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Ladyfish
Species Information
| Scientific Name: | Elops saurus |
| Common Names: | ladyfish, tenpounder |
| Environment: | Inshore, Nearshore |
| Ideal Temp: | 77-84°F (25-29°F) |
About Ladyfish
The ladyfish or tenpounder (Elops saurus) is a species of fish in the genus Elops, the only genus in the monotypic family Elopidae. Like other species in its genus, the ladyfish has a long, slender, rounded body covered with silvery scales. Its mouth is terminal and the tail is deeply forked. The species can be distinguished by counting the number of gill rakers and vertebrae. The name comes from the Greek ellops - a kind of serpent. They are commonly known as ladyfish, skipjacks, jack-rashes, or tenpounders.
The ladyfish are a coastal-dwelling fish found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions, occasionally venturing into temperate waters. They are distributed in the western North Atlantic Ocean from New England to Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico. Its distribution overlaps with the malacho (Elops smithi) in the southeast US and the southern Gulf of Mexico.
The ladyfish is a marine species that lives in primarily coastal environments, and can occasionally be found in canals, sloughs and large rivers. They are inshore species that are commonly found in estuaries, coastal lagoons, hyper saline bays, along shorelines, and even venture far up coastal streams. Occasionally this fish is found several miles offshore. The ladyfish prefers open water areas in channels with moderate currents, and shallow bars and eddies at bends in rivers. It lives to depths of 160 feet. Spawning takes place at sea, and the fish larvae migrate inland entering brackish waters.
Adult ladyfish are strictly carnivorous, feeding on small bony fish, including members of its own species, menhaden and silversides, as well as invertebrates including crustaceans. This fish swallows its prey whole. When hooked, ladyfish will often make a fast run and wildly leap into the air. This acrobatic display has earned them the nickname “poor man’s tarpon.
Ladyfish Fishing
| World Record: | 3.62 kg (8 lb 0 oz) Sepatiba Bay, Brazil 21-Feb-2006 |
| # Fish Caught: | 304893 documented in database. |
| Earliest Record: | 1/1/1830 12:00:00 AM and located at 28.02667, -96.99288. |
| Latest Record: | 3/25/2025 12:05:33 PM and located at 25.93197, -80.33045. |
| Common Techniques: | Bottom Fishing, Casting, Fly, Jigging |
| Popular Lure Types: | Bottom Rig, Flies, Jigs, Soft Plastics |
| Fishing Spots: | 3 Ladyfish fishing spots. |
Latest Ladyfish Fishing Reports and Spots
That storm that passed way out in the Atlantic threw some wind and rain our way enough so that I had to cancel my Monday trip and it looks lik (
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'NUF Said - 9/26/2025 4:40:00 PM
Short and brief today - quite a banner day! 10 Slot Reds caught by Brian Roach his son Mike and their friend William Blalock. First of the inc (
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I was back at it today fishing with David and Lynn Beauchamp meeting them early down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We kicked off a busy week (
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We had almost zero wind this morning and clear skies when we finally saw them! I had met Gordon Fowler and his fishing buddy Reid up at the O (
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I was back down at the south end today fishing with the Soper Team - Larry and his sons Garrett and Dustin. We left the Sawpit Creek boat ramp (
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After a long week out in Colorado to see my daughter son-in-law and grandkids I was back on the water today with the Bailey boys - Douglas and (
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We had a pretty day when I met Frank and Joanne Wytiaz down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning - clear skies just a slight wind (
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Pretty day today -sunshine clear skies and just a light breeze. I had met John Raker out at Goffinsville Park on a tide that was high and stil (
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Man oh man August has been on fire for the first two weeks. First it's been a bit breezy making the dog days of August anything but. It has a (
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Finally! I was back fishing this morning meeting Larry and Connie Soper up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early (6:30am) - we wante (
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