Saltwater · Year-round in Hawaiʻi; best May to October in warm inshore water
Lai (Doublespotted Queenfish)
Scomberoides lysan
Lai is the Hawaiian name for the doublespotted queenfish — despite the name, it is NOT the California 'queenfish', which is an unrelated croaker. Its tough, leathery skin was traditionally used as a leather, and the flesh is scraped from the skin before eating.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Double row of dark spots along each side — the namesake pattern
- Long, slim, strongly compressed silvery body
- Tough, leathery skin with tiny embedded scales
- Deeply forked tail with long-based second dorsal and anal fins
- Oblique mouth with fine, sharp teeth, built for snatching small fish
Habits
- Fast inshore predator that slashes through schools of small fish
- Juveniles school over sand and reef flats; adults roam points and channels
- Often jumps and skitters on the surface when hooked or feeding
- Handle with care — the small spines of the first dorsal and anal fins can sting
- Feeds by day on anchovies, silversides and small shrimp
Distribution
Where to find them
- Points and channel edges on Oʻahu and Maui
- Surf zones and reef flats worked from shore at dawn
- Harbour entrances where baitfish gather
Where they live
How to catch them
Whipping with fast spoons and plugs Shore
Rig: Light-medium spinning rod, spoons and plugs cast around points and channels and retrieved fast with short pauses
Bait/lure: Metal spoons, small plugs
Key tip: Speed triggers lai — burn the lure, then pause; strikes often come on the pause.
Small live baits under floats Shore
Rig: Float rig with a small live baitfish on a light leader, fished along channel edges and reef flats
Bait/lure: Live small fish such as pilchards and anchovies
Key tip: Keep the bait near the surface where lai hunt; use light leaders in clear water.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light-medium 7-9 ft spinning rod
- Line: 10-20 lb braid with 20 lb leader
- Terminal: Metal spoons, small plugs, floats and small hooks
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 1-3 lb (0.5-1.4 kg); large fish to about 8 lb (3.6 kg)
On the table
Fair to good eaten raw — the flesh is traditionally scraped off the tough skin; never eat the skin.
Similar species
LeatherjacketThe leatherjacket lacks the lai's neat double row of spots and has a rougher, more file-like skin and a less forked tail
Bluefin TrevallyBluefin trevally has electric-blue fins and black speckles on a deep jack body; lai is slimmer, marked with a double row of spots and more deeply fork-tailedRegulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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