Gray triggerfish fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, gray triggerfish peak May–October and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Triggers on the reefs.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Gray triggerfish in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayPeak
- JunePeakTriggers on the reefs.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish gray triggerfish near Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto
Port Royal and St. Helena sounds, the ACE Basin, Charleston Harbor and its jetties, Bulls Bay, Winyah Bay and the Grand Strand beaches — spartina marsh and oyster rakes behind barrier islands, with live-bottom ledges, artificial reefs and the Georgetown Hole and Gulf Stream offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 218 wreck, 144 artificial reef spots in the The Lowcountry map area — the kinds gray triggerfish hold on.
What to use for gray triggerfish
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 62–84°F water, best at 68–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch gray triggerfish in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is May–October. Gray triggerfish are here year-round. June: Triggers on the reefs.
Where do gray triggerfish hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on artificial reef, wreck, ledge / hard bottom — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for gray triggerfish in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: squid, live shrimp. Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for gray triggerfish in South Carolina Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and change — read the current rule at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/licensing.html.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores gray triggerfish for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about gray triggerfish · The Lowcountry, the whole year