Recreational harvest of Gulf gray triggerfish closes Jan. 1

December 27, 2024 – GULF SHORES, AL - Recreational harvest of gray triggerfish will close in Gulf state waters on Jan. 1. Harvest will open on March 1, 2025.

Gray triggerfish are olive-gray in color with plate-like scales. They have a small mouth with chisel-like teeth used for crushing, the dorsal and anal fins are marbled, and the upper and lower lobes of their tails are elongated in large adults. Young gray triggerfish have large dark spots on the back (sometimes this will persist in adults). They can be up to 17 inches long.

They prefer hard-bottoms, reefs and ledges in water depths that exceed 80 feet and are often found in the same sorts of environments that snapper are found in. They are called triggerfish because they can raise and lock their first dorsal spine; pressing down on the second dorsal spine acts as a trigger, unlocking the first spine.

The Alabama record is 10 lbs. .32 ounces, caught on May 31, 1993. The Florida record is 12 lbs. 7 oz, caught near Pensacola on July 15, 2001

They are almost always found in association with red snapper. Triggerfish feed primarily on benthic invertebrates including crabs, sea urchins, shrimp, sand dollars and mollusks. Recreational anglers commonly catch triggers on squid or cut bait but they are also harvested by spear fishing. Triggerfish are notorious bait stealers and often frustrate anglers targeting larger snapper and grouper. Because triggerfish have a hard, bony mouth, it is very important to use a small, very sharp hook. Light to medium bottom fishing equipment with 20 to 50 pound test line is sufficient for triggerfish which average 2 to 4 pounds.

Triggerfish are protected in Florida waters. The bag limit is just one per person per day when in season in Gulf waters. The Florida season is only open March 1 to May 31 And Aug. 1 – to Dec. 31 in Gulf waters. In Atlantic waters the bag limit is 10 per person per year and the season is year round.

In Alabama, the regulations for gray triggerfish include a recreational harvest season that opens on August 1, 2024, with a bag limit of 1 per person and a minimum fork length of 15 inches. Gray triggerfish is closed annually in January/February and June/July.

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