Speckled Trout (1 of 100 Limited Edition)

The Story

The speckled seatrout is one of those fish that anglers can identify in an instant and artists rarely do justice to. Shubert does it justice. The open jaw with the distinctive pronounced canine teeth hints at aggression. These fish are a favorite target for light-tackle anglers and known for their violent strikes when taking the bait or lure. No question that there is a fish on the line.

This fish is active, not posed — and the distinctive black speckling along the back and dorsal fin is rendered with the same careful attention Shubert brings to every subject. There is an iridescence to the flanks, a slight shimmer that changes as the light shifts, that speaks to the quality of the underlying painting rather than any trick of reproduction.

The Location

Spotted seatrout are an estuarine fish, most at home in the seagrass beds and shallow tidal flats of the lower Chesapeake, the seaside bays of the Eastern Shore, and the back-barrier lagoons from Maryland's Ocean City down through Virginia's barrier islands. They run hard in late summer and fall, and they are among the most actively targeted fish by light-tackle anglers throughout the Bay's tidal waters.

Artist's Perspective

"While painting this portrait, I was using a significant number of various photo studies to get the exact detailing, but was not happy with my progress. I took a break from the painting went to a tributary near my house for some flyfishing therapy, and landed a beautiful specimen of this fish, the exact size of my painting. The fish gods were smiling on me. Although these fish are delicious to eat, I had to gently put this gift back into the water." — Marty Shubert

Curator's Recommendation

Works beautifully with the Red Drum painting that is similarly sized with the same gray background. This is purposeful since both these species share the same marshes and tributaries around the bay.

Print Quality

Archival-Quality Canvas. Made in the USA with globally sourced materials.

Every Chesapeake Focus print is produced on archival-grade poly-cotton canvas using UL GREENGUARD GOLD certified inks — water resistant, fade resistant, and anti-yellowing. Each canvas is hand-stretched over kiln-dried stretcher bars that are knot-free and warp-free, then finished with your choice of hardwood floater frame in matte black, white, brown, or natural. Ready to hang right out of the box.

Stretcher bars sourced from FSC-certified, sustainably managed forests — a quiet nod to the landscapes our work celebrates.