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Have you always wanted to learn how to catch triggerfish? Do you want to experience catching triggerfish? Triggerfish is an aggressive and hard-fighting fish. Triggerfish are challenging to catch as it has small mouth and teeth that it uses to nibble at bait and get away with it.
In this article, we discuss how to catch triggerfish, fishing tackle for catching triggerfish, the best baits for catching triggerfish, and other fishing tips to improve your chances of catching this hard-fighting and tasty fish.
Table of Contents
How To Catch Triggerfish
1. Drifting
Drifting is used by anglers when fishing for triggerfish. Triggerfish can be found at the bottom around structures like coral reefs, wrecks, ledges, logs, and buoys. Anglers usually drift their boats over these structures and drop their baits to the bottom in search of triggerfish. Drifting is similar to trolling but with drifting, the boat is carried by the currents in the water.
2. Chumming
Chumming is another fishing technique that is used to catch triggerfish. When chumming, anglers will put strips or little chunks of bait on their lines and drop them in the water to attract fish. When the fish discover the bait, they will all go after it and this way anglers can catch them. It is an effective way to attract fish when you are learning how to catch triggerfish.
3. Bait Casting
Bait casting is another fishing method used by anglers to catch triggerfish. Bait casting is a regular fishing method used by anglers when fishing for many fish. You set your bait on the line and cast it into the water. When you get tension or bite on the line, you reel it in quickly. When you are learning how to catch triggerfish, bait casting is one of the easiest methods to use.
Triggerfish Tackle Setup
A conventional fishing rod and reel can be used for triggerfish fishing. A 7-foot medium-action conventional rod with a 2230 series reel and a 300-pound braided line will work for anglers that prefer conventional fishing gear.
Similarly, a 7-foot medium action spinning rod with a 3000 to 4000 series reel spooled up with a 20-pound braided line works for anglers who prefer spinning tackle. The tackle for catching triggerfish is not complicated. It is the regular tackle you will use for catching other fish like grouper or red snapper.
How To Catch Triggerfish From The Shore
Triggerfish will move up in the water column to feed on forage that is in the weeds. You can catch triggerfish from the shore using a rig with a hook or a split shot or two will get the job done. Spinning tackle will be a better bet than conventional rigs. Catching triggerfish from the surface can be easier for anglers as it searches for prey in the weeds.
Best Baits For Triggerfish
1. Squid
Squid is the favorite bait used by anglers when fishing for triggerfish. It is easy to handle and its toughness allows it to remain on the hook for a longer time than other baits. Anglers use strips or chunks of squid when targeting triggerfish.
2. Sardines
Sardines work very well as bait when fishing for triggerfish. Anglers often prefer frozen sardines as bait for triggerfish.
3. Clams
Triggerfish has small mouth and teeth and likes to prey on crustaceans and other soft-shelled prey that they can crush with their teeth. Clams are also a good bait for triggerfish and triggerfish prey on them at the bottom.
4. Oysters
Oysters are also used as bait for triggerfish. They work well and attract triggerfish as they eat crustaceans and other marine life found at the bottom.
5. Octopus
Octopus is also a good bait for triggerfish. Anglers use chunks of octopus as bait to target triggerfish; it works well as triggerfish like small baits that they can easily chew and fit into its mouth.
6. Sand Dollar
Sand dollar is another favorite of triggerfish and is a good bait for catching them. Triggerfish likes sand dollar as it can easily get it into its small mouth.
7. Sea Urchin
Triggerfish like sea urchins as they can use their small teeth to get them into their mouths. It is a good bait when you are fishing for triggerfish.
8. Fiddler Crabs
Fiddler crabs are also another good bait anglers use when fishing for triggerfish. With their small mouths and teeth, they target fiddler crabs that they can break and chew in their small mouths.
9. Mollusks
Mollusks also work well as bait for catching triggerfish. Triggerfish uses its teeth to crush soft shell crustaceans that can fit into their small mouths.
Where To Find Triggerfish
Triggerfish prey on crustaceans and other marine life that reside at the bottom. Therefore, you will find triggerfish at the bottom hiding in structures like ledges, wrecks, artificial reefs, buoys, limestone outcroppings, and other structures that they can use to hide and ambush their prey.
When you are looking for triggerfish, move your boat slowly and when you find these structures, drop your bait to the bottom to target triggerfish.
Triggerfish Fishing Tips
- Anglers implement a technique called “bucketing” to catch triggerfish when they don’t bite. They like to swim and hide inside the flotsam. Anglers use that knowledge to their advantage and fill a bucket with water and add some lead and let it sink next to the boat. There is a good chance that the triggerfish will into the bucket and you can just pull it up and you might have one in the bucket.
2. Triggerfish have small mouths therefore properly rigging your bait is very important for catching them. They are notorious for nibbling bait off without getting hooked.
3. Triggerfish can be found close to shore sometimes, making them good targets for anglers with smaller boats. They often come up in the water column as they feed on the forage in the weeds.
4. Triggefish like to reside around structures like ledges, coral, artificial reefs, wrecks, or the natural hard bottom. They use the structures at the bottom to wait in ambush for their prey.
5. Try to locate smaller ledges and patches of hard bottoms that are not discovered by anglers fishing for grouper and other fish. These unnoticed structures are good areas to target triggerfish.
6. Use small hooks when fishing for triggerfish as they have small mouths and you want to get your hook in. A hook size of 2/0 usually works when fishing for triggerfish.
7. When you are learning how to catch triggerfish, if you are searching for triggerfish and are finding red snappers and groupers in the area, then there is a good chance that triggerfish are also in that area.
The Bottom Line
Triggerfish is an aggressive and hard-fighting fish that can be difficult to catch as it nibbles at bait until it unhooks the bait and gets away with it. They are often found at the bottom where they prey on crustaceans and other marine life found there.
In this article, we discussed how to catch triggerfish as well as the fishing methods, fishing tackle, and other information to help you be more successful when fishing for triggerfish. If you also fish for grouper, red snapper, halibut, and tarpon, you can also read how to catch grouper, how to catch red snapper, how to catch halibut, how to catch burbot, and how to catch tarpon.
