1. Location
Finding them is half the battle. While anglers usually locate fish while they are under water, pompano can be found above the water. I bet you’re scratching your head after reading this. What I mean is, pompano will literally jump out of the water, sometimes a few feet, and skip sideways on the surface, like you used to skip a stone as a kid in a pond. If you are attentive enough as you are paddling or peddling around, you may hear them skip behind you in your wake which drastically cuts down on your search time. Keep in mind that mullet also jump out of the water but do not necessarily “skip”. Watch or listen for that second or third bounce on the water to confirm that it’s a pompano. Recently as I was fishing in my kayak, stationary, and out of nowhere, a pompano skipped on the surface away from me. After throwing my jig in its direction several times I gave up, only to have two more big ones skip away from me like saucers, almost mocking me. Shaking my head in revolt after my failed attempts to lure them in my craft, I decided to call it a day, pompano-less.

​2. Water color
There have been days (not recently) in our area of the Treasure Coast where the water has been so crystal clear that you can search for silver flashes in the water, helping you find them a bit easier as the sun glares off of their silver sides. If you have the ability to stand up and get higher in your kayak, you have a greater chance of seeing them, especially if the water is clear. Remember to keep the sun to your back and have a good set of polarized sunglasses to help cut down the glare. Also keep in mind that as well as using their noses to sniff out their food, they are tremendous sight feeders, hence the psychedelic colors that we often use on surf rigs, floats, and jigs that will catch their attention – we’ll get into that in a bit. So basically, if you are going after pompano, you’ll have better chances if the water is clear; you’ll be able to see them easier, they’ll be able to see your bait easier, and you’ll be a happy camper when dinner time rolls around.

3. Temperature
Although here on the Treasure Coast you will catch pompano from time to time year round, you’ll increase your possibilities greatly by going in the “winter” in Florida. By winter I mean when the water temperature drops to that chilly but magical number of 68. I wish I kept a log of the days I cleaned up and caught my limit in under an hour but I bet the temps were close to this number. If our water temp is higher than this then most likely the pompano are further north. As the winter months roll around and cool down the water temps, the pompano will migrate south in search of this comfortable environment.

​4. Lures
Unlike surf fishing, the conventional way to catch pompano out of a kayak is not with bottom rigs, floats, and weights but with artificial lures. These usually range from banana shaped jigs, jigs with nylon skirts, soft plastics and artificial shrimp. Most commonly I like to throw a Captain Joe’s jig or Doc’s Goofy jig ranging from 1/4 to 1/2 ounce in weight, depending on the tide, wind, and depth. I have to credit my dad for being a major influence for waiting for the yearly thrill and hunt for the silver fish, and a few times per season he will fly down from Pennsylvania to chase them down with me, bringing along a few hundred teaser flies that he ties from stainless steel hooks and marabou feathers. These teaser flies, paired with a jig, is one of my go-to rigs in what Dad and I like to call, pompano candy. Preferably I’ll tie a loop knot and slide the jig on, followed by the teaser fly with the hooks pointing the opposite direction, this will give two points of contact at any direction a fish hits it rather than one. First letting it drop to the bottom, we proceed to bounce it off the bottom, changing depth according to where our hits are coming from, most of the time the pompano will be below the ladyfish.

I’ve also caught many pompano on soft plastics with jig heads as well, from scented Logic Lures to DOA Cals, to pre-rigged Egret Baits Vudu Shrimp. I really don’t have any different method using these baits than when I fish for snook, redfish and trout, bouncing them off the bottom in a repetitious motion, but I am working different parts of structure differently, which we’ll get into next.

5. Structure
The areas here on the Treasure Coast have some great spots for pompano, when they’re here and running. Usually anywhere near one of the inlets where it will get fresh, clean ocean water (read above about water clarity) and a good moving tide are some of the areas I will target. If you can find any channels, potholes, or other changing impressions along the bottom it may be a good spot that can channel food and crustaceans that the pompano like to chow down on. If I’m using jigs I’ll work the deeper areas of the channels, if soft plastics, I’ll throw them along channel edges or through potholes, which pompano also like to school up in.
Pompano can certainly be a finicky fish to find and catch, and there is definitely more information out there for you to hone your skills on and more consistently catch these delicious tasting fish. With that said, it’s time to get out and do some more R&D! Tight lines and God bless.

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The more I learn about conservation and the importance of its practice, the more I see the impacts it can have on future generations in the sport. There are many little things we can do to help returning a fish to the water with enough strength to prevail and live another day, hoping to grow bigger or be able to have more offspring. From today’s advancing technology, to being aware how long the fish has been out of water once catching it, I’d like to submit to you a few ways we can do our part to uphold the responsibility of good stewardship.

Technology:

A nice tool that has been on the market for a while now is kayak friendly, in that it will float if dropped, and offers incredible holding strength for even the biggest fish. I just recently talked to a friend who lost his Boga Grip after flipping his kayak, not something I want happening if I ever get into that situation. The Fish Grip has a variety of bright colors so you can easily find one if lost overboard, can be locked shut to hold a fish, and reduces the chance of harm to you or the fish. I always like to have it handy for when I handle fish with extra sharp teeth, or have unfortunately caught a catfish with those pesky spines. It’s easy to control the fish, get the hook out, and release it quickly with this grip.

A net just isn’t a net these days. From nylon to rubber mesh, the way these things are crafted are even changing! Some of the older nets can be a bit harsh on fish, having rough and stiff edges which can roughen up the fishes scales and deplete the protective slime that a fish needs in order to stay healthy. I recently picked up a thermo-plastic rubber net from Settles Bridge Supply House, which is an accordion like net which can support the fishes weight evenly. The rubber net is very kind to a fish’s delicate scales and leaves minimal abrasion when returning the fish to water. One BIG advantage I like this net over conventional nylon nets is that I can scoop up a fish even when I am using a lure with treble hooks! Yes, I get very excited with that. Have you ever had to sit there trying to get a lure out of your net while the fish are biting and end up tearing your net because your patience has warn thin? With the rubber netting, there is nothing for the barbs of the hooks to get stuck or for the points of the hooks to prod into, untangling your lure is very easy with these types of nets.

It can be the simple things you do:

A few quick pointers when handling your fish is to always keep the surface moist that you may be putting your fish on. Before you pick him (or her) up, wet your hands – this way the dryness of your hands are not able to peel that protective slime off. When putting your fish on a measuring board, wet it first before putting your fish on it. It’s the little steps you can take that will help the fish out.

If you’ve caught a monster and it’s picture time, keep in the back of your mind how long you’ve had the fish out of water. I’ve learned the hard way on a few nice trout, which are very delicate, when taking pictures and wanted to return them back to live another day. I had to get just the right shot so I would continue to shoot away, but upon setting her back in the water, belly up is all I saw. Now, the fish is constantly in the water, whether in the net, or with the Fish Grip clamped on the mouth while attached to a lanyard – which will allow you to get your camera ready, freeing up your hands, and keep that momma fish breathing happily in the water.

Finally, the way you HOLD the fish can have a positive or negative impact on it’s survival. Different fish are created in different ways, allowing you to hold them, well, differently! I’m not going to go into each species and the exact health effects but for the most part, holding a bigger fish vertically by a grip is usually a big no-no. A reason for this is that it may induce unnecessary stress on the heart and organs. Do a search for it and see what comes up, it may surprise you. Just try to support the weight of a bigger fish, and simulate how it would be in the water: horizontally.

With these few tips and tools, we can take part in conservation and be able to release the fish healthier and stronger, and hopefully be able to catch another day. Thanks for the read!