Gray Triggerfish
Balistes capriscus
Also called Trigger.
How to tell it
Leathery gray diamond body, trigger-locking first dorsal spine, tiny chisel teeth.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15 in fork length minimum | 1 per person | State waters follow federal Gulf season; closed annually Jan-Feb and Jun-JulAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 12 in fork length min | 10 per person | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 15 in fork length min | 1 per person | Open Mar 1-May 31 and Aug 1-Dec 31FWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | 12 in fork length | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | 15 in fork length | 1 per person within reef fish aggregate | Open Mar. 1–May 31 and Aug. 1–Dec. 31; closed Jan. 1–Feb. 28 and June 1–July 31LDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 15 in fork length minimum | 1 per person | Open Aug 1 – Dec 31, 2026MS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | 12 in fork length | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 12 in fork length | 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate (max 10 of any one species) | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | 16 in total length | 20 | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 13 lb 8 oz | 1993 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Connecticut | 6 lb 1.5 oz | 2016 · Pine Island, Groton | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 · Exotic Marine Species Category (Harvested) |
| Delaware | 6 lb 5 oz | 2012 | DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 13.25 lb | 2012 · Pensacola | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 11 lb 4.8 oz | 1987 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 13.35 lb | 2022 · Green Canyon | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 6 lb | 2020 · Ocean City | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Mississippi | 11 lb 3.96 oz | 2013 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Hampshire | 2 lb 1.12 oz | 2012 · Piscataqua River, Portsmouth | NH Fish & Game Verified Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 6 lb 11 oz | 2016 · Sea Girt Reef | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New York | 7 lb 10 oz | 1999 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 11 lb 6 oz | 1992 · Morehead City | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| Rhode Island | 5 lb 2 oz | 2025 · Wickford | RI DEM Saltwater Sportfish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| South Carolina | 13 lb 9 oz | 1989 · Murrells Inlet | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 12.46 lb | 1996 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 6 lb 12 oz | 2017 · Off Virginia Beach | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Excellent — tough hide, worth the effort.
In the app
Point the camera at a gray triggerfish 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 gray triggerfish
What is the size limit for gray triggerfish?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 15 in fork length minimum; Florida (Atlantic): 12 in fork length min; Florida (Gulf): 15 in fork length min; Georgia: 12 in fork length; Louisiana: 15 in fork length; Mississippi: 15 in fork length minimum; North Carolina: 12 in fork length; South Carolina: 12 in fork length; and more in the table above.
How many gray triggerfish can you keep?
Alabama: 1 per person; Florida (Atlantic): 10 per person; Florida (Gulf): 1 per person; Georgia: 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate; Louisiana: 1 per person within reef fish aggregate; Mississippi: 1 per person; North Carolina: 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate; South Carolina: 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate (max 10 of any one species); and more in the table above.
When is gray triggerfish season?
Alabama: State waters follow federal Gulf season; closed annually Jan-Feb and Jun-Jul; Florida (Gulf): Open Mar 1-May 31 and Aug 1-Dec 31; Louisiana: Open Mar. 1–May 31 and Aug. 1–Dec. 31; closed Jan. 1–Feb. 28 and June 1–July 31; Mississippi: Open Aug 1 – Dec 31, 2026.
What is the record gray triggerfish?
13 lb 9 oz in South Carolina (1989), Murrells Inlet. Other states’ records are in the table.