Triggerfish Fishing in Sarasota, FL
Tough-mouthed structure fish with a cult following for their fight and their fillets.
Typical season
- January: off peak
- February: off peak
- March: peak
- April: peak
- May: peak
- June: peak
- July: peak
- August: peak
- September: peak
- October: peak
- November: off peak
- December: off peak
Peak months: March to October.
The general season across its range. Ask us about the bite here.
Species guide
Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus)
- How to identify
- Olive-gray, laterally flattened body with a small mouth, strong teeth and a locking first dorsal spine.
- Size
- Up to 13 pounds and 28 inches fork length
- Lifespan
- 16 years
- Habitat
- Hard bottoms, reefs, ledges and artificial reefs at 80 to 300 feet.
- Range
- Western Atlantic from Nova Scotia south to Argentina, including the Gulf of America.
- Diet
- Crabs, sea urchins, shrimp, sand dollars and mollusks
Did you know? Named for a dorsal spine that locks upright until the smaller second spine is lowered, 'triggering' the first.
Source: NOAA Fisheries