Gulf Coast anglers usually catch pompano more by accident than by design.
Even though it is one of the more prized fish for light tackle aficionados, restaurants, fish markets, and gourmet chefs, the pompano seldom draws much attention from the masses because it requires some specialized knowledge and techniques to consistently catch the little scrapper.
Probably one of the best pompano anglers anywhere along Florida's Gulf Coast was a character everyone knew as Port Tampa Jack who, for years, earned his livelihood by fishing commercially with hook and line at Gandy Bridge in Tampa Bay.
Certainly Port Tampa Jack had his favorite hot spots around the bridge pilings as he lowered sand fleas to the bottom in the 1950s and '60s. If he caught 15 to 30 fish per day, he considered the trip successful because even back then the pompano was bringing more than $1 per pound at the market.
Like its cousins--the jack crevalle and African pompano--pompano is a toughy that usually weighs between two and three pounds. Although some may grow to 10 or 12 pounds, a five-pounder is an eye-opener.
While being a flat fish, the pompano, which closely resembles a permit, has a broad or deep oval body, a light greenish-blue back, silvery sides and lower body, plus fins that are pale yellow.
Found from the Carolinas down the east coast of Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida Bay to Pensacola, and throughout the Caribbean, a pompano is often more cooperative in the fall, winter, and spring months.
Weather and water conditions play a big part in fishing for pompano in shallow inshore waters. Following the passage of a cold front, the fish generally moves off into deeper water and returns when things warm up a bit.
They feed best along the Gulf beaches during a moderate or strong onshore wind which churns the sandy bottoms and washes up sand fleas, crabs, shrimp, and clams--favorite foods of this prized target.
When searching for pompano, Gulf anglers might do well to look for them in deep troughs, sloughs, breaks, cuts, or along the edges of sand bars. They can also be located in inlets, passes, and river mouths that empty into the Gulf, as well as in finger channels, small bays, and lagoons where they will often move back and forth seeking a meal. According to experts, the fish comes closer to shore and into shallow water on an incoming tide while moving into deeper water on the ebb.
For those who don't want to mess around gathering sand fleas for bait, a small jig is a viable alternative. A short, 1/4-ounce yellow or white feather, nylon, bucktail, or plastic-tailed jig--either bare or tipped with a piece of shrimp or ProBait Tip-It--can often be effective.
When jigging, a light- or medium-action spinning rod with four- to eight-pound-test line is adequate. Cast it out and let it sink before bouncing it along the bottom in short hops. Be alert for the slightest indication of a strike and set the hook quickly. Keep in mind that a pompano will often hit a jig when it stops moving forward and starts sinking.
It's doubtful that anyone will load a boat with this delectable dandy. However, a few hours spent in gathering up a half dozen or so will be rewarding because of a later dinner table treat. Steamed over a pan of white wine, broiled, or baked while blasted with lemon butter and seasoned with salt and pepper, provides a meal fit for royalty.
Copyright (c) 1996 Herb Allen. All rights reserved.
Home | Library | Fishing | Saltwater Fishing