Category Archives: Lady Fish (Bid Bid)

Wolf Herring ( Chirocentrus sp. )

Feb 27

Posted by benaiahfogle

Wolf Herring Caught Trolling In Pagbilao

Common Name: Wolf Herring

Local Name: Buan-Buan, Bidb-bid (miss-identified) (Tagalog); ?? (Bisaya)

Max Size: 146 cm (40+kgs)

Biodiversity: Saltwater, Brackish, Reef associated

Depth: 1 – 120 meters

Fishing Season: All Year Long

Minimum Size Limit: None

Recommended Bait/Lures: Small fish or lures

IUCN Red List Status Status: Not Evaluated (NE)

This sly predator is quite rare and elusive. It is often mistaken for a Tarpon or a Ladyfish due to its silvery sides and shape. It can be distinguished however by its large grotesque fangs and long sardine shaped body. These can be caught on lures, trolling or with live or dead bait.

There are two main species of Wolf Herring that can be found around the country, the Whitefin and the Blackfin. We believe this is the Blackfin (nodus) species however we are not sure.

A Wolf Herring taking on a pins minnow lure

Wayne’s Wolf Herring caught in Romblon

Posted in Lady Fish (Bid Bid), Rare/Bizarre, Tarpon (Buan-Buan)

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Ladyfish ( Elops sp. )

Apr 13

Posted by benaiahfogle

Common Name: Ladyfish

Local Name: Bidbid

Max Size: 100 cm (3.7 kgs)

Biodiversity: Marine, Brackish, Endemic

Depth: Surface – ?? meters

Fishing Season: All Year Long

Minimum Size Limit: None

Recommended Bait/Lures: Cut Bait (Shrimp and fish), lures

IUCN Red List Status: (LC) Least Concern

This is another species found in the Philippines specifically along the coastline where estuaries and mangrove swamps are. These aggressive predators are often mistaken for Milkfish (Bangus) because of their almost identical body shape and color. The fry of these fish look almost identical to Milkfish fry and so they are often mistakenly stocked in Milkfish ponds where they become a damaging pest.

Ladyfish can be taken on a variety of baits and lures. They are quite aggressive and often leap from the water when hooked to try to escape. They have large soft mouths which can make landing them quite frustrating. They often will strike and and run and manage to unhook themselves before you can land them.

Ladyfish on a soft plastic

I have not listed a specific species for the Ladyfish here because there are apparently seven different species of this fish which share many similarities. I prefer to just call these Philippine Ladyfish.

If you have caught Ladyfish here in the Philippines or if you have any other helpful information regarding this fish then please contact us.