The Queen Triggerfish is one of the most beautiful fish in the ocean. Catching Queen Triggerfish is an elusive species that only a handful of fishermen have mastered. We have broken out how to catch Queen triggerfish fast and easy.
Catching Queen Triggerfish in 4 Easy Steps
- How to find Queen Triggerfish
- Rigging your fishing gear properly
- Baiting for success
- Putting it all Together to catch Queen Triggerfish
How to find Queen Triggerfish
Queen Triggerfish can be plentiful in parts of their range or extremely elusive in other areas it inhabits. For instance around Saint Croix Island and parts of the Caribbean the Queen Triggerfish is plentiful. The Gulf of Mexico, however is a different animal all together and like the Hogfish they can be scarce to nonexistent. In the Gulf the Queen Triggerfish I have caught were all caught over Live Bottom in water 80 plus feet deep. Catching queen triggerfish is knowing the structures they like to hang out like these:
- Live Bottom
- Ledges
- Rocks
The Queen Triggerfish for the most part is a solitary fish that may at times be found in small groups of 5-10 fish. They are diurnal and feed during the day while sleeping at night. In the Alabama and Panhandle area I have only caught Queen Triggerfish in The Trysler Grounds over live bottom at depths ranging from 90 – 150 feet. Most of the time I was over soft corals surrounded by sand. In other parts of South Florida and of course Mexico they were more prevalent and of course found over Live Bottom. If you don’t have any good fishing spots you can always browse our store for fishing spots.
Rigging your fishing gear properly
Types of Rigs
When it comes to rigs there everyone has their own opinion as to what works best. My intent here is to give you the basics that are proven and efficient. For our purposes we will explore only two methods of rigging for Queen Triggerfish and I’ll explain each of the methods in more detail below.
I typically use the dropper rig only if I am fishing with live bait, such as Cigar Minnows, Menhaden or Pinfish. I tend to use the Carolina Rig when fishing just off a structure or on live bottom where the risk of entanglement is slightly less. The 2 types of rigs I use most for Queen Triggerfish is the following:
Specialized Gear for rigs
I am a minimalist when it comes to fishing, the least amount of hardware the better the rig. For Queen Triggerfish I like to use the following for my rig setup:
- Fluorocarbon leader (20-30 pound test)
- Circle Hook (size 2 extra-strength)
- Swivel (50-100 pound and black or charcoal in color)
- Medium action 6-8 foot rod
- Weights (3 to 6 ounces)
- Reel (something that can hold 25-40 pound monofilament or 40-50 pound braid)
Baiting for Success
Baits I typically have when fishing for Queen Triggerfish
Shrimp
- Can be found in most tackle stores fresh or frozen with ease.
Squid
- Can be found in most tackle stores frozen with ease.
Gulf squid is far superior to the cut squid you typically find at Walmart. When the tackle store has them in stock I’ll buy 20 plus boxes and store them in the freezer.
Clams
- Can be purchased at your local seafood shop if not available on the beaches.
Octopus
- Can be purchased at your local seafood shop.
Crab
- Can be captured using traps or by flipping rocks.
Sand Fleas
- Sand Fleas, which can be caught easily with a Sand-flea rake and kept in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Cut baits on the bottom
The key to Catching Queen Triggerfish a person must first understand their diet. Shrimp, Squid, Clams, Octopus and crab are all good baits. I have even caught them on Sand Fleas.
Success begins with Location & Bait Presentation
The first step is to locate appropriate structure that is considered attractive to Queen Triggerfish. I like to look for medium to large patches soft corals surrounded by sand. The Queen Triggerfish requires an area where it can feed and rock crevices where it can sleep and is protected from predators. The reason for the sandy area is, because Sand-Dollars are a favorite food of the Queen Triggerfish.
Once you are over the structure, it is important to present as many baits as possible. The Queen Triggerfish is a voracious feeder, but can be finicky. I generally will drop a double dropper rig baited with live Sand-Fleas or Live Shrimp as one rig. For the 2nd rig I will use a Carolina rig with half a scallop as bait. My 3rd rig will have an octopus tentacle and will generally be a single dropper rig with a longer leader of around 2 feet. My 4th and final rig is a double dropper rig baited with squid. All rods are put in rod holders and baits are presented just off the bottom.
Putting it all Together to catch Queen Triggerfish
Rod Holding
Holding the Rod in my Hands
I will only hold a rod in my hand while Queen Triggerfish Fishing if I am trying for by-catch. Scamp & Red Grouper love the same areas as well as Red Snapper and Hogfish.
Using the Rod Holder
I put the rod in a rod holder then I reel in 2-3 times so the weight never actually touches the bottom and leave it in the holder, until the fish hooks itself.
The Rigs to use and when
DROPPER RIG
If I am fishing with live bait.
Carolina Rig
Just off a structure or on live bottom where the risk of entanglement is slightly less.
Actually fishing for Queen Triggerfish
The down and dirty of putting those Queen Triggerfish in your cooler. We’ll start with the basic dropper rig. I hook my live Sand Fleas through the tail section and try to hide as much of the hook as possible. Live shrimp I hook right behind the head. I like to get my live baits out first as they are typically hit pretty fast.
The next Queen Triggerfish Rig I’ll put out is a Carolina Rig with Scallop or Octopus tentacles. I drop it the same way, but I reel it in 2-3 times so the bait is actually just off the bottom and has the least chance of entanglement.
There could be other fish
Once I have all 4 rods out if I’m not running around like a mad man trying to keep up with them, I’ll rig a rod for by-catch. Gag, Scamp and Red Grouper along with Porgy and Snapper love live bottom just as much as the Queen Triggerfish. If the season is open I’ll definitely try and add some meat to the freezer and face it who doesn’t love a nice Grouper filet?
Final Wash Down
In general I get bites within a few seconds and no longer than a few minutes. If for any reason I feel that the number of bites I am getting or the quality of the fish just isn’t there then I move to my next spot. Sometimes moving just a few feet can be the difference, between a slow day and a full day. Always keep in mind less is more, meaning the lighter your rigs the more bites, but less landings due to break-offs. You want to find that balance that still gets solid hook-ups and allows at least a 90% land ratio.
Starting out you can always fish public reefs and spend a few years finding your own spots or for a very minimal fee, you can download our file and use our numbers. In the Grand Schema of life, we charge much less than the Taxman lurking in the depths.
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