This makes sense because they are from the jack family of fishes. But if you are going after much larger fish with big pieces of cut bait, you can go all the way up . If you do so, the bait wont stay on the hook very well. First of all, get your beginner's surfing equipment. Pompano is a popular fish you can catch off the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Rod length also influences distance, with longer rods generally casting fartheralthough Ill argue that rod action is more important to casting distance than length. A dressed tail hook will add to the action. You can catch your own or buy them at a bait shop. That is why I chose this one over the larger size. If you were to just throw them into a bucket of water, the accumulation of their urine, over the course of time, will kill them. Ill provide a list for each so that you can cobble together your own list. Pompano might be honed in on a different color for the day. I am a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN on the Treasure Coast of Florida. They are one of the best tasting fish in the sea, and their price at the fish market reflects it. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Im not particularly fond of the kahle hooks that come on most pompano rigs. Look for bridges and piers over deep channels. If there is a large colony around, there will be an obvious discoloration in the sand as the waves roll back over them. Anglers in far South Florida--all the way to Miami Beach--reap the run on winter's coldest days. I dont personally prefer the really small reels, because you never know what might pick up your bait at the end of a very long cast. Before you can catch pompano, you first have to find them. I like high tide because I can use a normal sized fishing rod instead of a 10 feet plus sized surf casting rod most of the time. Sometimes I use beads, sometimes I dont. But, this gives you an idea of how big pompano get in your area. Tie a dropper loop about 10-12 inches up the line. This will happen quicker than you might imagine. They prefer water temps between 65 and 85 degrees with 68 degrees being the sweet spot. Even a 5 foot medium light rod would suffice most of the time. Thats right! They can be found during moving tides letting the current bring small crabs and shrimp to them.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'riversearch_com-leader-3','ezslot_8',163,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-riversearch_com-leader-3-0'); You can use a variety of kinds of fishing rods to catch pompano depending on the situation. The less friction generated as the line comes off the spool, the farther the cast will go. Dont buy frozen shrimp that you see in local convenience stores. When it comes to weights, you want to use the lightest weight that the current will allow. On one hand, I really like my long 12 foot rods so that I can really get the bait out there when necessary. Copyright 2023 On The Water, LLC. For more tips, including how to keep your bait from returning to shore with the waves, read on! Pompano are primarily bottom feeders with a diet that consists of small crustaceans and shellfish. They often get confused with other members of their shared jack family such as permit. Often if you try to set your hook with too much force, you will end up jerking your bait right out of their mouth. Their small antennae make tiny Vs in the sand as the water recedes. Speaking of transient. All this stuff is important, but theyre mostly technical details external to oneself. In this video Capt. These folks are more than happy to share tips and tactics. Here we will cover a little bit about pompano, where to fish for them, their seasonal patterns, the equipment you will need to catch them, and a few tips to help you catch more pompano.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'riversearch_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',156,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-riversearch_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Pompano are members of the Carangidae or jack family of fish. You will want to test out your stretch of beach for 15 or 20 minutes and then move if you dont get any bites. 710 South Ocean Boulevard, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, United States of America - Excellent location - show map. Rigging for pompano and other species such as whiting that occur in the surf isn't difficult. Long Distance Casting in the Surf - On The Water VISIT FLORIDA is a service mark of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, d/b/a VISIT FLORIDA, registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Just starting out on this sea fishing. The simplest way is to scoop them out with your bare hands. If you plan to use a surf cart, live shrimp is a great option. They also tend to stay on the hook in rough waves, which makes it great for fishing the surf. However, the lure of the pomp doesnt end with their taste, as they are also powerful fighters, relative to their size. Simple. We recommend an 8-to-10 foot fast action casting rod. You just never really know what they are going to do next. If you answered yes then sign up for our email list below because we will send you a new article every week. Watch the video below to learn more about where to fish when you are surf fishing. The reel will last you and your grandchildren a lifetime. Jennette's Pier, Nags Head, (252) 255-1501. Pompano will be on one side of the bridge when the tide comes in and the other side when the tide goes out, so you will have to move your boat if the tide changes. How To Catch Pompano & Whiting- surf fishing - YouTube It all depends upon the tide levels when determining how far out to cast to catch pompano in the surf. But the back pain wont be trust me. Incoming tides, and the front of outgoing tides will typically be best. Please feel free to contact us with any questions that you have. Give the spot 15 minutes or so to see if there are any fish around and reevaluate what to do if you dont get any bites. I try to minimize weight anywhere possible in my beach loadout. Finding your rods sweet spot is a matter of feelthe rod will load smoothly on the cast and the lure will take off like a rocket. Pompano migrate in schools, heading south in the winter and then back north as the weather warms. To this point, knock on wood, I have caught bull reds and sharks, and they never pulled my lightweight sand spikes out of the sand. A longer rod and adequate reel capacity is the only way you can get the distance sometimes needed. But, I found that I prefer the sand spikes available from Dicks or Academy Sports that are made a little more lightweight. Can anyone advise what strength line & method please. Depending on the geometry and bend of the rod, you are feeling 3-5 times the weight back at the handle. Where do you catch stripers in NS? Fast-action rods that recover quickly after the cast tend to throw farther than slow-action rods. On average most pompano that are caught weigh less than 3 lbs and are less than 17 inches long. 8.8. But, such large poles mask much of the strength of these spirited little fighters. https://www.saltwatersportsman.com/pompano-fishing-tips-in-florida/, https://www.cyberangler.com/fishing-reports/florida/carrabelle/ten-secrets-catching-pompano-11595.htm, https://surfcastingflorida.com/what-is-the-best-tide-to-fish-for-pompano/, http://www.bwca.cc/activities/fishing/settingthehook.htm. The best signs of life are feeding fish where you are at. When it comes to rods, Im usually torn about the issue. With full written report (updated twice daily) and 16-day surf . I have found that many darters tumble and lose distance when casting into a headwind. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 136,722 times. Look for relatively clean water conditions when you are trying to figure out how far out to cast to catch pompano. Place some rags in a bucket and just cover the crabs with seawater. There are many ways you could catch sand fleas. If you dont wish to tie your own, these Sea Strike 2 hook rigs on amazon look pretty good Sea Strike PPR20 2-Hook Pompano Rig. 2,254 views Jun 13, 2019 fishyourassoff.com 4.29K subscribers How far out do you have to throw for surf casting?. But, this gives you an idea of how big pompano get in your area. While staying at Surfside Resort, visitors can check out St. Martin's Episcopal Church (0.3 mi) and Indian Mound Park (0.4 mi), some of Pompano Beach's top . The only fish a pompano would typically be confused with is a juvenile permit. Many pompano fishermen debate the effects of different colored fishing line for different colored water conditions off of the beach. If they get too hot or too cold they could die. Kick your legs in an egg beater motion to turn the board around toward the shore. Slow down and let the rod do the work, and youll see a marked increase in casting distance. You can also find them deeper inshore in estuaries and lagoons. They migrate based upon water temperatures, available food resources and predators. We recommend circle hooks for fishing pompano. No worries, either buy 2 piece rods, or you can even use short rods. An important part of surf fishing is using a strong circle hook that matches the size of your bait. You can also fish rip currents where pompano might be lurking feeding on small fish that are being swept away. This stretch of coast is a real hot spot for "pomps." Its usually best to fish off the pier in case you need to cast past the breakers. Learn more Pompano is a popular food fish that can sell at a higher price per pound than beef. I throw this extra rod out with a larger bait to target bigger fish, like bull reds. I challenge you to lift a 20lb dumbbell off the ground with a surf rod the way you might fight a fish. If you dont have a cooler, one alternative for keeping your catch fresh is to bury them in sand deep enough to where they will remain moist and cool. Pay attention to fishing reports to get clued in on when this activity begins. Before this i lived like 1 block from the beach so it was hard to get used to. Their transient nature makes them very elusive at times but when you find the schools it can be a day full of fun fishing for pompanos. The way the line lays on the reel also affects distance. If you found this article helpful, please share it on your social media accounts. I just got word that surf fishermen on Amelia Island are intercepting the first of the fall pompano run. Neither super clear water nor really stained water are ideal for pompano. Not only do they, Multiple baits increase your odds of success, Lets you cover different depths of the water column, Opportunity to try different colors of floats and beads at the same time, You have an extra bait in case you sling one off during the cast, Lets you use different baits at the same time to more quickly find what the fish prefer, Allows you the occasional opportunity to catch 2 fish at once, sand fleas are unquestionably the best bait for pompano. Most commonly you will probably want to use either a spinning rod and reel, baitcasting rod, or fly rod. Fishbites also work well when combined with natural bait on the same hook. Dial in the surf bite with rods, reels, and lures capable of reaching fish far off in the distance and in snotty conditions. Having a beach cart opens up the opportunity to take a cooler to the beach. Ill take a rubber mallet to tap them securely into the sand. You will have to make your own call as to the preference of your rod(s). Flies are another great choice. For these reasons. This should give you plenty of power to cast far enough to reach pompano. he lifespan is commonly only 3 to 4 years. A fish of this size will be approximately one year old, and weigh right around 1 pound. Sure, you can catch a pompano in 64 degree water or 81 degree water but it will be hard to catch large numbers of them in water that is uncomfortable to them.