Species profile
Tripletail
Lobotes surinamensis
At a glance
Tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 7 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Florida); the most generous is 5 (Louisiana).
Across 4 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 17.3 in (≈ 1 ft 5 in).
Confirmed by 273 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and Alabama the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for its rounded dorsal and anal fins that sweep back alongside the tail, creating a three-tailed look.
- Floats on its side near floating debris, mimicking a dead leaf to ambush prey.
- Can exceed 40 pounds and 3 feet in length.
- Considered outstanding table fare with firm, white, mild-flavored flesh.
- Commonly found drifting near buoys, crab pot floats, and sargassum mats.
Where Tripletail are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Tripletail
Background
The Atlantic tripletail or tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis) is a warm-water marine fish found across the tropics; it can grow to 90 cm long and weigh 18 kg. It is also known by fishermen by names like flasher or steamboat. Young fishes float on their sides, often beside flotsam, and appear like a dry leaf. In Indonesia, the local name is called KakapHitam/Laut or similar as Black Barramundi…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Tripletail article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.