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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: | 95419 documented in database. |
| Earliest Record: | 1/1/1830 12:00:00 AM and located at 29.36809, -94.84530. |
| Latest Record: | 7/4/2024 12:41:39 PM and located at 27.26650, -82.52821. |
| Common Techniques: | Bottom Fishing, Jigging |
| Popular Lure Types: | Bottom Rig, Jigs |
| Fishing Spots: | 1928 Florida Pompano fishing spots. |
Latest Florida Pompano Fishing Reports and Spots
The Gulf of Mexico really came to life this week! Offshore reports are stacked with wahoo big red snapper at about 200′ scamp and yellowtails a (
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There was as slight hiccup in the bait supply the last couple of days and luckily I got a text from AIBT last evening about there being no bai (
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I met Len Pelletier his son Scott and grandson Kevin down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and as we cruised up the intercoast (
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Jacks Rule - 6/20/2024 3:23:00 PM
We did our third windy day in a row today when I met John Cipriani and his brother David out at Goffinsville Park. The wind stayed in the 15-1 (
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06/19/2024 - 6/19/2024 10:09:07 PM
Today we had a citation pompano from ramp 48. Just over 2 pounds. Great fish. The customer had two other pomps just under the 2 pound mark. Sea (
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06/20/2024 - 6/20/2024 9:43:01 PM
We had a citation drum come in from yesterday caught on ramp 44. Pompano today at the point. Ramp 43 had sea mullet. Blue fish reported from ra (
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I know it's difficult to tell conditions when were at our homes - we see the flags flapping and the trees swaying and think this is such a ni (
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I wrapped my week up fishing with Jon Beall and his visiting son Brian. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and headed up the int (
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Amelia Island I was back to work today fishing south out of Sawpit Creek with Scott and Carron Frost. After meeting them early we headed up th (
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I was again down at Sawpit this morning but a little bit later which turned out to be a good thing and a not-so-good thing. I met Cheryl McBrid (
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