Where can I catch Triggerfish in the UK?

Irregular, mainly south and south-west coasts.

What tackle do I need to catch Triggerfish?

Most juniors catch Triggerfish on straightforward float or feeder setups with balanced line and hook sizes and a small landing net.

What bait works well for Triggerfish?

Natural baits such as maggots, worms or bread often work well for Triggerfish.

Triggerfish species guide • Sea fish • Easy (4/10)

Triggerfish junior fishing guide

Balistes capriscus

A clear, plain-English guide to triggerfish for parents, coaches and juniors. See where they live, the best starter tackle, simple bait choices and a three-step plan to help young anglers catch their first one safely.

🎣 View starter tackle setups 📋 Log a Triggerfish catch

Junior-first & welfare-aware • 3-step beginner plan • UK venues & seasons

Skill & size • Seasons • Beginner baits

Skill level

Easy (4/10)

Great for coached juniors and confident beginners.

Best time

Spring–Autumn

Pick mild, settled days for junior sessions.

Typical size

1–4 lb common when present.

Always match hooks, nets & lines to expected fish size.

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Beginner baits

Maggots, worms, bread

Keep it simple — small hook baits, little-and-often feeding.

Typical venues: Rocky and reefy ground, often in late summer warm spells.

Scroll down for detailed tackle setups, methods and parent-friendly guidance.

Catch your first triggerfish with confidence

Catch your first Triggerfish in 3 steps

A simple, repeatable plan juniors can follow with help from a parent, coach or older angler.

Step 1

Occasional warm-water encounters

Triggerfish appear sporadically on warm rocky marks. Juniors may encounter them when fishing for wrasse or bream.
Step 2

Strong hooks and tough baits

Use robust hooks and crab or shellfish baits. Expect powerful bites close to structure.
Step 3

Warn about powerful teeth

Explain that Triggerfish can bite hard. Keep hands away from the mouth and use tools to unhook fish safely.

Tackle setups that work

Designed with juniors and fish welfare in mind. Start with an IDEAL or GOOD setup for easier casting and safe unhooking.

We don’t have tackle recommendations for this species yet. Ask your club coach for a simple, junior-friendly rig and check back soon.

About the Triggerfish

Grey Triggerfish are warm-water visitors with strong teeth and tough skins. They can be very aggressive feeders on hard ground when water temperatures rise.

Junior tip

If triggerfish appear, use strong hooks and small crab or shellfish baits. Take care with sharp teeth when unhooking.

Logged a Triggerfish recently?

Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught, which baits work and how your tackle was set up.

Submit a catch report

Want to discover more species? Browse the full species guide.

← Back to all species

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For parents & carers

Use this page to quickly judge if Triggerfish are a good match for your child’s confidence and ability.

● Clear guidance on safe handling, landing nets and unhooking.
● Beginner tackle that’s lightweight and manageable for juniors.
● Written in plain language so non-angling parents can still support on the bank.

At a glance

Family: Balistidae
Feeding zone: Midwater / Bottom around rocky ground.
Diet: Shellfish, crustaceans and hard-shelled prey.
Typical size: 1–4 lb common when present.
Best season: Late summer visitor during warm years.
Conservation: Warm-water visitor; not usually targeted commercially in UK.
UK distribution: Irregular, mainly south and south-west coasts.

Typical venues

Look for triggerfish in:

Rocky and reefy ground often in late summer warm spells.

Conservation & care

Warm-water visitor; not usually targeted commercially in UK.