Captain’s Corner: Pompano

The Tampa Bay Times

By Neil Taylor

Pompano are a best bet with everything going on in the fishing world.     Many species closed, you almost want to leave them alone altogether.     Pompano are hitting their peak time after a slow start.   Pompano should be strong the rest of the summer months.   Averages in 2017 and 2018:   30 pompano per trip.   We have not reached that yet this year. 
Pompano are found late summer on the bridges.   Earlier in the year at the passes.    Other locations to find pompano are basically deeper areas with sandy bottom and good current.
Catching pompano is not hard.    The jig and teaser is all I use.    A yellow jig with a pink teaser.    The jig is the weight that takes the combination to the bottom.   The teaser is what they eat.     You must keep this lure hopping up and down off the bottom.    For success, it must be contacting the bottom.    The act of jigging is how you set the hook.    Bridge fishing, drop the lure right up against the pilings.    If you are not aggressive with sinking the lure right next to the structure, you won’t catch the pompano.   
Regulations on pompano are six fish per person with a minimum size, eleven inches.     I don’t keep a pompano unless it is 13 inches.     They are very good to eat and easy to fillet.