne Bay vicinity stock 4) several Florida Bay – Keys stocks, in which a complex of populations subdivisions apparently exists, and 5) a gulf coast stock from Florida Bay through the Florida panhandle. Each area may have specific, localized groups of fish that do not intermix regularly with other groups, thus they are affected only by local fishing pressure. Growth is sex- and area-specific. Males grow more slowly than females, and spotted sea trout in the Indian River Lagoon, and Apalachicola Bay grow more quickly than do those in southwest Florida Maximum ages reached in Florida are 9 years for males and 8 years for females. Spotted sea trout first spawn between 0 and 2 years old and 11.8–15.7 inches total length . Spawning occurs within estuaries and in nearshore waters during spring, summer, and fall.
