[ Reply | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Tiderunner
Category: Fish Report
Date: 06/17/02
Time: 10:29 AM
Frog has got most of it right! Here are a few more tips. Frist you're a little early, the water needs to be over 80 degrees, July though mid-Sept. are the best months. Pompano like the first wave, right on the beach, and they like a steep beach. You can actually see them when you are driving. If you see a wave break on the beach and as it pulls back you see a little fish in 1-3 inches of water running back off the sand, that was probably a Pompano. I've seen 3 pound fish in 3 inches of water, they just turn their body sideways and go. They are following that crashing wave looking for sand fleas that got dislodged from the bottom. They have execellent eyesight and can see you, sometimes it pays to crouch down. A small rod (6-7 foot)with 6-10#test is fine.I like a Carolina rig just like you'd use for rubber worm fishing in fresh water. Maybe a 1/4 ounce bullet weight that stops on a swivel, then 10-12 inches of 15 pound test to a gold salmon egg hook #2-4. Put this through a sand flea's back or hide it in a piece of Fresh shrimp. Like frog said look for a shell bed on the beach and walk, if you are really trying for Pompano, you've got to hold the rod. Walk up and down the beach you only need to fish a spot for one or two cast, if you don't get a hit move on. Pompano cruise the beach and you need to move around too. If you don't know the difference between Pompano and Jack Crevelles, get a fish book and look at the pictures. Pompano have a short pectoral fin and Jack's have a long one. Pompano are Delicious and Jacks are great shark bait; both are excellent fighters! If you try to eat a Jack you'll know you've got the wrong fish!