Unicorn Filefish
Aluterus monoceros
Also called Unicorn leatherjacket.
How to tell it
Gray-brown filefish with a long rough dorsal spine and a very long, thin rear body; often seen under floating weed.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called unicorn filefish, and what gives it away.
- Gray triggerfish: Stout, spiny first dorsal locks up. 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 — skin it; firm white meat.
In the app
Point the camera at an unicorn filefish 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 unicorn filefish
How many unicorn filefish 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 unicorn filefish from gray triggerfish?
Unicorn Filefish: Gray-brown filefish with a long rough dorsal spine and a very long, thin rear body; often seen under floating weed. Gray triggerfish: stout, spiny first dorsal locks up.