Florida Pompano

Florida pompano are small, deep, flat silvery fish with a blunt rounded snout, a forked tail, and often a yellowish wash on the throat and belly, looking much like a compact permit. They are a prized, pan-sized member of the jack family.

They work sandy beaches, surf zones, inlets, and nearshore flats of the western Atlantic and Gulf, following the sloughs and troughs where breaking waves stir up the bottom.

How anglers target them

Pompano root along the sand for sand fleas, small clams, and shrimp uncovered by the surf. Surf casters fish multi-hook pompano rigs baited with sand fleas or shrimp placed in the troughs, while boat and pier anglers bounce small bright jigs, often tipped with bait, along the bottom. They bite with a subtle tap yet pull strongly for their size, and their rich, sweet flesh ranks them among the most esteemed inshore food fish.