Fish of the Day Triple Tail

Since the first time we were lucky enough to encounter the tripletail many years ago everyone in the Posse longs for the opportunity to catch one of the best tasting and most fascinating fish in the ocean. They are not easy to target but certain time of the year you can catch a triple tail. Usually they are caught close to buoy or structure. The smaller triple tail can be found close to bulkheads and shorelines, near Gulf passes. They are multicolored mottled with black, brown and gold and sometimes you can mistake them for something just floating in the water that’s the way they roll.. As they mature and grow,  adult tripletail offshore are what people see,  the majority of the triple tail will be  dark gray, black or bronze color. Depending on the water in the area you fish. The Tripletail spawn offshore   during July, our experience in the gulf so at Wahoo we know tripletail migrate to the nearshore Gulf and estuaries during April – October, see a lot in Texas as the water temps start to rise. Triple tail just stay below the surface floating on one side looking like they are dead fish, they will let the bait get close and wake up and eat like fast predator, The stealth in the Triple tails feeding strategy. Look for them near structure like platforms, pilings, markers in the channels and floating objects, If you see one and hook it get it away from the structure or the fight will be short lived.

Tripletail are very popular in all Gulf coast states and other areas that have triple tail called black fish..

This is a fish you want to eat and if you do not like tripletail then you are not a fish eater, white fluffy and great texture like a grouper or snapper. The largest tripletail we have seen is 34 inches and about 27 lbs, Most triple caught will average about 17” – 22” long.

TJ Cheek from Coastal Georgia Charter fishing article was the best information on how to and tackle here is TJs take and it is on the money.

As a light tackle spinning enthusiast, I personally prefer a live shrimp over any method there is. I mean, hey, what doesn’t eat a live shrimp in the Ocean? These fish love a big; thumping live shrimp presented right to its face. Success on Tripletail can be had using a small fillet of menhaden with a small portion of the tail still attached. It should sort of look like a strip bait with a tail. Let me correct myself. It should look exactly like strip bait with a tail. Finally professional fly fisherman have caught more fish on flies than most people have caught on conventional tackle. Believe it or not, this can be some serious and extreme light tackle angling. These fish pull off a pile of line when using 8-pound tackle and fast tipped rods. My choice on tackle is an Ugly Stik (Lite) 8-15 Rod; Shakespeare Catera (4540) Spinning reel filled to the brim with 8-pound line. Attach a 4 ft. section of Fluorocarbon leader with a bimini or whatever your favorite knot may be. Just don’t use a swivel.

Another HUGE tip for Triple tail fishing is the float. A small, “Pin On”, weighted Crappie or Bream float works wonders. The smaller your float is, the better your results will be. Most of these floats are available in 2 colors, yellow and orange. Whichever you choose is irrelevant.  When you purchase your floats, grab a roll of black electrical tape while you’re out. Wrap those floats from head to toe with black tape. I have found these fish will sometimes hit the float instead of the bait in confusion. You don’t have to worry about that once you have taped it black. They’ll go for the bait instead of the float.

 RECIPE:

 Broiled Sweet and Tangy Triple Tail

Butter flavored cooking spray

3 teaspoons lemon juice, divided

1 tablespoon melted butter

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon raspberry vinegar

2 teaspoons honey

1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon

salt and pepper to taste

1 pound triple tail fillets

 

Preheat the oven broiler. Place a sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet, and spray with butter flavored cooking spray. In a bowl, whisk together 1 teaspoon lemon juice, melted butter, mustard, raspberry vinegar, honey, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Place the triple tail on the prepared baking sheet, and broil about 3 minutes in the preheated oven. Turn triple tail, and drizzle with about half the lemon juice dressing mixture. Continue broiling about 3 minutes, turn, and drizzle with remaining dressing. Continue broiling about 2 minutes, or until fish is easily flaked with a fork. Remove from heat, and sprinkle with remaining lemon juice to serve.