Didn’t Mean To Pull The Trigger

[Chinacat]

With the weather forecast to go downhill the next couple of days and over the weekend, I shuffled my work schedule and headed out for a couple of hours this morning
Started out trying for a Bass and watched a few boats around me hook up but I got skunked
Headed out to the reef and drifted my favorite pieces as I am not really set up for deep water anchoring
Had steady non stop action of just short sea bass, 1 just keeper Tog and LOTS of triggers keeping 5 which was probably too many!
Some of the triggers were huge?

 

[Roccus7]

Some of the triggers were huge?

Have to agree. Before I knew that tog was a keeper I thought, "Too bad that tog is a short". When I read it was a keeper my immediate reaction was, "Holy crap!! Those triggers are HUGE!!"

 

[Chinacat]

Have to agree. Before I knew that tog was a keeper I thought, "Too bad that tog is a short". When I read it was a keeper my immediate reaction was, "Holy crap!! Those triggers are HUGE!!"

Yep, the tog was a small keeper @ maybe 16.5"
2 of the triggers were definitely bigger but I didn't measure since there are no size or bag limits on them....

 

[Chevy1]

Yep, the tog was a small keeper @ maybe 16.5"
2 of the triggers were definitely bigger but I didn't measure since there are no size or bag limits on them....

Damn, that’s some good eats. Triggers are delicious ?

 

[Kona]

Nice going!

 

[longcast]

Love triggers!!

Did your knife survive?

 

[Chinacat]

Love triggers!!

Did your knife survive?

The first one started to struggle and I had to switch to a 2nd.... LOL
Both now need a good sharpening

 

[longcast]

The first one started to struggle and I had to switch to a 2nd.... LOL
Both now need a good sharpening

Sheetrock knife for skin and then the thin blade to capture that meat.

 

[george]

Sheetrock knife for skin and then the thin blade to capture that meat.

Great tip my friend.

 

[captmike28]

The first one started to struggle and I had to switch to a 2nd.... LOL
Both now need a good sharpening

Nice going, Mitch. Triggers are super hard fighters as well, so I'm sure you had a pretty good time with them.

My filet trick with them is to start with a serrated blade to pierce their armor like skin then switch to the standard filet blade. I'm sure you made some fine eating from those.

 

[CELLFISH]

anyone ever try Grilling Whole.… ?

 

[Chinacat]

Nice going, Mitch. Triggers are super hard fighters as well, so I'm sure you had a pretty good time with them.

My filet trick with them is to start with a serrated blade to pierce their armor like skin then switch to the standard filet blade. I'm sure you made some fine eating from those.

Absolutely Capt Mike!
Fighting them in 80' was definitely exciting.
Each time my initial thought and hope was "ooohhh, this is a big Tog" but once they start swimming away and outward that thought changes.

I have tried everything over the years with different knives, etc. I find the best approach for me is a long and thin bladed fillet knife that is super sharp and basically pick a good spot it poke it straight in thru the armor than cut the skin from "underneath" along the dorsal side...

 

[Matts]

I think a serrated knife is best for the skin.
Don't over cook them! That should be a crime.