Pompano Fishing

Florida Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus)

Description: Silvery overall with yellow on underside. Dorsal fin dark; other fins yellow. Head gently rounded. No scutes forward of tail. Pompano are often confused with small permit of similar size, but permit usually show a black blotch under the pectoral fin, and their bodies are deeper.

Size: Averages 1 pound; fairly common at 2 pounds and can grow to 8 pounds. world and Florida records 8 pounds, 4 ounces.

Food Value: Reputed to be the best, very good.

Game Qualities: Tops. will outrace and out-pull a jack crevalle of equivalent size, very strong and fast.

Tackle & Baits: If fishing the surf or piers, use the lightest surf spinning tackle that will get your bait where you want it. 8 to 10 pound test is idea. Jigs of various colors are outstanding for pompano, heavier jigs work great because when the jig hits the sand it make a sand cloud, which resembles a sand fleas. Live baits include: sand fleas, fiddler crabs and shrimp.

Fishing Tactics: Pier fishing, casting, drifting

A Little About Pompano

Pompano are very fun fish to catch although it is very time consuming and allot of work, if patient the reward is worth the wait. Pompano are very hard swimmers they fight just like the jack crevelle and some say even harder, yea they are fun to catch but the real reward is on the dinner table, pompano are one of the most rich and delicious fish that you can eat. 

Pompano fishing from a pier can be very challenging, the method that I recommend is jigging, and I usually will use a 3/8 oz pink, white or yellow Goofy jig. The Goofy jig has a very unique sinking motion that really entices strikes. Not only is the action good, but it is heavy enough when it hits the sea floor to kick up sand, resembling sand fleas. The live bait choice would be sand fleas or fiddler crabs, the rig that I have had the most success with is the slip sinker rig, this rig consist of a small egg sinker, size depends on the current and depth, a barrel swivel, one foot of fluorocarbon leader and a 1/0 owner hook. The way you want to fish this rig is, gently jig up and down. The major key to Pompano fishing is to find strong current because this is where Pompano go in search for food. When pompano fishing from a pier find good tidal flow and jig right next to the pilling, preferably on incoming tides, since this is when Pompano feed best.