LadyFish Fun To Catch Great Bait
May 22, 2007 by Captain Jeff
Filed under Ladyfish, Salt Water Fishing
LadyFish Fun To Catch Great Bait
Ladyfish, will eat just about anything, they can be caught on surface lures, diving lures, spoons, flies, Ladyfish can hit the bait with the force of a Mack truck, they run all around the boat when hooked, Ladyfish travel in large schools, can be seen crashing baits on the surface, can sometimes be found by watching schools of birds diving on the water. Often travel with schools of Mackerel and Blue runners. When hooked they are like a miniature Tarpon.
Ladyfish are by far one of the most exciting fish that our inshore waters have to offer. No, no one actually targets ladyfish but they do add some excitement to your day when you come across a school. Besides being an aggressive eater and a nice fight Lady fish make excellent bait for Sharks. We chunk them in 4 inch sections on a 5 ought hook and either float them out on a balloon of send them to the bottom. Inshore or off shore, both tactics work .
Today the lady fish is starting to get the reputation the she deserves, “One of the best fighting inshore fish that swims.”
Family Elopidae, TARPONS
Elops saurus
Description: terminal mouth, slender body, small scales; last dorsal ray not elongated; head small and pointed.Similar Fish: juvenile tarpon, Megalops atlanticus.Where found: INSHORE fish, in bays and estuaries; occasionally enters freshwater, occurring in tidal pools and canals; often forms large schools and harasses bait at the surface.
Size: 2 to 3 pounds.
*Florida Record: 4 lbs., 10 ozs.
Remarks: known to spawn OFFSHORE, ribbon-like larvae very similar to Albula and Megalops, peaking in fall; adult feeds predominantly on fish and crustaceans; leaps when hooked.