Stalking the Elusive Pompano

They are not easy to find.  They are fast swimmers and are almost always on the move.  Most of us only get a few each time during the migration.  The key is not being stationary.  If we bring a bunch of gear and stay in one spot we may get lucky and get into a school, but generally we'll only catch a few as they pass us by.  You have to travel light and keep on moving until you find the school.  Then keep moving to stay with them.

Where do you start searching?  Look for structure where there is the potential for "shifting sand".  It's been said Pomps are sight feeders who look in the sand for Crustaceans like sandfleas.  If there is a breaker that is crashing and churning up the sand it is uncovering these crustaceans to be eaten by fish that like them.  Those areas of shifting sand are the areas Pompano will feed.  Is there a sandbar being disturbed?  Are the waves crashing into a hole and stirring up the sand?  Is there a runout bringing sand back out to sea?  These areas not only move sand but also the creatures that Pompano love to eat.

Those are the same areas you need to put your bait.  To the left of it, to the right.  Directly in it, just beyond it and just before it.  Cast your baits, wait a few minutes and see what happens.  If you're getting nothing keep moving and try another promising area.

Another thing to keep in mind.  Here in Florida often fish will be right at your feet, especially at high tide.  Take a look at the picture of Hannah Park at the bottom of the page.  Notice there's a sand bar then dark colored water as you move closer to the beach.  That dark colored water is a big hole or trench the surf has carved into the beach.  Once the water rises to allow fish to cross over the sandbar they will fill that hole right up to your feet.  Don't be afraid to cast your bait 5 to 10 feet away. If you haven't already experience it you'll be surprised at the number and size of fish you'll catch right at your feet.

That's why I fish my rods in pairs, one long, one short.  The long rod is an 11-12 footer with a conventional reel (Blue yonder or 525mag) designed to get out beyond the breakers.  It comes in handy during that intermediate tide where you can't wade and the fish can't cross the bar to get in.  It also helps on days when the water is dirty in close and cleaner out to distance.  The short rod is 7-9' with a spinning reel.  Designed to cover the medium to short distance.  If I need to cast 75 yards or 5 yards I can do that with the spinner.


My plan this season is to bring four rods and a cooler on my wheelez cart, with just a very small bag for tackle.  I'm going to bait and cast two rods, one long, one short.  Then move 50 yards and cast the other two.  If nothing on the first set then I'll move them 50 yards beyond the second set.  I'll keep that "leap-frog" going til I either get tired of it or find the school.  Once I find the school I'll park all four rods together and my kids and I will hopefully be pretty busy getting our limit.

Can't wait, the day is approaching!