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Ladyfish

Ladyfish

Ladyfish are a common saltwater and brackish water species found throughout Texas bays, passes, and the nearshore Gulf of Mexico.

Often called skipjack, horse mackerel, or tenpounders, they're related to tarpon and earn the nickname 'poor man's tarpon' for their acrobatic fighting ability.

Scientific Name: Elops saurus

Also known as skipjack, horse mackerel, tenpounders, poor man's tarpon

Physical Characteristics:

These slender, silver fish reach a maximum length of almost 3 feet and feature elongated, pointed fins with a deeply forked tail, large terminal mouth, and buggy eyes.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

Found throughout Texas bays, passes, and the nearshore Gulf of Mexico. They prefer estuaries, coastal lagoons, hypersaline bays, brackish water, and can tolerate wide salinity ranges. The greatest concentrations occur on the lower coast, with Corpus Christi Bay (23%), lower Laguna Madre (20%), and upper Laguna Madre (16%) comprising nearly 60% of all catches.

Key Locations

Corpus Christi Bay, upper and lower Laguna Madre, Aransas Bay, Galveston Bay, passes and inlets throughout the coast, jetties, surf zones along Padre Island

Specific Spots

Commonly found around jetties, passes, grass flats, channels, and surf zones. Grass flats in 5-10 feet of water.

Ladyfish FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Ladyfish in Texas?

1/4-ounce jig heads with 3-4 inch soft plastics, silver spoons (1/4 to 1/2 ounce), topwater plugs, Rapala X-Rap Slashbait, and MirrOlure MirrOdine. For live bait, use free-lined live shrimp, small baitfish.

When is the best time to fish for Ladyfish in Texas?

Present in coastal waters year-round, with peak abundance occurring from late spring through early fall. Best fishing occurs from late spring through early fall, with September being prime time when they're most active before spawning offshore. Peak action during summer and fall months when they school heavily.

How do you catch Ladyfish in Texas?

Use fast, aggressive retrieves - strip flies as fast as possible and burn lures back quickly. Effective techniques include drifting grass flats while casting ahead of the boat, vertical jigging in deeper water, sight casting to schools on flats, surf fishing by walking beaches and casting into bait pods, and night...

What do Ladyfish eat?

Ladyfish are strictly carnivorous predators that feed on small bony fish including menhaden, silversides, mullet, and their own species, plus invertebrates like crustaceans and shrimp.

Where do Ladyfish live in Texas?

Found throughout Texas bays, passes, and the nearshore Gulf of Mexico. They prefer estuaries, coastal lagoons, hypersaline bays, brackish water, and can tolerate wide salinity ranges.

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