Florida Pompano

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Florida Pompano

Species Information

Scientific Name:Trachinotus Carolinus
Common Names:pompano, florida pompano
Environment:Inshore, Nearshore, Surf
Ideal Temp:70-89ºF (21-31ºC)

About Florida Pompano

The Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) is a species of marine fish in the Trachinotus (pompano) genus of the Carangidae family. It has a compressed body and short snout; coloration varies from blue-greenish silver on the dorsal areas and silver to yellow on the body and fins. It can be found along the western coast of the Atlantic Ocean, depending on the season, and is popular for both sport and commercial fishing. Most Florida pompano caught weigh less than 3 lb (1.4 kg) and are less than 17 in (43 cm) long, though the largest individuals weigh 8–9 lb (3.6–4.1 kg) and reach lengths up to 26 in (66 cm).


It has a deeply forked tail and is blue-greenish silver with yellow on the throat, belly, and pelvic and anal fins. The first dorsal fins are low, with about six separate spines. The first spine may be reabsorbed in a larger fish. The second lobes on the dorsal and anal fins have a lower anterior.There are 20-24 anal fin rays. It is a compressed fish with a deep body and a blunt snout.


The adult Florida pompano is typically found in more saline areas and relatively warm waters (70-89°F), so it migrates northward in the summer, and toward the south in the fall. Despite its name, the range of the Florida pompano extends from Massachusetts to Brazil, but it is more common in areas near Florida. During the summer, it can be found near Sebastian, Cape Hatteras, and the Gulf of Mexico. It is more common near oil rigs, Palm Beach, and Hobe Sound during the winter. It can also be found near the Virgin Islands year round.

Its habitat is surf flats, and it tends to stay away from clear water regions, such as the Bahamas. Pompanos are very fast swimmers and live in schools. They are bottom feeders. They have very short teeth and feed on zoobenthos and small clams.


Florida pompano are commercially fished in all states on the East Coast from Virginia to Texas, with Florida producing over 90% of the annual harvest. Harvesting occurs mostly along Florida's western coast, with some harvesting on the eastern coast and in the Banana and Indian Rivers. Between 1994 and 2006, it commanded dockside prices of more than $3 per pound of whole fish weight.

Individually, Florida pompano are caught on light jigs and popping corks. They are very active on the line, testing light tackle beyond what their weight would suggest. They bite near oil rigs in the winter.

Florida Pompano Fishing

World Record:3.76 kg (8 lb 4 oz) Port St. Joe Bay, Florida, USA
# Fish Caught:95444 documented in database.
Earliest Record:1/1/1830 12:00:00 AM and located at 29.36809, -94.84530.
Latest Record:4/2/2025 9:37:00 AM and located at 25.78888, -80.25030.
Common Techniques:Bottom Fishing, Jigging
Popular Lure Types:Bottom Rig, Jigs
Fishing Spots:1924 Florida Pompano fishing spots.


Latest Florida Pompano Fishing Reports and Spots

Trout and Drum - 8/11/2025 12:02:00 AM

Lots of pesky Bluefish and couple of Spanish Mackerel. Had 3 slot and 1 over slot drum, 9 trout, some nice Croaker, few Spot, and a nice Pompano (View)

7/29 - 7/30/2025 5:58:32 PM

Body:  Offshore boats having great catches of mahi wahoo tuna and jacks! Inshore boats getting limits of trout and bluefish with some decent bi (View)

7/30 - 7/31/2025 6:47:45 PM

Body:  Been a nice week for the fleet before this blow! Offshore boats getting into a nice bite of mahi tuna jack and wahoo!! Inshore boats hav (View)

TW’S DAILY FISHING REPORT - 8/3/2025 9:06:00 AM

Sunday August 3 2025 Fishing Report It was a fabulous week of fishing followed with some good fishing this weekend as well! The wind may have sh (View)

7/25-7/27 - 7/27/2025 7:23:24 PM

Body:  Great catches of mahi for the offshore boats and still having great catches of wahoo! And some billfish too! Inshore boats are having gr (View)

7/27-7/28 - 7/28/2025 7:42:50 PM

Body:  Tuna for dinner!!! Offshore boats have had fantastic catches of tuna! Also seeing some mahi and wahoo as well!! Inshore boats have been (View)

7/27-7/28 - 7/28/2025 7:42:51 PM

Body:  Tuna for dinner!!! Offshore boats have had fantastic catches of tuna! Also seeing some mahi and wahoo as well!! Inshore boats have been (View)

7/11-7/12 - 11/7/2012 3:15:00 PM

Body:  Welp red snapper season has come and gone but the fleet got their fair share! Also mixed in some tuna mahi and amberjacks!  Inshore boat (View)

7/12-7/13 - 12/7/2013 5:14:00 PM

Body:  Offshore boats catching a great variety of fish. Mahi red snapper amberjack sea bass tilefish and wahoo all heading to the cleaners!! In (View)

7/14 - 7/15/2025 4:19:38 PM

Body:  Been some great fishing to start the week!  Offshore boats having great catches of mahi and almacos and even some wahoos and tiles still (View)