Gray Triggerfish

Gray Triggerfish Fishing in Florida

Gray triggerfish live on hard bottom, reefs and ledges deeper than 80 feet. In Gulf state waters the season runs March 1 to May 31 and August 1 to December 31 with a 1-fish limit; Atlantic state waters are open year-round with a 12-inch fork length minimum.

Florida rules from FWC and NOAA Fisheries, checked Sep 2026

Check before you keep a fish. Seasons and limits change, sometimes in the middle of a season, and a court or an agency can change them overnight. Everything here was copied from FWC and NOAA Fisheries in Sep 2026 and is listed with its source at the bottom of this page. We are not a regulatory authority. Confirm the current rule with your captain or with FWC before you keep a fish.

Florida state record

  • 13.25 lb Pensacola · April 28, 2012 · Kenneth Baker

From FWC Florida Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle), checked Sep 2026. Records are certified by FWC and can be broken at any time.

About the fish

SizeUp to 17 inches
Where it livesHard bottom, reefs and ledges deeper than 80 feet
What it eatsCrabs, sea urchins, shrimp, sand dollars and mollusks

From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.

Which rules apply to your trip

  • Gulf or Atlantic decides almost everything: size, limit and season are all different.
  • In Gulf federal waters, the season can close early if a quota closure is announced, so check before a trip.
  • Fishing from a private boat, you need FWC's State Reef Fish Angler designation, renewed annually. Reef fish gear rules apply; in state waters that includes a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use.

Gulf: when you can keep one

Gulf state and federal waters.

  • All anglersOpen March 1 to May 31 and August 1 to December 31FWC. Federal waters close January 1 to the end of February and June 1 to July 31, and can close early if an in-season closure is announced.
15 inches fork lengthSize limit
1 per personDaily limit. Inside the 20-fish federal reef fish aggregate in federal waters.

Atlantic: when you can keep one

Atlantic state waters. Special regulations apply in Biscayne National Park.

  • State watersOpen year roundFWC.
12 inches fork lengthSize limit
10 per personDaily limit. In federal waters, up to 10 per person within the 20-fish "other" snapper-grouper aggregate bag limit.

Questions about gray triggerfish

How big does a triggerfish have to be?

15 inches fork length in the Gulf and 12 inches in the Atlantic.

How many can I keep?

1 per person in the Gulf and 10 per person in the Atlantic.

When is Gulf triggerfish open?

March 1 to May 31 and August 1 to December 31 in Gulf state and federal waters, per FWC; in federal waters the season can close early if a quota closure is announced.

Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from FWC, triggerfish regulations and FWC, Gulf gray triggerfish 2026 and NOAA Fisheries, Gulf regulations and seasonal closures and FWC, reef fish gear rules and FWC, gray triggerfish profile in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.