Florida pompano
Trachinotus carolinus
A state link is a recorded source association, not a catch guarantee or confirmation that targeting is legal. Check current regulations with the responsible state agency.
- Peak months
- Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Dec
- Typical depth
- surf troughs/bars; summer outer bars 15-20 ft; bridges/piers deeper channels
- Typical size
- Up to 24 inches (8 pounds)
- Catch minimum
- National record
See state records · Browse all fishing records
Recorded profile
- habitat summary
- Inshore and nearshore waters, especially along sandy beaches, oyster bars and over seagrass beds, often in turbid water. Found in water as deep as 130 feet.
- diet
- Feeds on mollusks and crustaceans, especially sand fleas.
- preferred bait
- live sand fleas; shrimp; small crabs; clams; FishBites
- preferred lures
- banana/goofy jigs tipped with shrimp strip; small bright spoons
- techniques
- pier jigging over bars/troughs; double-drop pompano rig; hop jig and work the fall
- peak months
- Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Dec
States with a source record
Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Massachusetts · Maryland · Mississippi · North Carolina · New Jersey · South Carolina · Texas · Virginia
Source evidence by state
- Alabama — Florida Pompano · seed: www.outdooralabama.com · www.outdooralabama.com
- Florida — Florida Pompano · enriched: myfwc.com · myfwc.com · catchafloridamemory.com · www.floridasportsman.com · www.floridasportsman.com · myfwc.com
- Georgia — Florida Pompano · seed: georgiawildlife.com · georgiawildlife.com · georgiawildlife.com
- Louisiana — Florida Pompano · seed: www.wlf.louisiana.gov · www.wlf.louisiana.gov · www.wlf.louisiana.gov
- Massachusetts — Florida Pompano · seed: www.mass.gov · www.mass.gov · www.mass.gov
- Maryland — Florida Pompano · seed: dnr.maryland.gov · dnr.maryland.gov · dnr.maryland.gov
- Mississippi — Florida Pompano · seed: www.mdwfp.com · dmr.ms.gov · www.mdwfp.com
- North Carolina — Florida Pompano · seed: www.ncwildlife.gov · auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov · www.deq.nc.gov · www.ncwildlife.gov
- New Jersey — Florida Pompano · seed: dep.nj.gov · dep.nj.gov · dep.nj.gov
- South Carolina — Florida Pompano · seed: www.dnr.sc.gov · www.dnr.sc.gov · www.dnr.sc.gov · www.dnr.sc.gov
- Texas — Florida Pompano · seed: tpwd.texas.gov · tpwd.texas.gov
- Virginia — Florida Pompano · seed: dwr.virginia.gov · mrc.virginia.gov
LoveToFish is a national fishing guide. Fish species coverage spans all 50 states. Ramp, charter, bait shop, and creator directories currently cover Florida. Verify current local regulations with the responsible agency.