The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Tripletail Lobotes surinamensis
Tripletail Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 18–26 in, 5–15 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to 35 in and about 40 lb |
| Lifespan | About 6–7 years |
| Range | Warm coastal water from the Carolinas and Georgia south through Florida and west across the Gulf of Mexico, showing up along the U.S. coast from spring into fall. |
| Habitat | Loafs on its side beside buoys, channel markers, weed lines and floating debris in bays, passes and nearshore water. |
| Diet | Shrimp, blue crabs and small baitfish such as menhaden and anchovies taken right at the surface. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Tripletail
- Dark brown to mottled yellow-olive body
- Rounded dorsal and anal fins set far back, giving a three-tailed look
- Compressed, deep, perch-like body
- Concave (dished) forehead profile
- Often seen floating on its side near structure/flotsam
Tell it apart: Rounded dorsal and anal fins positioned far back near the tail create the trademark 'three-tail' silhouette that names the fish.
How to Catch Tripletail
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- Late spring through summer — idle markers and crab-pot buoys, spot the fish, and pitch a live shrimp under a cork past it.GearPopping corks1/0–2/0 Kahle hooksInshore spinning combo
- A summer fishery as fish drift under crab-trap buoys and floating debris; sight-cast a live-bait imitation or jig past them.GearSoft-plastic shrimp2/0 live-bait hooks30 lb fluorocarbon leader
When & Where Tripletail Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Atlantic Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Gulf of Mexico Inshore |
Tripletail Regulations
GeorgiaGeorgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources DivisionSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources DivisionNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ), Division of Marine FisheriesSouth Atlantic Fishery Management CouncilSAFMCAtlantic States Marine Fisheries CommissionASMFCFloridaFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)AlabamaAlabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division (Outdoor Alabama)MississippiMississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR)LouisianaLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)TexasTexas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD)Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council)GMFMC
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.