The Triggerfish
April 29, 2013
By Florida Sportsman Editor
The Gray Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus
Uniform dark gray in color, sometimes with darker blotches on the sides, especially in smaller fish.
SIZE
Averages 1-3 pounds; may rarely top 10 pounds. World record 13 pounds, 9 ounces. Florida record 12 pounds, 7 ounces.
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FOOD VALUE
Excellent. Many consider Triggerfish fillets to be tastier fare than those from the Yellowtail and small Snapper that are often caught with them in mixed bags. They are, however, more difficult to clean because of their tough skins.
GAME QUALITIES
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The small mouth of the Triggerfish makes them difficult to hook, but once they are on a line they put up an outstanding fight against light tackle.
TACKLE AND BAITS
Spinning, baitcasting and light ocean tackle. Small hooks are essential. They bite shrimp and any sort of cut bait and also nip voraciously at artificial lures, especially plastics, although seldom getting hooked on them.
FISHING SYSTEMS
Still Fishing; Drifting.
OTHER NAMES
Common Triggerfish Common Turbot Cucuyo
RANGE
All Florida, the Bahamas and Caribbean.
HABITAT
Mostly found well offshore in northern half of Florida, but inhabits both inshore areas—patches, holes, bridge and dock pilings—and offshore reefs of South Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean Islands.
Jacksonville Triggers Triggerfish Jacksonville, FL at 130 feet
Triggerfish Florida Sportsman forum member STEEZO and friends caught these triggerfish and four others fishing with Captain Todd Harris.
Triggerfish on Father's Day Dean Crouch caught this 7.6lb Triggerfish on his Father's Day kayaking trip offshore of Pensacola, Florida.
Sebastian Triggerfish FS Member snapperscrapper posted this triggerfish photo from off Sebastian.
Bahamas Triggerfish Paula Ferrer caught these triggerfish on the north shore of Crooked Island in the Bahamas using squid as bait.