Fishing for TripletailTripletail are unusual. Most saltwater fish are aggressive; once they are located, and assuming one has the right bait and tackle, it is usually just a matter of reeling them in. Many saltwater species actually fight over the bait - not so with these fish. Present them with a bait and they might very well just stare at it, or worse run from it. When fishing with a float, sometimes they will hit the float instead of the bait. These fish like shade so they are often found near floating debris or buoy lines and pilings - even an anchor rope. They are rarely caught in the open water away from structure, either floating or attached. They are shaped like a panfish, so their body shape makes for a good fighting fish. The first one that I hooked felt like a big stingray, but it was putting up a bigger fight, closer to the surface.
In clear water, fisherman actually sight fish for these fish by cruising crab basket buoys, navigation markers, pilings and any other objects in the water. When one is sighted, cast above the fish and reel your bait up to the fish. On a lucky day, he'll hit it. He's going to fight hard, and if you keep him you will find that few fish taste better. These hard fighting fish are caught all over the Alabama Gulf Coast. I have had good luck with them in the boat channel at Terry Cove in Orange Beach, for the most part while fishing for white trout in fall.
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