Trigger fish

[rumster]

Has anyone caught trigger fish yet this year?

[MrAC1980]

I've seen pics of some off the local jetties. And Friday I was drifting wrecks for fluke and saw readings 10ft off the bottom which is typically triggers, but I had bucktails on and not the right setup to try for them. Water is warm enough, so they should be around.

[kmaty]

Il shoot you a pm!

[Reel Class]

we got one today 23 miles offshore, if that helps :eek:

[Reelman73088]

When you say local jetties can you specify north or south jersey? Not asking for a specific spot just want to know a general area as I also want to start targeting them. I mostly fish from shore and I've never tried for them before. I caught one on a PB last year and it was one of the best fish I've ever had so I definitely want to catch more of them.

[Gerry Zagorski]

They are reef fish so you will find them for the most part where you would find Sea Bass or Blackfish.

[makokeith]

I was fishing Saturday all over structure and had my gulps coming up with small chunks missing. North jersey. 6" grubs had chunks missing from the main body. Kept saying to myself that it was trigger. Idk. Any other fish do this"

[Inishmore3]

Go to the Barnegat Inlet on Long Beach Island. FHQ's is reporting that within the rocks there are trigger fish and blackfish. If you are lucky, you can get a sheepshead at the "rockpile". Go to LBI and have a great time. Bring plenty of clam and green crabs.

[Blackfish Bobby]

DUDES.....Are you kidding me. Protecting a Trigger fish spot...

CMon now.... I find this crap unbelievable.

[kmaty]

Yep! Dudes wha wha wha wont tell me where his trigger spot is this is why im buthurt wha wha wha why even make your usless comment.

[dfish28]

Fwiw haven't gone skin diving yet this year, but they are typically in shark river inlet by now, usually saw them closer to the bridge than out further, never shot one always thought they were no good... Old dog, new fish to eat....

[rumster]

Yep! Dudes wha wha wha wont tell me where his trigger spot is this is why im buthurt wha wha wha why even make your usless comment.

No harm No foul. Thanks for the info kmaty its greatly appreciated! Tight lines guys.

[Arbutis]

Shrewsbury Rocks are LOADED with trigger fish RIGHT NOW>
If they are there I'm sure they are up and down the coast on any structure or mussel beds - like someone else said, where you find togs and sea bass.

I was spearfishing last Wednesday morning and I have never seen so many triggers. They are a pretty easy shot so we loaded up on them. Not the smartest fish in the sea. You shoot one and 5 others swim right up to it. Nice firm white filets. Tough skin. A little bony. Not the easiest fish to clean. Delicious.

Another comment said something about readings on your sonar - YES - look for multiple readings that are not exactly on the bottom. These fish hover. Togs and bass are on the bottom for the most part. The triggers are mid to bottom dwellers and school up and are very slow moving - so your sonar will really light up.

To catch with rod and reel I would use a dropper rig with a weight to the bottom and then a couple small hooks from 6 to 10 feet off the bottom with small squid strips. I like the size 4 gamakatsu octo hooks for just about everything and I think they would be perfect for triggers.

Hope this intel helps. We shot them in 16 feet of water up to 28 feet of water (larger ones were in the 28 ft depth range) just south of the rocks off of Big Monmouth. How's that for a 'secret spot'

[MrAC1980]

Sorry I didn't mean to make anyone's butthurt, LOL. I wasn't protecting anything, when I said Jetty's, I meant inlets. Any of the local inlet rocks should be holding them by this time. Simple hi/low rig with small super strong hooks and small pieces of squid/clam is all you need.

[Inishmore3]

I think the folks making comments in the negative missed my post. I gave you a specific location and spot. Not sure where some of these folks are coming from. Should I assume they did not read my post? I also gave a shop that is reporting of great catches of triggerfish. Very weird. You try to help someone and it turns negative. I guess that is the Internet.

[rumster]

Shrewsbury Rocks are LOADED with trigger fish RIGHT NOW>
If they are there I'm sure they are up and down the coast on any structure or mussel beds - like someone else said, where you find togs and sea bass.

I was spearfishing last Wednesday morning and I have never seen so many triggers. They are a pretty easy shot so we loaded up on them. Not the smartest fish in the sea. You shoot one and 5 others swim right up to it. Nice firm white filets. Tough skin. A little bony. Not the easiest fish to clean. Delicious.

Another comment said something about readings on your sonar - YES - look for multiple readings that are not exactly on the bottom. These fish hover. Togs and bass are on the bottom for the most part. The triggers are mid to bottom dwellers and school up and are very slow moving - so your sonar will really light up.

To catch with rod and reel I would use a dropper rig with a weight to the bottom and then a couple small hooks from 6 to 10 feet off the bottom with small squid strips. I like the size 4 gamakatsu octo hooks for just about everything and I think they would be perfect for triggers.

Hope this intel helps. We shot them in 16 feet of water up to 28 feet of water (larger ones were in the 28 ft depth range) just south of the rocks off of Big Monmouth. How's that for a 'secret spot'
LOL. Thanks

[rumster]

No worries Irish. There are always a few people looking for controversy. Most people enjoy constructive reports like yours.

[Deepdeckhand]

Found a few diving south side of MI- didn't see any at SRI....this was Thursday Friday last week...Very tasty targets/ just don't get bit- slammed my finger in a car door last year and went diving a little later/ little grey bastard bit me right on the slammed finger!!!Damn that hurt...

[Blackfish Bobby]

Shrewsbury Rocks are LOADED with trigger fish RIGHT NOW>
If they are there I'm sure they are up and down the coast on any structure or mussel beds - like someone else said, where you find togs and sea bass.

I was spearfishing last Wednesday morning and I have never seen so many triggers. They are a pretty easy shot so we loaded up on them. Not the smartest fish in the sea. You shoot one and 5 others swim right up to it. Nice firm white filets. Tough skin. A little bony. Not the easiest fish to clean. Delicious.

Another comment said something about readings on your sonar - YES - look for multiple readings that are not exactly on the bottom. These fish hover. Togs and bass are on the bottom for the most part. The triggers are mid to bottom dwellers and school up and are very slow moving - so your sonar will really light up.

To catch with rod and reel I would use a dropper rig with a weight to the bottom and then a couple small hooks from 6 to 10 feet off the bottom with small squid strips. I like the size 4 gamakatsu octo hooks for just about everything and I think they would be perfect for triggers.

Hope this intel helps. We shot them in 16 feet of water up to 28 feet of water (larger ones were in the 28 ft depth range) just south of the rocks off of Big Monmouth. How's that for a 'secret spot'

Just catching up on the static in this post.
... Been busy out catching Triggers. LMAO...Great Report. Thanks.
FYI The Wonder Rig with live Peanut Bunker continues to score BIG with fish to 7lbs. and easy limits in Raritan Bay. Great season so far in the bay after the extended season in the river.

[Arbutis]

FYI The Wonder Rig with live Peanut Bunker continues to score BIG with fish to 7lbs. and easy limits in Raritan Bay. Great season so far in the bay after the extended season in the river.

That's good to hear. Curious - with live peanuts, what size hook are you using? how do you rig the bunker on the hook? Where are you finding peanuts?

Thanks.

Oh - and let us know what you are using to catch the triggers and at what depth. Good to hear they are still there. My buddy is going to try to shoot some in the morning. I have to work!

[Reelman73088]

Thanks for the info guys and fwiw I wasn't butthurt either lol the way fishing is now if you do have a "secret spot" I can't blame ya for protecting it. But anyway I appreciate the pointers and I'll be hitting SRI at some point this week, most likely Thursday but possibly tomorrow if my schedule permits. I'm definitely gonna try for some triggers for a little while and if that's no good I'll just do my usual fluke fishing. Maybe if I really feel like burning some gas I'll hit Barnegat inlet one day and SRI another day this week. I'm in Philly so any shore point is a little bit of a drive for me but well see how the week goes. Whatever I do I'll give a report on here. Tight lines everyone!

[Blackfish Bobby]

That's good to hear. Curious - with live peanuts, what size hook are you using? how do you rig the bunker on the hook? Where are you finding peanuts?

Thanks.

Oh - and let us know what you are using to catch the triggers and at what depth. Good to hear they are still there. My buddy is going to try to shoot some in the morning. I have to work!

Keyport is loaded with peanuts at high tide. Cast net them from my dock. I bumped the hook up to a number 1 red Gami Octo hook. When alive I hook across thru the nostrils....if fresh dead I will hook like a killie but hook deep to the bend of the hook so the mouth stays closed. Was just kidding on the triggers...been staying with the fluke while the bite is on.