Common names
Skipjack, Ten-pounder
Ladyfish
Elops saurus
- Saltwater
- Least concern
Max length39.25 in
Common length23.5 in
Length typeFork Length
Max weight22 lb 1 oz
Depth range0 - 164 ft
Water typeSaltwater
Water temperature77 - 84 °F
Fish info
IUCN Vulnerability status
Short description
Ladyfish like other species in its genus have a long, slender, rounded body covered with small silvery scales. Their mouth is terminal (at the very front of the head) and the tail is deeply forked. The species can be distinguished by counting the number of gill rakers and vertebrae. Dorsally, ladyfish are silvery blue to greenish while ventrally and laterally they appear silver in colour. The dorsal and caudal fins are dusky yellowish to silvery and the pectoral and pelvic fins are speckled and pale. The last dorsal ray is not extended into a long filament. The lateral line runs straight down the length of the fish. The caudal lobes of the ladyfish are long and slender. They have small, sharp teeth and the gular plate, a ventral bony plate that is located between the two lower jaws, is narrow.
Habitat
They are very tolerant of brackish water and can be found in lagoons and bays, occasionally entering freshwater, as well as several miles out to sea (mainly inshore fish).
Distribution
Occurs in the western North Atlantic Ocean from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and south to Brazil. Ladyfish are also found in the waters surrounding Bermuda. They have been also observed in the western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
Behaviour
Spawn offshore, peaking in the fall. As the larvae grow, they feed primarily on zooplankton as well as insects and small fishes. This is followed by a dietary switch to small fish and crustaceans as the larvae grow into juvenile fish. Adult ladyfish are predatory and strictly carnivorous, feeding on small bony fish, including members of their own species, menhaden, and silversides, as well as invertebrates including crustaceans. This fish swallows its prey whole. They often form large schools and leap in the air when hooked.
Edibility
Poor, it’s not considered to be appealing to eat.
Lure suggestion
Spoons, streamer flies, bubble rigs, soft plastics and plugs are the top lures (particularly those which mimic small silvery fish). A ¼ ounce or ½ ounce silver spoon is a great lure for casting for ladyfish. Good bait: live shrimp, cut bait, crabs, squid, or small bait fish.
Similar species
Other similar species
Juvenile tarpon, M. atlanticus, Bonefish, A. vulpes