Thread: Pompano question

I had the good fortune of catching a pompano last year and cooked it and I am hooked on their taste.My first and only pomp! My question is what part of the surf is best for catching them and at what time of the year?

march is the best time of year, idk about the surf

On the bar, backside of the bar and in the draws in between the bars.
From what little I've experienced, if you aren't wading out, you better be able to cast a country mile on average.
If possible, on the lowest tides go to the places you wish to fish and observe the bars/draws so you know where you want to be fishing.

Follow Haywire down the beach, he was killing'em this Spring.
Hire Pier#r to guide you on the beach or pier, he'll put you on them or at least something else to make the day.

Originally Posted by ChileRelleno

On the bar, backside of the bar and in the draws in between the bars.
From what little I've experienced, if you aren't wading out, you better be able to cast a country mile on average.
If possible, go to the places you wish to fish on the lowest tides and observe the bars/draws so you know where you want to be fishing.

Follow Haywire down the beach, he was killing'em this Spring.
Hire Pier#r to guide you on the beach or pier, he'll put you on them or at least something else to make the day.

Already have decided to hire Mr Pounder for some educatin' next time I make the trip to the coast. So grateful for all you veterans helping me. Just feel like a know a few tips but still lost.

They're still in the surf but not nearly in the numbers that they are during the spring and late fall. Distance out depends on surf conditions and changes throughout the day. In January I was only catching them on the rods 80+ yards out, but caught them in the wash during March/April just like you would a whiting. I rake my own fleas but you can catch them on different things. I think they're still around more than usual because of the strange weather this year.

As said above, March/April/May best. But I have caught them throughout the year. I look for south, south east or south west light wind, a moving tide and clear water. If the surf is dead smooth, go home. Most often, the person that can cast farthest catches the most. I have caught at least as many on salted shrimp as with sand fleas. However, sand fleas cut down on trash fish. Make your own rigs the ones you can buy are too heavy IMHO. Lots of good advice in these posts. Pompano is one of the best tasting fish in the sea. DON"T DEEP FRY they will be awful. Grill, dry pan fry, or bake. Great.

Numbers are definitely down from the spring run, but still some quality fish to be found!
This one was 3.63#

DavidPomp.jpg

That's what I do is SHOW you what to look for and how to rig up for fish like this ;-)

8 more weeks, 8 more weeks!!! Can't wait to meet you Pier#r and sure hope you can show us where/how at the 4 Seasons pier to load up my ice chest with those. I've been reading here for weeks now, and researching, and I've about decided pompano is what I want to target. Read that the speck trout is good when fresh, but it's not a great freezing fish. Pompano seems my best bet for freezing and taking back with me.

Up until this past May, freezing Pompano wasn't ever an issue for us, as we never caught more than we could eat while we were there at the beach. And I had always heard that "pompano don't travel well". So we always consumed the few good pomps we caught. Couple of decades go by, and I learn that Pompano doesn't travel well because it is often eaten and not frozen. From now on, when someone says " Pompano doesn't travel well", I will smile and say " Yeah, I know". Learned enough this past winter on the forum to bring home 7 Pomps; ate the other two. And caught my limit one day , of legal (15"+) Pomps for the first time ever. And I owe all the success to this Forum. Hook'em, you might want to keep flounder and whiting also. They "travel" very well, also. Good luck and wish you smooth drags.

Thanks much! Appreciate the advice.