Trigger Fish
 

Can anyone tell me when trigger fish come into our area, seen on you tube they get them off the jetty's. Do they come up to pt pleasant, shark river areas?? What size hook, and what kind of bait, would like to try for them this summer. Not looking for anyone's spot, just like to know how far up north I could fish for them off the rocks. Thanks in advance for any info

Re: Trigger Fish
 

The guys that live in the area may know better ,but personally I never saw many of them caught off the north Jersey jettys. They are much more commonly caught off the jettys in so jersey.. I do think a good starting point might be the inlet rocks at Barnegat Light.

For some reason I have seen them caught on jetty rock piles on the Long Island south shore more commonly than on north Jersey Jettys...

Things may have changed, but in all the years I fished in the Shark/PP inlet areas, I personally never saw one, but that was a long time ago.

The are everywhere on deeper rock formations off of Long Branch, Deal, Elberon, in fairly shallow water say around 30-60 feet all summer long, into about October... I even caught a huge one in Raritan Bay on a wreck once, so they will go right into the bays as well.. If you can't get out in a boat, and want to stay as close to north Jersey as you can, I would call some of the bait shops closer to IBSP/Barnegat Light, and ask if the Triggerfish are being caught on jettys, or better yet, simply ask here!,,,,bob

Re: Trigger Fish
 

What Bob said. August into September on the reefs and wrecks. Good strong fight and great for the table.

Re: Trigger Fish
 

There was a diver that got triggers along the Manasquan jetty’s this week...

Re: Trigger Fish
 

Seen guys catch them on Barnegat Inlet North Jetty in September. He was using sand fleas.

Re: Trigger Fish
 

We get them blow fishing in barnegat bay, along the jetties and at the 72 bridges all summer. Clam and squid work well, use a split shot toss it out near structure. Keep moving they are school fish and where u catch 1 there will be more. Use a good long shank hook , I’ve had them bite a hook in half.

Re: Trigger Fish
 

Caught a few last year off of local jettys (Monmouth county), while kingfishing with small pieces of clams... July / August

Re: Trigger Fish
 

At the south end of the Garden State Parkway, we use a 1/4 or 3/8 oz leadhead with 3” Gulp! shrimp for jetty triggerfish.