Range: Worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. In our area, Massachusetts to Argentina, though most fish in the northern or southern extents of the range are juveniles or subadults.

Coloration: Mottled, brown, tan, yellow, sometimes grey. They are well camouflaged for their natural habitat - floating sargassum (a type of algae).

Habitat: Open and coastal oceans, also into estuaries. Usually associated with floating algae (sargassum) or debris.

Size: to 42", 42 pounds

Diet: Varied, opportunistic carnivore. Includes crabs, shrimp, baitfishes, fish associated with sargassum, juveniles of many species of fish. Example photos below.

Sargassum crab

Juvenile filefish

Sargassum Frogfish

Sargassum shrimp

Behavior: Sit-and-wait, ambush predator, usually stick close to floating structure. Often turn on side when taking prey (or a fly). And sometimes they jump when hooked.

Flies: Crabs, shrimp, small baitfish. I prefer unweighted or lighlty weighted flies because the tripletail are typically at or near the surface.

Fishing Methods: It's all about sight fishing. Find weedlines, fish or crab trap floats, pilings, or other objects that provide shelter at the surface. You'll usually ee the tripletail holding tight to the structure. In some areas, such as off the coast of Georgia, tripletail can be found free-swimming, far from any structure. I've handled some big tripletail on an 8 weight.

More information on Tripletail biology.

All material copyright Aaron Adams 2007-2009, and beyond, unless noted.