Waterlands

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Gray triggerfishRetention open

Bar · Florida

South Bank

29.14°N · 83.10°W · Bar · Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM

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Best score today · 9 AM · Gray triggerfish

72/100Great
Now
573 AM EDT
Best window
8 AM-3 PMFlood tide
Tide now
Ebbing2.7 ft ▼

Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine

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24-hour conditions · rolling from now

Conditions · 3 AM · now

Time3ANOW
Score57Good
Tide2.7 ft ▼Ebbing
Current0.3 knmodeled · toward SW
Wind4 kn ENEgusts 8 · steady
Sea stateLight chop0.8 ft · 3 s
Air temp74°Warm
WeatherClear12% cloud
Water87°FObserved

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Gulf state waters (Escambia through Collier counties)

IN EFFECT NOW

Gray triggerfish

Retention open
Daily limit
1 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 15 in, fork length
Season
Aug 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Annual quota
Not published
Changes
Closed from Jan 1
Other
Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. Gulf season is March 1 through May 31 and August 1 through December 31. Federal waters can close early if the quota is met.

From FWC Recreational Regulations: Gray Triggerfish, read Sep 13

Other species here

  • Atlantic croaker Retention open
  • Black drum Retention open (5 per day)
  • Bluefish Retention open (10 per day)
  • Bonefish Catch & release (No retention)
  • Cobia Retention open (1 per day)
  • Crevalle jack Retention open
  • Florida pompano Retention open (6 per day)
  • Gag grouper Retention open (2 per day (4 Gulf grouper combined))
  • Gray snapper Retention open (5 per day (10 snapper combined))
  • Greater amberjack Retention open (1 per day)
  • King mackerel Retention open (3 per day)
  • Mahi-mahi Retention open (10 per day)
  • Permit Retention open (2 per day)
  • Red drum Retention open (1 per day)
  • Red grouper Retention open (2 per day (4 Gulf grouper combined))
  • Red snapper Retention open (2 per day (10 snapper combined))
  • Sailfish Retention open (1 per day (1 billfish combined))
  • Sheepshead Retention open (8 per day)
  • Snook Retention open (1 per day)
  • Southern flounder Retention open (5 per day)
  • Spanish mackerel Retention open (15 per day)
  • Spot Retention open
  • Spotted seatrout Retention open (5 per day)
  • Summer flounder Retention open (5 per day)
  • Tarpon Catch & release (No retention)
  • Wahoo Retention open (2 per day)

Source: FWC · synced yesterday

Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed

When Gray triggerfish is best here

Shoulder season for Gray triggerfish · 9 more weeks at shoulder

Gray triggerfish season by week of the year. Shoulder season for Gray triggerfish · 9 more weeks at shoulder.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

Gray triggerfish in Florida

Spot profile

South Bank

Depth
5-15 ftFlat bottom
Structure
Bank · Outer · Semi-exposedBank · flat bottom
Season
Shoulder seasonGray triggerfish

NOAA NCEI DEM, sampled Sep 13 on a 3.4 m grid. Depths are feet below NAVD 88, not chart datum (MLLW), so they can differ from a chart by a few feet. Not for navigation.

About this spot

Fishing South Bank

South Bank is a bar in Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM, Florida. Depth is 5-15 ft, with a flat bottom. Its profile reads bank, outer water and semi-exposed.

Waterlands scores 23 species here; the best right now are Atlantic croaker, red drum and Atlantic tarpon. It is peak season now for Atlantic croaker, red drum and gray snapper, and shoulder season for Atlantic tarpon, gag grouper, red snapper and black drum. Atlantic croaker peak from July through September. Red drum peak from September through November. Atlantic tarpon peak from May through July.

Tackle & technique

Gray triggerfish
Gray triggerfish hover a few feet over reefs, wrecks and ledges, usually in 60 to 200 feet, and often show up while snapper fishing. Use small, strong circle hooks with small pieces of squid or cut bait on a short bottom rig, because they nibble and strip big baits. Keep the bait just off the bottom and reel steadily at the first solid pull.
Atlantic croaker
Croaker feed on mud and sand bottom along channel edges, oyster bars, piers and deeper holes in bays and sounds, mostly in 5 to 30 feet of water. A two-hook bottom rig with small hooks and shrimp, bloodworm or squid catches them from piers, the surf and small boats. Fish the hours around high tide and into the evening.
Red drum
Redfish feed on shallow grass flats, oyster bars and marsh edges, often in 1 to 4 feet of water, and drop into channels, deep holes and tidal creeks when the water turns very hot or cold. Work a live shrimp under a popping cork or a soft plastic along the grass line on a rising tide, then fish creek mouths and drains as the tide falls. Bull reds over 30 inches school in the surf, passes and jetties in late summer and fall, where cut mullet or a live crab on the bottom is the standard approach.

Nearby spots

Other spots within an easy run

  • Northwest Channel

    Channel · 0.2 mi

    71
    Top: Atlantic croakerPeak season
    • Atlantic croaker 71
    • Gray snapper 67
    • Red drum 66

    4 kt ENEL 6:08 AM · 1.8 ftH 12:08 PM · 3.8 ft

  • Number Four Channel

    Channel · 1.4 mi

    71
    Top: Atlantic croakerPeak season
    • Atlantic croaker 71
    • Gray snapper 66
    • Atlantic tarpon 66

    4 kt ENEL 6:08 AM · 1.8 ftH 12:08 PM · 3.8 ft

  • McCrary Cove

    Bay · 0.7 mi

    69
    Top: Red drumPeak season
    • Red drum 69
    • Atlantic croaker 66
    • Atlantic tarpon 64

    4 kt ENEL 6:08 AM · 1.8 ftH 12:08 PM · 3.8 ft

  • North Bank

    Bar · 0.4 mi

    67
    Top: Atlantic croakerPeak season
    • Atlantic croaker 67
    • Red drum 66
    • Atlantic tarpon 64

    4 kt ENEL 6:08 AM · 1.8 ftH 12:08 PM · 3.8 ft

Scores and forecasts are for planning only and can be wrong. Conditions on the water change fast; check the marine forecast before you go. Regulations change during the season, so confirm limits and closures with FWC before you keep a fish.