Ladyfish Fishing

Ladyfish are members of the small Elopidae family. They occur worldwide and are related to tarpon (see). They are similar in appearance to tarpon, although far smaller. Ladyfish are excellent light-tackle sportfish commonly found in schools prowling shallow nearshore and brackish waters. They are known for their habit of skipping along the water and jumping energetically when hooked. Ladyfish are pursued commercially in some parts of their range, although a plentitude of bones discourages human consumption; most commercial captures are used as fish meal, and most angler captures are released.

There are at least six species of ladyfish in the genus Elops, all of which are similar in average size, behavior, and characteristics. In the western Atlantic, the ladyfish (E. saurus) ranges from Cape Cod and Bermuda to the northern Gulf of Mexico and southern Brazil, although it is most common in Florida and the Caribbean. It is also known as tenpounder, as ubarana in Portuguese, and as malacho in Spanish.

In the eastern Atlantic, two species are found off the African continent and are often confused with each other. These are the West African ladyfish (E. lacerta), which occurs from Senegal to Angola and is also known as the Atlantic ladyfish, ninebone, and Guinean ladyfish, and the Senegalese ladyfish (E. senegalensis), which occurs from Mauritania to Zaire and is also known as ninebone.

In the eastern Pacific, the Pacific ladyfish (E. affinis) occurs from Southern California to Peru, although it is rare in northern Baja California. It is also known as machete, and as chiro and malacho del Pacifico in Spanish.

The Hawaiian ladyfish (E. hawaiensis) occurs throughout the west-central Pacific and is known as awu’awu in Hawaiian. In the Indo-West Pacific, the tenpounder or springer (E. machnata) occurs from South Africa to the Red Sea and eastward to India and the western Pacific, and is reported from New Caledonia and Taiwan.

Identification

Ladyfish have an elongated, slender silvery body with a blue green back and small scales. They look very much like a juvenile tarpon, although they can be distinguished from tarpon by the lack of an elongated last ray on the dorsal fin. Their head is small and pointed, the mouth is terminal, and the tail is deeply forked.

Size

Some species of ladyfish may reach weights from 15 pounds to 24 pounds and a length of 3 feet; such specimens are extremely rare, and in general these fish most commonly weigh 2 to 3 pounds. The all-tackle world records are a 5-pounds, 14-ounce E. saurus (from South Carolina), a 12-pound, 9-ounce E. senegalensis (from Guinea-Bissau), and a 23-pound, 12-ounce E. machnata (from Mozambique).

Habitat

Ladyfish are inshore species that prefer bays and estuaries, lagoons, mangrove areas, tidal pools, and canals. They occasionally enter freshwater and are rarely found on coral reefs.

Life history

These fish form large schools close to shore, although they are known to spawn offshore. Their ribbonlike larvae is very similar to that of bonefish and tarpon.

Food and feeding habits

Adults feed predominantly on fish and crustaceans. Ladyfish schools are often seen pursuing baits at the surface.