Gray Triggerfish

Gray triggerfish are found along the Gulf of Mexico in shallow waters near lagoons and bays. The best methods for catching Gray triggerfish are bait casting, bottom fishing and drift fishing using squid.

Gray Triggerfish

Region: Northeast, South
Habitat: Ocean, Bay

How to identify Gray Triggerfish

The colors of a gray triggerfish differ in adults and juveniles. Adults are dark green-gray with blue markings on their dorsal fins and upper flanks. When they are spawning, males change to a grayish-black color, and females develop black/white markings. Young triggerfish have purple marking on their yellow bodies with additional dark spots on other areas of their bodies and fins. They have light, spotty areas on their backs and anal fins.

Where to catch Gray Triggerfish

Gray triggerfish can be found in the Atlantic near the British Isles, the Mediterranean, Angola, Argentina, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean up the eastern seaboard of the U.S., Bermuda, and up to Nova Scotia. They prefers to stick to areas with rocky, hard bottoms where the water is up to 180 feet deep. Gray triggerfish sometimes venture into lagoons and bays.

Range: Northeast, South
Gray Triggerfish Fishing Map

The following are habitats where you can catch Gray Triggerfish:

How to catch Gray Triggerfish

Anglers have the best luck with catching these fish in shallow waters that are about ten feet deep. The best method to use is to cast the line out and pull it back slowly with a flipping pattern to entice the triggerfish to strike. In deeper waters a top/bottom rig with small, baited hooks works best. Once the rig reaches the bottom, wait for the fish to bite, then keep the rod as steady as possible while reeling it in quickly.

The following are effective fishing methods and techniques for catching Gray Triggerfish:

Best Lures, Bait & Tackle to catch Gray Triggerfish

Gray triggerfish aren’t particularly picky about bait. Squid is known to work well and also stays on the hook better than other options.

The following are fishing lures, bait and tackle that can be used to catch Gray Triggerfish: