At a glance
3–15 lb.
At or near the surface.
Early morning, and whenever you see birds diving on bait.
23 areas
Know it
Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.
- Identification
Deep, mottled brown-to-yellow body; the rounded soft dorsal, anal and tail fins look like three tails.
- Typical size
3–15 lb.
- Maximum size
About 3.5 ft and 40 lb.
- Diet
Small baitfish — glass minnows, sardines, menhaden, mullet — plus squid and shrimp.
- Behavior
Fast and roaming; follows schools of bait along beaches, inlets, buoys and color changes.
Find it
Where, when and how deep to look.
- Where to find it
Found from South Florida & Keys, Florida Atlantic Coast, Florida Gulf Coast, Northern Gulf (AL–TX), Mexico Gulf Coast, Mexican Caribbean & Belize, Central America, Colombia & Venezuela, Bahamas & Turks and Caicos, Cuba, Jamaica & Cayman, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles, Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao, Trinidad & Tobago, Georgia & South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia & Chesapeake Bay, Delaware & New Jersey, New York, Long Island & Connecticut and Rhode Island & Massachusetts. Floats on its side next to crab-trap buoys, channel markers, floating debris and weed lines.
- Habitat
Floats on its side next to crab-trap buoys, channel markers, floating debris and weed lines.
- Depth
At or near the surface.
- Fishing depth
Near the surface to mid-depth, 5–40 ft.
- Best season
Spring and fall migrations along Florida and the Gulf are the best times.
- Best time
Early morning, and whenever you see birds diving on bait.
- Best tides
Outgoing tide at inlets and passes pulls bait out to waiting fish.
- Best weather / conditions
Clean, green water and light to moderate wind.
Bait & gear
What to tie on and what to throw.
- Best bait
Live shrimp under a cork.
- Best artificial lures
Small jigs and shrimp imitations.
- Tackle setup
7 ft medium spinning rod with a 4000 reel.
- Hook size
1/0–4/0 hooks; long-shank or a short wire bite tippet for toothy fish.
- Line
15–20 lb braid.
- Leader
30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
BigJoe's setup for Tripletail
The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.
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Catch it
Step by step, from first cast to landing.
Step-by-step: how to catch it
- Go where it lives: Floats on its side next to crab-trap buoys, channel markers, floating debris and weed lines.
- Rig up: 7 ft medium spinning rod with a 4000 reel. 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
- Pick your bait: Live shrimp under a cork. Lures: Small jigs and shrimp imitations.
- Fish it: Run the crab-trap buoys and markers looking for floating fish; pitch a live shrimp a few feet up-current so it drifts past.
- Time it: Early morning, and whenever you see birds diving on bait. Outgoing tide at inlets and passes pulls bait out to waiting fish.
- Fishing techniques
Run the crab-trap buoys and markers looking for floating fish; pitch a live shrimp a few feet up-current so it drifts past.
- BigJoe's tip
Approach quietly — when a tripletail sinks out of sight it has seen you.
- Catch and release
Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.
Clean & cook
Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.
- Edibility
Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
- Cleaning
Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
- Cooking suggestions
Cook fish to 145°F (63°C) — the flesh turns opaque and flakes easily. Fry, grill, bake or blacken.
Stay safe & legal
Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.
- Safety warnings
Sharp teeth on some species — use pliers to unhook.
- Regulations
Florida has a size and bag limit for tripletail — check FWC. A Florida fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida rules are set by FWC (myfwc.com). Federal waters fall under NOAA Fisheries. Other states and countries set their own limits — check before you keep fish.
- Conservation
Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.
Where it's found
Tap an area to open its fishing map.