Awa’awa | Hawaiian tarpon | Elops hawaiensis

[wailua boy]

C/R

[oc1]

aka ladyfish

[oldmanjoe]

 The entertaining fish !!!!

[JasonGotaProblem]

aka ladyfish

Great cut bait for sharks.

[jurelometer]

Nice catch!

For you USA East Coasters: This particular species of ladyfish will get over a meter long.    These are called Giant Herrring in Australia. A fabulous gamefish on light tackle or fly.  I remember my first one like it was yesterday.  Took me into the backing in a heartbeat.

Even the smaller ladyfish we get down in Baja are pretty cool. More than just a bait source.

-J

[Bryan Young]

That's a great fish for fish cake...but you need to catch a few to make it worth the effort.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Definitely more than just a bait source. They're quite a fun fight. They run fast and jump a lot. We call them the poor mans tarpon. My largest here in FL was 32". I find them most easily in channels with fast currents, where they tend to be hunting near the surface so I target them with free lined shrimp that stay at the surface due to those high currents.

Phrased differently, they are ALSO great for shark bait.

I didn't know people ate them though. I always figured they were too bloody/bony.

[Gfish]

Ain't got one yet. What and where?

[JasonGotaProblem]

Ain't got one yet. What and where?

Come to florida and give me a ring, I'll find you a ladyfish.

[Benni3]

I bet they fight hard,,,,,,,

[wailua boy]

Ain't got one yet. What and where?

Yeah, they aren't a real common catch in Hawaii but I picked him up while dunking a half akule for ulua/omilu off a sand beach. Our state record is 22lbs.