Triggerfish Reports    2008 - 2014
 

CLICK ON THE DORSAL FIN FOR A CLOSE-UP VIEW

Common Name(s):      Triggerfish File Fish (incorrectly) Scientific Name:  Balistes capriscus (= B. carolinensis)  Family: Usual Size:  to 40 cm > 2.5 kg (angling record)

            Photograph by  Paul Parsons (Aquapix)

Identification: Main Triggerfish page (Link) including the reports form 1999 - 2007   Reports 2008 et. seq         16 November 2014 A Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, was discovered washed up in the morning on the Isle of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides. Report by Duncan Urquhart 17 October 2014 A fresh Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, was washed up at Newark Bay Eastside, South Ronaldsay, Orkney.  Report & Photograph by Louise Jarvis   September 2014 Whilst fishing off one of the decommissioned mussel farms in the River Fal, my nephew and I saw a group of eight Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, swimming slowly and serenely near the surface. Their penchant for mussels would make this a perfect location to hang out, however the river has been declassified for mussel farming due to Escherichia coli caused by excessive run off from farmland in the last few wet seasons. Report by Andy Blackwell   9 September 2012 Triggerfish in Sussex Divers at the Mixon Hole off Selsey Bill reported Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, lurking along the overhang at the top of the clay cliff.  Sesearch Report 30 December 2011 A Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, washed up dead on Aberystywth Beach, on central part of the Cardigan Bay coast, Wales.   Report and Photograph  by Stephen Willetts 22 December 2011 A Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, washed up dead on Porthmeor Beach in St. Ives, Cornwall at high tide.      Report and Photograph  by George Sell 19 November 2011 A Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, measuring 23 cm long, was washed up on the shore of the Gann Estuary near Dale, Pembrokeshire. It was found on a particularly windy day, with substantial wave action on the northern shores of the Milford Haven Waterway.  Report and Photograph by Charles Wimpenny Pembrokeshire Coast National Park BMLSS Triggerfish 2011   30 October 2011 We spotted a Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, that had been washed up on Troon beach in Ayrshire, Scotland. Report by Aimee Mackenzie 23 October 2011 I was diving off MullaghmoreHead, Northern Ireland and I saw 2 pairs of Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, and a trio of them on the same site. They were spotted in the shelter of the cleavages in the rock formations as we moved easterly in the sea surge.  We sat and observed them for a few moments before moving away.  This is the first time I have witnessed this fish in UK waters. Report by Colin Wilson 10 September 2011 A Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, was found on Baleshare Beach by Anne Rabbitts. It is quite rare in the waters around North Uist and the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.  Western Isles Bird Sightings Report       28 December 2010 A Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, was washed up at Porthtowan, Cornwall, after the morning high tide, measuring approx 14" from nose to end of tail fin. Report by John Hall 19 December 2010 I counted 33 Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, washed up on a half mile stretch of beach across Porth Kidney Sands, Lelant, Cornwall, Report by Dave Fenwick on the Cornish Wildlife Yahoo Group 12 December 2010 23 mature Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, were washed up dead on Porthcurnow Beach in Cornwall in the afternoon. Report by Nick Lyon Over twenty Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, were washed up dead on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall. Report by Charles Pizzey 18 November 2010 A Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, was photographed washed up dead on the shore at Ceibwr, North  Pembrokeshire, SW Wales. Report & Photograph by Dan Worth on Strandlines and Beachcombing (Facebook) 24 October 2010 A Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, was videoed sliding into a crevice and locking itself in using its dorsal fin on a shallow water dive of the Mixon Hole, Selsey, West Sussex.  Report by Colin Melhuish 20 October 2010 I have found a dead Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, washed up on the beach at Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis. There have been previous discoveries on this windswept beach.  Report by Katherine Ross October 2010  I (or rather my dog) found a dead Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, on a beach on the Isle of Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, Argyll, south-west Scotland. There have been one or two past records here - the last in December 2007, but it is certainly unusual. Report and Photograph by Malcolm Olgilvie 7 July 2010 My husband and son were paddling in the shallows on the beach at Carbis Bay, near St. Ives, Cornwall, as the tide was almost at it's lowest when they saw the Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus,  swimming towards them. As it turned to swim away from them it was caught by a wave which brought it to my husbands feet. He kicked it with his foot and the startled fish swam inshore, got hit by another wave and beached itself. When my husband brought it up to show me its teeth scared the life out of me, I've never seen anything like this fish in my life!  It was very healthy but didn't seem to put up any fight or struggle as it was carried up the beach, just kept gnashing its teeth. It was easily 25 cm long, and despite my husband going back to get some more it seemed to have been travelling alone. We both thought that it must be from warmer waters due to its colouring and the strange hard fin, but we identified it through your site. Finding out that it is edible we are putting it on the BBQ tonight! Report by Zouheir Ktifi 28 December 2009 My son found a dead Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, at Woolacombe, North Devon just after midday. Approx 30 cm with slash marks on the side and eyes were gone. Report by Chris Blackmore 31 October 2009 I caught a Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, fishing West Rocks, Brighton, Sussex. The fish appeared to be in spawn and was returned carefully to the sea. Report by John Taw 17 October 2009 We caught three Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, in the afternoon, just west of Harlech in North Wales. Depth approx 20 ft, and 300-400 metres off the beach, on a fairly strong outgoing tide. The fish were returned to the sea alive. Bottom appeared to be shingle, and we fished uptide of a rocky reef. Your remarks about these fish liking wrecks is interesting. There is a wreck in the vicintiy, but approx a mile away from where we were, and a long reef known as St Patrick's.  Report by John Craddock 22 March 2009 I found a Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, near Rhosneigr, Isle of Anglesey, north-west Wales. It was above a rugged rocky shore with deep-cut rocky inlets and varied sandy/ rocky bottom with clear water. The long dead carcass was intact except for the eyes and pectoral fins missing. It was about 30 cm long. It was not known how it came to be above the Springs high-water mark. Report by Brian Harrison 8 September 2008 I found a Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, whilst out fishing with my dogs at the Scar, Kirkcolm near Stranraer in Lochryan.   The fish was about 9 to 10 inches long, displaying a great set of teeth and fantastic spike. Report by Dale Graham 29 August 2008 Whilst walking along the strandline of Ynyslas Beach, Ceredigion, in the west of Wales, with my grandsons Michael and Joseph Gwillim we found one Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, (GR SN 603938). It was about 30 cm in length, and although dead, was very well preserved.  Report by Dr Alan Morton 2 August 2008 The Guernsey Press angling correspondent told me that he heard of the first Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, of 2008 being caught yesterday by a Guernsey angler.  The Grey Triggerfish weighed 2 lb 7 oz and 10 drams (from Len's memory).  It was caught off the Longue Hougue reclamation site on Guernsey's north-east coast. Report by Richard Lord (Guernsey) c. 18 July 2008 A dead Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, was discovered at Marazion, south Cornwall. Report by Paul Semmens  on the Marine Wildlife of the North-east Atlantic Ocean Group 9 March 2008 I found this dead Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, on Rinn Rua Beach, near Ballinskelligs, County Kerry, in south west Ireland, and I also found one in December 2007. The illustrated one was approximately 20 cm long.  Report by Rosemary Hill 10 January 2008 We caught a Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, of the beach at Downderry, Cornwall. at 40 cm long and 1 kg in weight. Report by Robin Louvel 6 January 2008 A Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, was  found on the beach on the high tide line at Machir Bay, north west coast of Islay, Scotland.  Discovery by Alistair MacCormick (Islay) Report and Photograph by Teresa Morris (Islay Wildscapes) 5 January 2008 We were walking on Putsborough Sands, near Woolacombe, Devon, and came across a Grey Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus. The fish was missing both eyes and appeared to have been dead for some time. It was above the most recent high tide mark, which was at 3.00 pm and was halfway along the beach on sand. The sea was rough, the weather was cloudy with a strong westerly wind. We were intrigued by the fish because we had not seen one before, and on our return home identified it and found your website.  Report by Terry and Jenny Gibson   Main Triggerfish page with reports up to 2007 Information wanted: Please send any records of this fish, with location, date, who discovered it, how it was identified, prevalence, common name and any other details to  Shorewatch Project  EMail Glaucus@hotmail.com.  All messages will receive a reply. Reports of Triggerfish washed up on the shores of Cornwall (not included above) could be found on the Cornish Beachcombing Report pages: Cornish Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1999 Cornish Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 2000 Cornish Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 2001 Cornish Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 2002 Cornish Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 2003 Cornish Marine Wildlife 2004 (Ray Dennis Records) Cornish Marine Wildlife 2005 (Ray Dennis Records) Cornish Marine Life Records 2006 (Ray Dennis Records) Cornish Marine Life Records 2007 (Ray Dennis Records)   Shorewatch Project Report  Forms