Science Name: | Trachinotus carolinus |
Other Names: | Florida Pompano |
Ideal Temp: | 70 to 88 |
World Record: | 8 lbs. 1 ounce, Fl. |
Environment: | inshore, coastal |
Techniques: | light tackle, casting, fly |
The Pompano is fine eating and a hard fighting fish. It is judged by many to be the worlds most exciting light tackle gamefish. It enters very shallow water and can be taken from beaches, piers, jetties, bridges and boats.
Most Pompano average about 2 pounds. The all tackle record is 8 pounds 1 ounce.
Pompano are found in the warm, temperate and tropical waters of the western Atlantic. They prefer water temperatures in the 82 -89° F range.
Pompano can be found through out the coastal areas of Florida. On the Atlantic coast they are most prevalent from New Smyrna south to Miami. The best times of the year are between October to December and again April to July.
Pompano can also be caught along the entire West Coast of Florida. Especially between St. Petersburg to Ft, Meyers. Pompano can be caught in the Panhandle region off the beaches in late February and in the surf and cuts of Apalachicola Bay.
Tackle and Techniques - Most of these fish are caught in shallow water close inshore. They can be caught by surfcasting, flyfishing or spincasting from shore or from a boat.
Fishing Equipment - Spinning gear should include a 7' medium action rod and reel with 6# -12 # test line.
Surfcasting gear should include an 8' to14' surf rod and reel capable of heaving 6 to 8 ounce sinkers with 20# to 30# line.
Flyfishing gear should include a 8-1/2' to 9' long 7 weight rod with a reel holding 100 or more yards of 20# backing.
Baits - Natural baits including crabs, clams, sand fleas and shrimp work well. Artificial lures which produce are jigs with yellow and yellow combination nylon hair, bucktails and plastic tailed jigs
Tips for Fishing