Ladyfish
Elops spp.
Catch identification reference. A historical record supports occurrence here; it does not establish this fish as a regular local target.
Texas recreational state waters: no species-specific bag, possession or length limit is listed for ladyfish in the reviewed Outdoor Annual. General fishing requirements still apply.
Texas recreational state waters · Regulation reference 2026-09-01–2027-08-31. General license, gear and area restrictions still apply.
TPWD rule source ↗TPWD general limit policy ↗
Identify your catch
A slender silver fish with a bluish back, pointed head and forward-opening mouth. Unlike tarpon, the final dorsal-fin ray is not extended into a long filament.
Habitat & biology
Uses bays and estuaries and can enter freshwater. Schooling fish that eat fish and crustaceans and often jump when hooked. This guide retains the broad ladyfish label used in TPWD waterbody records rather than assigning every recorded catch to a particular Elops species.
Fishing knowledge
Skipjack is a regional common name here; it does not mean skipjack tuna.
Species-level knowledge, not current fishing activity or a bay-specific catch forecast.
FWC identification & biology ↗TPWD researchers · Elops species study ↗Not Listed in Advisory for this named bay in the reviewed DSHS index. Nearby water may have different restrictions; this is not a safety guarantee.
Exact areas & meal guidance →Source scope
Lower Laguna Madre
Recorded occurrence is historical evidence, not an abundance estimate or a promise of a common local catch.
Official species record evidence ↗Before you go
Sources & coastal evidence
Coastal reference review 2026-10-14. Record evidence: Lower Laguna Madre. Historical records establish recorded occurrence, not current abundance. Artwork is illustrative scenery, not a geographical survey or a conditions feed.