Black Durgon
Melichthys niger
Also called Black triggerfish.
How to tell it
Jet-black triggerfish with pale blue lines along the dorsal and anal fin bases; open-water reef schooler.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called black durgon, and what gives each one away.
- Gray triggerfish: Gray, mottled. Tell them apart
- Queen triggerfish: Blue lines on the face. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
On the table
Edible but rarely kept.
In the app
Point the camera at a black durgon and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about black durgon
How many black durgon can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate; Florida (Gulf): 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate.
How do you tell black durgon from gray triggerfish?
Black Durgon: Jet-black triggerfish with pale blue lines along the dorsal and anal fin bases; open-water reef schooler. Gray triggerfish: gray, mottled.