Ladyfish/skipjack

[farmpond1]

Gang,

It's been awhile since this occurred but a friend and I went down to Pickwick Lake on the Alabama/Tennessee border.  The weather wasn't great so we decided to run to the dam.  While there, we saw some folks fishing for and catching Ladyfish/Skipjack (or at least that's what they called them).  So we broke out our rods and went down to an eddy below the spillway and we had some fun with them too.  Anybody else ever fish for skipjack?  Everything I've looked up on the internet suggests they are saltwater fish but these fish were clearly in freshwater.  Is this common?

[flyhatch]

are you speaking of the tennesee tarpon?

if so, those things are cool, i caught a bunch of them below that dam at picwick. they hit like a mack truck and give a great fight.

[farmpond1]

I'm sure we're talking about the same fish and, even, the same location (below the spillway on Pickwick).  I've also heard them referred to as poor man's tarpon.  Anyway, they hit hard and put up a great fight.  If I recall correctly, they leaped out of the water.  We cast 3/4 ounce jigs heads with chartreuse and yellow twister tails in the seams of the eddy's down below the dam.  What did you catch them on?   I hear they make great catfish bait-though I put mine back.  I wouldn't mind doing that again if I ever have occassion to be there again.  I don't think Guntersville is too far from Pickwick.

[RoLo]

I've caught skipjacks alright, but they were saltwater "skipjack tuna".

More than likely you're referring to the freshwater "skipjack herring" (baitfish).

As for "ladyfish" on the Tennessee River, that one's got me stumped.

The only ladyfish I'm aware of is the saltwater aerialist sometimes called the Poorman's Tarpon (aka: "ten-pounder").

Roger

[Tokyo Tony]

Not sure about skipjack, but I used to catch ladyfish in south Florida.  Down there they're considered "trash" fish, and they're very slimy, but they're still definitely a lot of fun.

[Bassn Blvd]

Rolo nailed it again.   Ladyfish are saltwater and great fun to catch.  Are also an awesome Snook bait but you better hold onto your rod super tight when the Snook hits.

[bocabasser]

Not sure about skipjack, but I used to catch ladyfish in south Florida. Down there they're considered "trash" fish, and they're very slimy, but they're still definitely a lot of fun.

ladyfish are amazing BIG snook bait. i have also heard people refer to ladyfish as a poor mans tarpon. they jump and act like juvenile tarpon---super fun to catch, but IMO they are a great big snook bait. bassnblvd said it best---you better hold on when using ladyfish as a bait, because you will get slammed.

[MemphisFisherman]

skipjack are very very abundant behind the dam, they hit anything mimicing a minnow and aren't bad fighter's.  alot of people just toss them on the bank because they are considered trash fish.  the really cool thing about them is after you catch them and put them back they play dead and just sorta float downstream for a bit before they take off.

[flyhatch]

I was fishing with roadwarriors buddy speedy ,the guy with the biggest baddest boat below the dam , we were trying to catch some smallies, but we ended up catching those tennessee tarpon on rapalas and live bait. we also caught some rock fish aka stripers. i did manage one smallie and some largies but i could tell that that was some great smallie water.

I will be back to try agian...

[LCpointerKILLA]

Last summer I was fishing with my uncle in mosquito lagoon and caught at least 20 ladyfish. Oh yeah and my uncle found and caught a big redfish. Plus I caught 5 speckled trout (picture in "got any good fishing pictures" thread)