Black durgonin Florida (Gulf)
Melichthys niger
Also called Black triggerfish.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for black durgon in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Marine Life rule: hand-held nets, drop nets, barrier nets, and slurp guns only; 2-day possession limit of 40 (10 per species). Triggerfish are counted under the Marine Life aggregate.
FWC 2026· checked · likelyOpen
Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Gulf) rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black durgonThis page. | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-round |
| Gray triggerfishGray, mottled.Tell them apart | 15 in fork length min | 1 per person | Open Mar 1-May 31 and Aug 1-Dec 31 |
| Queen triggerfishBlue lines on the face.Tell them apart | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Open year-round |
How to tell it
Jet-black triggerfish with pale blue lines along the dorsal and anal fin bases; open-water reef schooler. More on the black durgon page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Black durgon in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a black durgon in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlack durgon in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for black durgon in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many black durgon can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate.
When is black durgon season in Florida (Gulf)?
Year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) black durgon rule?
Source: FWC 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.