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Florida Pompano
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Trachinotus carolinus
OTHER NAMES:
Pompano, Carolina Pompano
RANGE:
All Florida coasts.
HABITAT:
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.
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.
FLORIDA
RECORD : 8
pounds, 1 ounce
FOOD VALUE:
Reputed to be the best.
GAME QUALITIES:
Tops. Will outrace and out pull a Jack Cravelle of
equivalent size.
TACKLE AND BAITS:
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 bait casting
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.
FISHING TECHNIQUES:
Casting; Drifting; Still Fishing.