mmontelongo
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Hardhead Hatch at 2AM – Speckled Trout Blitz in the Lights 
Caught this on camera around 2:00 AM at Lighthouse Beach Pier in Port Lavaca. You’re seeing a hardhead catfish hatch — hundreds of fry schooling tight in the lights. What followed was wild: speckled trout stacked up, hanging in the dark edges, waiting to ambush.
These weren’t gentle hits either. I found the best success reeling in quickly, and when I felt a bump, I’d pause instantly — and bam, they’d crush the bait. It felt like the trout were stunning the fry first, then coming back to finish the job — classic ambush behavior.
How to Fish a Hatch Like This (Especially for Specks):
Where to Cast: Right outside the light halo — predators linger in the dark edges. Retrieve Tip: Fast reel to trigger attention, pause when bumped — let them double back and strike. Top Rigs for Speckled Trout:
Jighead (1/16–1/8 oz) with 2–3” paddle tails (Down South Lures, Gulp Minnow, Z-Man Slim SwimZ)- Popping Cork Rig with a soft plastic shrimp 18” below — deadly for suspended specks
- Suspending Twitch Baits (MirrOdine, Rapala X-Rap) – slow twitch through the light edge
Glow or Pearl Colors work great under lights
Line Setup: 10–15 lb braid to 15–20 lb fluorocarbon leader
Why It Works:These hatches usually happen during major solunar windows, calm wind, and warm nights. The pier lights attract fry, and predators push in tight. It’s a full-on nighttime feeding window if you know how to work it.
Filmed at: Lighthouse Beach Pier, Port Lavaca TX
More content at: TikTok – @ConfirmedKeepers
Full reel: YouTube Shorts – Dachi Del MarIf you’ve hit a night bite like this, drop your go-to setup. Always down to hear how y’all work the shadow line.