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The gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) are a unique fish that travel via the warm Gulf Stream up to our waters.
They are uniquely characterized by their tough gray-colored skin and very prominent dorsal spine. The most striking feature is their sharp, beaklike teeth that can definitely inflict nasty bites if one is not careful during handling.
My first sighting was this past July when I speared my first triggerfish at approximately 30 feet down in Rhode Island.
In September, I happened to come across this fish in Marblehead Harbor by Fort Sewall during a regular spearfishing outing.
I was in total disbelief when I first sighted the fish, as typically I expect them to be found as far north as Rhode Island, but later found they can migrate as far north as Nova Scotia.
If you are fishing for them, you would want to look near jetties and rocks mainly.
The taste of these exotic fish is firm and flaky with slight sweet notes. I compare their taste to crab meat.
So you never know, you may land your prized fish during your next fishing adventure. Keep your eyes peeled in the deep blue!
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