Species guide · Texas
Gray triggerfish fishing in Texas
Balistes capriscus, an offshore species also called triggerfish, trigger and gray trigger. Listed for the Western Gulf region. Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Corpus Christi and Nueces Bays at 62, one of 9 Texas bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Western Gulf
Shoulder season, about 4 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: Shoulder season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: May to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Nov.
Research notes, Western Gulf region
Texas and Louisiana rigs, banks and reefs deeper than about 30 ft. Same Gulf closures apply.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 9
Texas bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's gray triggerfish score this hour.
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (62) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 9 AM (67) · 37 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (59) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 6 PM (68) · 54 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (62) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 5 PM (71) · 61 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (59) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (65) · 97 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (58) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 6 PM (66) · 51 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (57) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (65) · 2 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (57) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 6 PM (65) · 8 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (55) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 6 PM (63) · 5 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (55) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 5 PM (62) · 14 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
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Synced with TPWD Oct 31, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
1 per day (20 Gulf reef fish (20-fish) combined) · Minimum 15 in, fork length
Season: No closed season on file
Changes to closed on Jan 1, 2027
No more than 1 gray triggerfish and 10 vermilion snapper. Open between the dated closures unless NOAA closes the season early.
50 CFR part 622, subpart B (Gulf reef fish) · verified Sep 13, 2026
20 per day · 40 in possession · Minimum 16 in, total length
Season: No closed season on file
Have a descending device or venting tool ready for reef fish showing signs of barotrauma. Federal-waters rules may differ. The possession limit is double the daily bag and does not count fish stored at your residence. While fishing, you may not hold more than the daily bag.
TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Triggerfish Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026