Florida Pompano

Averages 1 pound; fairly common at 2 pounds and can grow to 8 pounds. World and Florida records 8 pounds, 1 ounce.

Pompano, Carolina Pompano

Florida anglers on both coasts catch most of their Pompano from the surf, or from ocean piers; however, many are caught outside the beaches and also from bays, mostly in or near channels that run through flats. Adults occur in coastal waters, commonly entering bays and estuaries. Juveniles found in sandy beaches exposed to wave action. Adults are absent from insular areas with coralline habitats. They generally form small to large schools. They feed on mollusks, crustaceans and other invertebrates and small fish. Excellent food fish. Highest priced marine food fish in the USA. Have been reared in captivity

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.

Summary of Distribution: Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA through the Gulf of Mexico and scattered localities in the West Indies to Brazil. Also found in Argentina. Absent from clear waters of Bahamas and similar islands
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

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	Kite Fishing (Trolling) Kite Fishing Trolling is when you are....
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	Trawling Trawling is when....

If fishing the surf or piers, use the lightest surf spinning tackle that will get your bait where you want it. In other situations, spinning or light baitcasting tackle with 6-8 pound-test line gives maximum sport. By far the best natural bait is a live sand flea (sand crab), but Pompano also will bite live shrimp or fiddler crabs and with varying dependability dead sand fleas, dead shrimp, clams and cut squid. Pompano are ready strikers of artificial jigs, the Florida favorite being quarter-ounce or half-ounce models with short nylon skirts. Fly fishermen catch Pompano with Bonefish-type flies that sink well those with epoxy heads or lead eyes.