Florida Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus
Carolina Pompano

Life History

Description and Diagnostic Characteristics: Greenish gray on top with silvery sides, yellow gold on throat and undersides. Dorsal fin is dark but other fins are yellow. Has a deep flattened body with a small mouth.

Size: Around 2 pounds

Age at Maturity: Protogynous hermaphrodites, that is, they change sex with size. Mature female: around 7.5 inches, males: around 9 inches.

Range: Common in Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Can be found as far north as Cape Cod

Habitat: Found in surf and along sandy beaches, also in bays and estuaries. They also like deeper inshore waters along sandbars and grass flats.

Angling Information

Bait and Tackle : Spinning, baitcasting and even fly lures work well in surf and off piers. Will eat live sand fleas (sand crabs), shrimp or fiddler crabs. They will sometimes take dead sand fleas, shrimp, clams or squid. They also like small jigs or lures.

Fishing Method: Casting, drifting, still fishing

Food Value: Very good with rich, firm, white flesh