Another one of my favorite light tackle fish. Ladyfish are very acrobatic and mimic their larger Tarpon look alikes. A sweetened jig or small spoon worked fast over the Homosassa grass flats is a good technique for catching them. They are a blast on light tackle. I usually lose more than I land. When you do hook up, lightly drop your anchor. They travel in schools and you can have a blast catching them over and over.

Ladyfish are also excellent Grouper and Amberjack bait, either cut or whole. They have oils which just seem to turn the grouper on.

Ladyfish

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.

* The Florida records quoted are from the Department of Environmental Protection's printed publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.


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