Black DurgonorQueen Triggerfish
Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.
How to tell them apart
Black Durgon
Jet-black triggerfish with pale blue lines along the dorsal and anal fin bases; open-water reef schooler.
Queen Triggerfish
The painted trigger — curving blue face lines, gold-to-purple body, trailing tail filaments.
Queen triggerfish, next to black durgon: blue lines on the face.
Side by side
| Black Durgon | Queen Triggerfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Melichthys niger | Balistes vetula |
| Also called | Black triggerfish | Old wife |
| Waters | Nearshore | Nearshore |
| Heaviest state record | — | 10 lb 11 oz · North Carolina (2012) |
| On the table | Edible but rarely kept. | Good — skin it; ciguatera caution on big island fish. |
| Rules of its own in | 2 states | 2 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
Where either fish has a rule, the two are regulated the same. The name still goes in the log and on the tally.
| State | Black Durgon: size · bag · season | Queen Triggerfish: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked | No size limit5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateOpen year-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked | No size limit5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateOpen year-roundOpenFWC 2026 · likely · checked |
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, black durgon or queen triggerfish, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell black durgon from queen triggerfish?
Black Durgon: Jet-black triggerfish with pale blue lines along the dorsal and anal fin bases; open-water reef schooler. Queen Triggerfish: The painted trigger — curving blue face lines, gold-to-purple body, trailing tail filaments. Queen triggerfish, next to black durgon: blue lines on the face.
Which is better to eat, black durgon or queen triggerfish?
Black Durgon: Edible but rarely kept. Queen Triggerfish: Good — skin it; ciguatera caution on big island fish.
Do black durgon and queen triggerfish have the same limits?
Yes, in every state that regulates either one. The table on this page lists each rule with its source and check date.