When gray triggerfish are around Sebastian Inlet
Triggerfish out of Sebastian Inlet, Florida, are a fall and winter fishery. The local reports list them in February, September and December. This guide is for anglers running their own boats on the Atlantic side, and it covers months, depths, distances and named grounds. For the inlet and the wider port, see the Sebastian port page. For the wider coast, see the gray triggerfish fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide.
The months
Captain Terry Wildey’s monthly reports for The Big Easy Fishing Charters list triggerfish in three months:
- February
- September
- December
September and December are fished on different bottom, covered in the next section.
Triggerfish or gray triggerfish
The Big Easy reports say "triggerfish" and do not name the species. For species ID and biology, see the gray triggerfish guide.
Where boats run and how deep
The reference depth is about 75 ft. Between September and December the fishing shifts from smaller bottom patches to reefs in the 65 to 85 ft range.
| Month | Where boats run | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| September | Smaller bottom patches | |
| December | Reefs | 65 to 85 ft |
| Reference | About 75 ft |
September
According to Wildey’s reports, boats work smaller bottom patches in September.
December
In December, boats fish reefs from 65 to 85 ft, and the 75 ft reference depth falls in the middle of that band. The named reefs inside it are the Indian River County reefs at 65 ft and the Big Easy 85 ft reef.
Grounds and structure off the inlet
The grounds below are listed by depth and by how they relate to the triggerfish pattern.
| Ground | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Indian River County artificial reefs (eight reefs) | 65 ft | 11 to 12 miles east of Sebastian Inlet |
| Big Easy reef complex (named 85 and 90 ft reefs) | 85 and 90 ft | |
| Bottom north of the inlet (unnamed) | 100 ft | Just north of Sebastian Inlet |
| Sebastian Inlet north and south jetties, T-dock | At the inlet. The T-dock is the inlet’s dock area. | |
| Monster Hole (shoal) | ||
| Gulf Stream edge | ||
| Nauti Girl swordfish drop grounds | 1600 ft | 35 to 45 miles offshore of Melbourne and Sebastian |
The Indian River County reefs are the main triggerfish structure. They sit at 65 ft, the shallow end of the December band, 11 to 12 miles east of the inlet. The Big Easy 85 and 90 ft reefs fall at and just past the deep end of that band; no distance is listed for them. The unnamed bottom just north of the inlet, at 100 ft, is secondary.
The remaining entries are landmarks and context. The jetties and T-dock mark the inlet itself, and Monster Hole and the Gulf Stream edge are named local features. The Nauti Girl drop grounds, at 35 to 45 miles and 1600 ft, show how far local boats run but are not triggerfish ground. Mark the named grounds in your chartplotter, and don’t use chart layers for navigation.
How triggerfish are fished here, and who fishes them
Triggerfish here are taken bottom fishing with cut and live bait.
Bottom fishing with cut and live bait
Boats anchor or drift over the reefs and bottom patches above and fish cut and live bait on the bottom. Rigging and general technique are covered in our reef fish guides.
The Big Easy Fishing Charters
The Big Easy Fishing Charters is the local charter that lists triggerfish out of Sebastian Inlet. Captain Terry Wildey writes the monthly reports, and Captain Terry Wildey’s monthly reports are the source of the month-by-month pattern. Read them before you run if you’re learning the grounds.
FAQ: gray triggerfish fishing out of Sebastian Inlet
What months are triggerfish around Sebastian Inlet?
Fall and winter. The Big Easy reports, written by Captain Terry Wildey, list triggerfish in February, September and December.
How far do boats run for triggerfish from Sebastian Inlet?
The Indian River County artificial reefs sit 11 to 12 miles east of the inlet at 65 ft. The Nauti Girl drop grounds, by comparison, are 35 to 45 miles out and are not triggerfish ground.
What depth are triggerfish fished in off Sebastian Inlet?
About 75 ft is the reference depth. December reefs run 65 to 85 ft, and September effort is on smaller bottom patches. Both patterns come from the Wildey reports.
What bait is used for triggerfish here?
Cut and live bait, fished on the bottom. That is the local method as the Big Easy reports describe it.
Who reports on triggerfish out of Sebastian Inlet?
Captain Terry Wildey writes monthly reports for The Big Easy Fishing Charters, and they carry the month-by-month pattern for the port.
Does "triggerfish" in the local reports mean gray triggerfish?
The reports say "triggerfish" and do not name the species. Species ID is covered in the gray triggerfish guide.
