Striped BurrfishorNorthern Puffer
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
Striped Burrfish
Spiny balloon with wavy dark stripes and big doll eyes; short spines are always half-raised.
Northern Puffer
Inflates; olive back, tiny mouth.
Northern puffer, next to striped burrfish: no spines, pepper-grain dots.
Side by side
| Striped Burrfish | Northern Puffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Chilomycterus schoepfii | Sphoeroides maculatus |
| Also called | Spiny boxfish | — |
| Waters | Inshore | Inshore |
| Heaviest state record | 1.62 lb · Texas (2014) | 1 lb 5 oz · New York (2020) |
| On the table | No — leave the puffer family off the table. | The 'sea squab' — edible unlike southern puffers, but only if you're CERTAIN of the species; when in doubt, no. |
| Rules of its own in | 0 states | 2 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
The two fish are regulated differently in 2 of 2 states with a rule for either. In Florida (Atlantic), northern puffer is No size limit, Banned in 5 east-coast counties · elsewhere 2 fish or 100 lb while striped burrfish has no rule of its own there. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.
| State | Striped Burrfish: size · bag · season | Northern Puffer: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. | No size limitBanned in 5 east-coast counties · elsewhere 2 fish or 100 lbBanned in Volusia–Martin counties (toxin)CheckFWC, Fla. Admin. Code r. 68B-3.007 · checked |
| Florida (Gulf) | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. | No size limitBanned in 5 east-coast counties · elsewhere 2 fish or 100 lbBanned in Volusia–Martin counties (toxin)CheckFWC, Fla. Admin. Code r. 68B-3.007 · checked |
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, striped burrfish or northern puffer, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell striped burrfish from northern puffer?
Striped Burrfish: Spiny balloon with wavy dark stripes and big doll eyes; short spines are always half-raised. Northern Puffer: Inflates; olive back, tiny mouth. Northern puffer, next to striped burrfish: no spines, pepper-grain dots.
Which gets bigger, striped burrfish or northern puffer?
Striped Burrfish. The heaviest state record we hold is 1.62 lb in Texas; the heaviest northern puffer record is 1 lb 5 oz in New York.
Which is better to eat, striped burrfish or northern puffer?
Striped Burrfish: No — leave the puffer family off the table. Northern Puffer: The 'sea squab' — edible unlike southern puffers, but only if you're CERTAIN of the species; when in doubt, no.
Do striped burrfish and northern puffer have the same limits?
Not everywhere. They differ in 2 state rulebooks. Florida (Atlantic): striped burrfish no rule of its own, northern puffer No size limit, Banned in 5 east-coast counties · elsewhere 2 fish or 100 lb; Florida (Gulf): striped burrfish no rule of its own, northern puffer No size limit, Banned in 5 east-coast counties · elsewhere 2 fish or 100 lb.