Ladyfish (Elopidae)
Ladyfish
Elops saurus
About the ladyfish
Ladyfish are acrobatic fighters that hit hard and leap repeatedly when hooked. While not prized for eating, they're one of the most fun fish to catch from a pier and make excellent live bait for larger species like tarpon and king mackerel.
- inshore
- sport fish
- bait fish
- acrobatic
- summer
Where to find them
Piers that report ladyfish
Season, bait and average size as reported for each pier.
Springmaid Pier
Biting- Months
- May–Oct
- Best bait
- Gotcha plugs, small spoons
- Average size
- 12–24 in
- Pier record
- 6 lbs
Acrobatic fighters that leap repeatedly. Not great eating but tons of fun and excellent live bait.
Pier 14
Biting- Months
- May–Oct
- Best bait
- Gotcha plugs, small spoons
- Average size
- 12–24 in
- Pier record
- 6 lbs
Acrobatic fighters that leap repeatedly. Not great eating but tons of fun and excellent live bait.
Apache Pier
Biting- Months
- May–Oct
- Best bait
- Gotcha plugs, small spoons
- Average size
- 12–24 in
- Pier record
- 6 lbs
Acrobatic fighters that leap repeatedly. Not great eating but tons of fun and excellent live bait.
- Months
- May–Oct
- Best bait
- Gotcha plugs, small spoons
- Average size
- 12–24 in
- Pier record
- 6 lbs
Acrobatic fighters that leap repeatedly. Not great eating but tons of fun and excellent live bait.
Surfside Pier
Biting- Months
- May–Oct
- Best bait
- Gotcha plugs, small spoons
- Average size
- 12–24 in
- Pier record
- 6 lbs
Acrobatic fighters that leap repeatedly. Not great eating but tons of fun and excellent live bait.
Garden City Pier
Biting- Months
- May–Oct
- Best bait
- Gotcha plugs, small spoons
- Average size
- 12–24 in
- Pier record
- 6 lbs
Acrobatic fighters that leap repeatedly. Not great eating but tons of fun and excellent live bait.
Cherry Grove Pier
Biting- Months
- May–Oct
- Best bait
- Gotcha plugs, small spoons
- Average size
- 12–24 in
- Pier record
- 6 lbs
Acrobatic fighters that leap repeatedly. Not great eating but tons of fun and excellent live bait.
Second Avenue Pier
Biting- Months
- May–Oct
- Best bait
- Gotcha plugs, small spoons
- Average size
- 12–24 in
- Pier record
- 6 lbs
Acrobatic fighters that leap repeatedly. Not great eating but tons of fun and excellent live bait.
South Carolina rules
Keeping ladyfish
No specific size or bag limit on file
SCDNR does not list a dedicated rule for Ladyfish in our regulations table. General saltwater rules still apply — check the regulations page and confirm before you keep a fish.