When Trigger Fish Attack!!!!!

[rab1412000]

Not only do triggerfish not know of this conical attack-here-only zone, but it does not even make sense. Wouldn't a predator 2 meters away horizontally on the bottom be more of a threat to the nest than one 15 meters directly above it?

Let's stop propagating this old myth.

i dont know about your triggerfish in singapore but that 'myth' has worked for me and buddies many times. there are many titan triggerfish around the philippines. in fact you have a good chance of bumping into one. ive heard dms mention it too. when your already too close, swim deeper.

 

[Zippsy]

Took a bite from my fin last july was so glad it was my fin and not part of my body. Saw it 8 meters away but in a split second came attacking me. It was truly a scary experience.

Hi Phil. 8 meters away? Could you tell us about what angle you were to it? Above it? At the same depth? 45 degrees angle?


The reason I ask is that for years DM's have been talking about this "cone of aggression" where triggerfish tend to attack. Theoretically, the cone starts where the triggerfish is or where his nest is and spreads out as you go higher in the water column although I have heard other DM's swear the cone is the upside version of that too. The problem is that I have never heard marine biologists say this. Also, we get lots of titan triggers around where I dive so I keep a very close eye on them. We see them on average ab out every second dive. When they do attack, which is far to often for me, I'd say 80% of the time they chase other fish or humans away who are at the same depth or no more than on an angle of about 20 degrees upward. I've never seen them attack straight up but the other 20%, they have attacked from 20 to 60 degrees upward.

From personal experience too, I was attacked 3 times and never within the cone. Of all the other people I know who have been attacked, maybe 1/4 have been in the cone although I never have heard any dimensions of the cone so I am guessing. I have also hovered about 5 meters above a feeding (not nesting) trigger and while he kept an eye on me, he was not aggressive at all. Of the many fish I have seen attacked by triggers, they have all been along the bottom.

BTW, if the cone extends from 3 degrees upward to directly overhead, I take back everything I said.

 

[phil8diver]

Hi,

Basically I was leading two divers and saw the titan trigger fish on my eye level - same depth approximately 8 meters away (which is really far). I stopped, turned and signed others that we will go around it when it started to attack me. I am really not sure about this cone thing because I also witnessed a friend of mine get attack from his side. It was really funny since it just came out of nowhere twice and it freaked the new divers big time

Regards.

Hi Phil. 8 meters away? Could you tell us about what angle you were to it? Above it? At the same depth? 45 degrees angle?


The reason I ask is that for years DM's have been talking about this "cone of aggression" where triggerfish tend to attack. Theoretically, the cone starts where the triggerfish is or where his nest is and spreads out as you go higher in the water column although I have heard other DM's swear the cone is the upside version of that too. The problem is that I have never heard marine biologists say this. Also, we get lots of titan triggers around where I dive so I keep a very close eye on them. We see them on average ab out every second dive. When they do attack, which is far to often for me, I'd say 80% of the time they chase other fish or humans away who are at the same depth or no more than on an angle of about 20 degrees upward. I've never seen them attack straight up but the other 20%, they have attacked from 20 to 60 degrees upward.

From personal experience too, I was attacked 3 times and never within the cone. Of all the other people I know who have been attacked, maybe 1/4 have been in the cone although I never have heard any dimensions of the cone so I am guessing. I have also hovered about 5 meters above a feeding (not nesting) trigger and while he kept an eye on me, he was not aggressive at all. Of the many fish I have seen attacked by triggers, they have all been along the bottom.

BTW, if the cone extends from 3 degrees upward to directly overhead, I take back everything I said.

 

[Zippsy]

It freaks old divers out too! I am living and scarred proof.

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BTW, if some people can train triggers to only be aggressive in certain "cone zones", why not just train them to be non-aggressive?

 

[Rogersea]

It's funny, but I was on APO this week and saw a "huge" Titan Trigger while I shooting some vid of a large Bumphead Parrot Fish, I have to admit I am much more vigilant about keeping my eye on them, but this one was docile and let me pass with no issues.

 

[phil8diver]

I guess not all titan trigger are bad, just like humans? :blinking:

 

[Tigerman]

Hi Phil. 8 meters away? Could you tell us about what angle you were to it? Above it? At the same depth? 45 degrees angle?


The reason I ask is that for years DM's have been talking about this "cone of aggression" where triggerfish tend to attack. Theoretically, the cone starts where the triggerfish is or where his nest is and spreads out as you go higher in the water column although I have heard other DM's swear the cone is the upside version of that too. The problem is that I have never heard marine biologists say this
....

I actually HAVE heard marine biologists talk of it and then as a cone from the area around the nest and upwards in the water column for "some meters", kina like \ /
Problem is of course that if youre aware of the triggerfish being in the area and youre still getting attacked, its often easier said than done to move "further away" or "down and away from the nest" as your (atleast mine) issue is probably that you havent spotted the nest, but the fish

 

[walke121]

Just shoot em and string them through the mouth. Problem solved. If you don't they can take a chunk out of a 7mm suit and require 5 stitches.

 

[Papa_Bear]

Never turn your back and have a Reeds Rod ready!

 

[stvbrit]

There you go, my sentiments exactly....Youve got to scramble the brains to ensure a clean kill though....and no playing possum. They are quite tasty actually grilled skin and all, when cooked just peel skin back and spread the Mayo on top, Mmmmnnn Good, Sarap naman..