The fish inhabit inshore and near-shore areas, over sand or mud bottoms, the agencies said. Another type of puffer fish, the northern puffer, is more common in Rhode Island waters.

Smooth puffer fish shouldn’t be used for bait or chum, the DEM says. Anyone who catches one is advised to carefully take it off the hook and release it.

Like other puffer fish, the grass puffer accumulates the neurotoxin TTX to discourage would-be predators. However, grass puffers also accumulate a non-toxic analog of TTX called 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX ...