|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUBJECT: # 37699: Trigger Fish Disgusting But True
Submitted by Fish Head Ed (216.119.136.11) from TEXAS on 7/10/02 8:15:00 AM
Had dinner last night with a hispanic family who went party boat fishing the day prior. They maxed out on snappers and told everyone on the boat they wanted to keep any trigger fish they caught. From what I understand these fish are not favored amoung the sportsfisher people (excuse my gender political correctness - girlfriend sitting behind me - hehehhe!). By day's end they had a good mess of Triggers from their shoulder to shoulder buddies who willingly discarded them. She cut the Triggers into small cubes and baked them in a butter wine type white sauce, it tasted like lobster! So I'm going party boat fishing tomorrow. Forget the snappers I want the triggers! What other discard fish are good to eat?
- 7/10/02 8:37:00 AM
Submitted by
Fish Hawk (129.42.208.140) from NORTH CAROLINA says Triggers....
Triggers are great to eat. This must be a bunch of folks that havn't figured it out yet. It probably won't be long and they will be on to it.
- 7/10/02 9:09:00 AM
Submitted by
JCfromTN (216.98.85.200) from TENNESSEE says Triggerfish
It don't get much better than triggerfish. They can be a pain to clean, but the meat is tops in my book. About the only thing that I like better is wahoo. I've also seen people not keep amberjack and I think they are good eating also. Not near as good as triggerfish, but good.....JC
- 7/10/02 12:37:00 PM
Submitted by
tmk (161.114.88.75) from GEORGIA says Triggers are good
Trigger Fish are good, and I don't catch many of them thank goodness, however, you have to clean them with a hatchet or chainsaw. Good luck, get a good knife.tk
- 7/10/02 1:33:00 PM
Submitted by
C. Cortez (216.163.246.4) from SOUTH CAROLINA says Triggerfish
Triggerfish meat is about as good as it gets on reef fish. If people do not prefer them, then they probably have not eaten them or they are refering to cleaning them. Their skin is like something you could make cowboy boots out of. We have found it easiest to fillet them backwards starting at the tail instead of behind the gill plate.A few years ago in the Keys, I accidentally caught several "bream-sized" triggerfish on a sabiki rig. Trying to take the small gold hook out of the first fish was a mistake in 5-foot seas; he bit about a 1/8 inch chunk a flesh out of the tip of my index finger! So watch those teeth and use pliers; I know I will from now on.
Heck yeah, I'll take triggerfish anyday, especially on light tackle!
Bent Rods and Smiling Faces!
Capt. C
- 7/10/02 6:09:00 PM
Submitted by
Bob Miller (204.64.0.171) from TEXAS says yummy trashfish
2 to 4 lb sheepheads are good, too!Never free a galvanized snapper!
- 7/11/02 8:57:00 AM
Submitted by
Capt. Ken Roy (64.132.240.65) from FLORIDA says Triggerfish are easy to clean.
C. Cortez was sort of right. I start the cut along side the anterior dorsal and slide the knife forward to the head with the blade facing up rather than down. This first cut just cuts thru the skin to give you entry.Next, start at the back of the head and slice all the way in to the back bone and all the way to the tail. Turn the knife, sharp side up and cut thru the skin from the top of the head down to the rib cage. Turn the knife back over and slide the blade down through the fish just behind the anus and through the skin along side the anal fin and cut the fillet loose at the tail.. This should completely remove a boneless fillet.
There are 2 ways to skin a Triggerfish fillet. I cut the skin off just like I'd do any outher fish. Some folks grab the flesh in one hand and the skin in the other and simply rip the skin off. If you do it this way, the fish curls in the skillet.
I can clean a Trigger in about a minute. They are one of my easiest fish to clean. Fish cleaning is included in my charter fee so I've cleaned many tons of Triggerfish.
Triggerfish make wonderful fish sandwiches and the best Ceviche of all. Don't waste them or cuss them--eat 'em.
I target Triggerfish in the late summer when Grouper fishing is slow. They are fun to catch and do not take a back seat to Grouper in the taste department.
Why not try this? Keep one less Grouper per trip and keep several Triggers. You will remove a few pests and conserve our precious Grouper population in the process.
- 7/11/02 12:08:00 PM
Submitted by
Tj (140.100.140.6) from MARYLAND says Fishing for Triggers....
I'll be bottom fishing in South Carolina soon for multiple species. You guys are right. Trigger fish is delicious. What size and type hooks should I use. I would like to target this species. Also, what are some good baits and rigs to use?Thanks,
TJ
- 7/11/02 5:08:00 PM
Submitted by
Capt. Ken Roy (64.132.240.65) from FLORIDA says Rigging for Triggerfish
When I want to target Triggers in deep water(that is more than 20' for me) I usually use a 3-6 hook dropper rig. I rig 6" droppers with #2 Mustad style 92676 or 92554 hooks. The smaller hooks work much better than large hooks on Triggers. Lots of hooks mean that you can fish longer per drop without hauling back up to rebait, giving you a much better chance at these bait stealers. Check your state regulations as to how many hooks you are allowed to have on a line.I usually rig with 80# test main line and 60# test droppers. The stiffer line the better for droppers. Flurocarbon isn't really needed but it sure makes nice, stiff droppers.
I don't have room for it here but on my website I describe how to tie the droppers where they stand straight out from the main line.
The "dropper rig" as I prefer to call it has many names, the most common of which may be "Gannion Rig" in California, or "Guppy Rig" in South Florida.
My favorite bait for this rig is chunks of Remora. Remoras are as tough as a hog's nose. The new synthetic bait "Fishbites" in the hot colors works great for Triggers and is mighty tough too.
Triggers are tough fighters, about as tough as anything in their weight class. Fifty pound test works fine unless there are lots of big Grouper around.
