Gray triggerfish fishing out of Destin runs March through May and August through December, with June and July closed. The reefs and wrecks that hold them sit about 15 to 25 miles off Destin Pass, in 60 to 138 ft of water. This page lists depths, bearings, and named structure so you can plan the run before you leave the dock. For the wider coast, see the gray triggerfish fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide.
Gray triggerfish season out of Destin
FishingBooker’s Destin triggerfish listings show March through May and August through December as open, and June and July as closed. In fall, the charterfishingdestin.com fall species chart lists triggerfish alongside grouper, amberjack, and king mackerel.
| Period | Status |
|---|---|
| March through May | Open |
| June and July | Closed |
| August through December | Open |
| January and February | Not listed as open |
For the wider Gulf picture, see our Gulf reef fish guides.
Where Destin boats run for triggerfish
Boats head to the Destin reefs off the pass. The Destin port guide covers the run out of East Pass. The listed sites with run data are about 15 to 25 miles from Destin Pass, on bearings of 151 to 160 degrees.
Distances below are kept in their source units: Conch Reef in nautical miles (nm), the other listed sites in statute miles (sm) on magnetic bearings. All distances are approximate.
Before the run, check NOAA tide station 8729511 (Destin, East Pass) and the official marine forecast, and go by the wind speed, wave height, and period they report. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Destin reefs and wrecks that hold triggerfish
The sites run from 60 to 138 ft and are grouped below by type and depth.
The Boatyard and Miss Louise
| Site | Type | Depth (ft) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miss Louise | Tugboat, Okaloosa County artificial reef site OK-100 | 60 | Length 95 ft, beam 23 ft |
| The Boatyard | Wreck cluster | 119 | M/V Miss JoAnn, placed beside M/V Dylan and M/V Brannon, 40 ft of relief |
The Boatyard’s 40 ft of relief is the largest structure figure in this list.
Army Tanks and Conch Reef
| Site | Type | Depth (ft) | Distance and bearing from Destin Pass | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conch Reef complex | Reef | 110 | About 15.2 nm at 151 degrees | Reef complex |
| Army Tanks 10-14 | Tanks | 115 | About 16.6 to 18.0 sm at 154 to 158 degrees magnetic | Sites 10 through 14 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
These are the shortest listed runs.
Culvert Reef and the deeper wrecks
| Site | Type | Depth (ft) | Distance and bearing from Destin Pass | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monica Lee Tugboat | Tugboat | 117 | About 17.2 sm at 152 degrees magnetic | Wreck |
| Baskins Barge | Barge | 135 | About 21.8 sm at 156 degrees magnetic | Wreck |
| Prewitt Tugboat | Tugboat | 135 | About 24.6 sm at 152 degrees magnetic | Wreck |
| Culvert Reef A-F | Culverts | 138 | About 20.3 to 25.1 sm at 152 to 160 degrees magnetic | Sites A through F |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Several of these sites share the 152 degree line, so more than one stop can be planned on a single heading.
How triggerfish are fished out of Destin
The local method is bottom fishing on reefs, over the structure listed above. Rigs, biology, and general tactics are in our gray triggerfish guide.
Who fishes triggerfish out of Destin
Local charters that list gray triggerfish include:
- Finest Kind: 53 ft G&S sportfisher.
- Capt. Jason Mikel: charter captain.
- Sweet Jody Family Adventures: multi-passenger headboat.
FAQ about gray triggerfish fishing out of Destin
When is gray triggerfish fishing out of Destin open?
Open March through May and August through December, and closed June and July, per FishingBooker’s Destin listings. The season can change, so check the Florida regulations page and the Gulf reef fish federal rules before fishing.
How far out are the Destin triggerfish reefs?
About 15 to 25 miles from Destin Pass, on bearings of 151 to 160 degrees. Conch Reef is about 15.2 nm. The other listed sites are in statute miles on magnetic bearings.
How deep are the reefs that hold triggerfish?
Listed sites run from 60 ft (Miss Louise) to 138 ft (Culvert Reef A-F). The Boatyard sits in 119 ft with 40 ft of relief.
Which Destin charters list gray triggerfish?
Finest Kind (a 53 ft G&S sportfisher), Capt. Jason Mikel, and Sweet Jody Family Adventures (a multi-passenger headboat).
Where do I read conditions at East Pass?
Use NOAA tide station 8729511 (Destin, East Pass) and the official marine forecast before the run. Go by the numbers they give, and treat chart layers as reference only.
