Gray Triggerfish(Balistes capriscus)
Quick Facts
- Size Range: Triggerfish can grow over 12 pounds.
- Native Species?: Yes
- Food Value: Though many anglers shy away from cleaning them, the meat is excellent and firm.
State Record
- Louisiana State Record: 12.4lbs
- State Record Date: 5/1/2015
- State Record Holder Chad Bonvillain
An odd shaped and rough skinned fish, the gray triggerfish is oval in shape with prominent dorsal and anal fins. The triggerfish gets its name from thespines in its dorsal fin—when threatened, the fish dives into a crevice and locksthe first spine into an erect position to anchor itself. The second spine is connected to the first and acts like a trigger, unlocking it when it’s depressed. Sharp teeth protruding from mouth make the triggerfish a formidable bait stealer.
Triggerfish inhabit offshore rocky bottom and reefs of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
Small pieces of tough, cut fish on small but strong hooks are the key to hooking a triggerfish. They are good at chewing a bait off with little detection on the rod tip.
Gray Triggerfish Rules and Regulations
| Size Limit : | 14” min fork length |
There is a closed season for the harvest of Gray Triggerfish from June 1 through July 31.
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Related Fishing Methods
Bottom Fishing
Bottom fishing is normally about fishing bottom structures in order to target benthic or bottom dwelling fish. There are a wide variety of techniques, but the common element is the targeting of species who dwell around or hide in natural and man-made structures. Fish like grouper, snapper, amberjack and catfish would be considered bottom fish. It is very popular amongst anglers and success is often determined by the fishermen's ability to crank a fish away from the structure before the fish can duck into it and cut the line. Anchoring or drifting the boat over the structure is key to having success. There are many versions, and many of the bottom fish are prized eating.
Dead Bait
Dead bait consists of many different types of bait that is no longer alive. Dead bait is still attractive to many fish as they are normally feeding by smell and dead bait is the ticket for smell. Fresh cut fish, dead shrimp, half crab, shucked clam, cut squid and all popular examples of bait that will catch a wide variety of fish. Many sport fish that are predators, will gladly take the opportunity to slurp up a fresh dead bait. A redfish is equally happy to chase down a baitfish or slurp up a dead shrimp on the bottom. Dead bait has the benefit is being easy to obtain, maintain and transport, as opposed to live bait which takes livewells, quality water control and can be harder to obtain.
