Key West Lady Fish

Lady Fish, as they are colloquially known, are from the genus Elops, part of the Elopidae family, which is a family in a much broader class of Actinopterygii. This particular family of ray-finned fish include Tenpounders and Skipjacks, though the Lady Fish are perhaps the prized catch of them all. They are particularly feisty, more than capable of putting up a tough fight despite their smaller size. Swimming in schools and known to attack lures with repetition and tenacity, they are the ideal target for a sunny Key West fishing trip.

The Basics of Lady Fish

The Lady Fish resemble eels, with their long, thin, silvery bodies; hence this fish holding the name Elops, from the ancient Greek “ellops,” which means serpent. Lady Fish spawn further out in the sea and then migrate inland to brackish waters. They range in size and weight, with the average fish weighing only around a few pounds. Larger fish come in at around 6 pounds but put up much more of a fight. When swimming in schools, as they frequently do, Lady Fish are very undiscerning game, easily hooked by even novice anglers. They also bring a lot of excitement to a Key West fishing trip, a weekend out with your kids, or any other time you may want to feel like you're in a fishing video game. Easy to catch, quick to leap out of the water, and sure to bend the average rod, Lady Fish keep anglers excited and busy.

What's Unique About Lady Fish

There are a few factors which make Lady Fish unique to other types of fish you may encounter on a Key West fishing trip. For starters, they are easy to spot in large schools that do not scare away easily. In Mangroves or in the open waters in shallow bays, especially in the mud, Lady Fish spend their days on the hunt for food. They also have a very unique look about them. Silver, long, and looking like an eel when slivering around in water, they actually appear quite docile and elegant when out of the water. They have large, round eyes, including eyelids, and they can actually be quite calm once caught. Typically Lady Fish feed on crustaceans, such as small shrimp. The fish is actually not caught for consumption typically, bur rather for sport. It's a very bony fish.

How to Catch Them

Anyone out on their Key West fishing trip should rejoice, because Lady Fish are quite the easy catch. A jig with live shrimp bait usually works rather well. Lady Fish are also very receptive to basic swim baits, and they can be plastic lures of an inexpensive variety. When you're out with your guide, you will be looking for Mullets and any mud they may have stirred up. When the Mullets attack the mud, they're filling the water with the shrimp the Lady Fish just love to munch on. This brings in the school, which allows you to begin an exciting all-day angler session.