Species guide · North Carolina
Gray triggerfish fishing in North Carolina
Balistes capriscus, an offshore species also called triggerfish, trigger and gray trigger. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Off season, about 17 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Neuse and Bay Rivers at 50, one of 9 North Carolina bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Off seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
South Atlantic
Off season, about 17 more weeks- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: May to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Oct.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
Hard bottom and wrecks from Northeast Florida to Cape Hatteras in 80-300 ft; spawning in spring and summer (NCDMF). Usually caught while bottom fishing for other reef species.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 9
North Carolina bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's gray triggerfish score this hour.
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (51) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (58) · 260 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (49) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 8 AM (55) · 7 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (49) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 5 PM (55) · 75 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (49) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 5 PM (55) · 134 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (48) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (52) · 49 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (48) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (57) · 331 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (46) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (55) · 1 named spot
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (45) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (53) · 21 named spots
Best window today 11 PM-12 AM (44) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (55) · 26 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 60°F to 86°F, best between 68°F and 82°F.
- Water depth
- 30 to 300 ft of water.
- Structure
- Reef, wreck, ledge, bank and pinnacle, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with light current.No published tide effect. Light current keeps small baits near the reef where triggers hover; heavy current sweeps baits away from them.
- Light
- Little tied to dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
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.
- Methods
- bottom fishing, chumming, light bottom rigs
- Lures
- small jigs tipped with squid
- Bait
- squid, cut cigar minnows, shrimp, cut bonito
Regulations
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Oct 31, 2026.
No reviewed gray triggerfish rule for North Carolina is on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep one.
Other North Carolina species
- Black sea bass
- Bluefish
- Florida pompano
- Gag grouper
- Little tunny
- Red drum
- Southern flounder
- Spotted seatrout
- Wahoo
- Weakfish
- Atlantic bluefin tuna
- Atlantic croaker
- Black drum
- Crevalle jack
- Greater amberjack
- King mackerel
- Red snapper
- Sailfish
- Sheepshead
- Spot
- Striped bass
- Summer flounder
- Yellowfin tuna
- Atlantic tarpon
- Cobia
- Gray snapper
- Mahi-mahi
- Red grouper
- Spanish mackerel