| Trachinotus carolinus |
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In the Eastern Atlantic they are also known as the Pompano or Sunfish. very large specimens may also be confused with the Permit. The Pompano Body is shallow and the body depth decreases proportionally with growth. The dorsal- and anal fin lobes are short at all body sizes but the length changes with the growth of the fish. The back and upper sides are a grayish-silvery-blue or bluish-green, the sides silvery, and the ventral surfaces flecked with yellow. The dorsal fin is dusky or bluish, anal fin yellowish or light orange.
The Western Atlantic Pompano ranges from Santos, Brazil to Massachusetts, in the West Indies, and into Bermuda. The largest know specimen is 25 inches in total length with a weight of 8 lbs in the New York area. Spawning probably occurs in the offshore waters in the Southeastern states from March thru September. The developed young move inshore and northward along the Eastern States from about May thru December then move out again offshore. Young and adults are influenced greatly by water temperatures changes. They run in schools in inlets and along sandy beaches and move in and out with the tides. The young Pompano eat a variety of pelagic and benthic invertebrates and some smaller fish. While the large Pompano like to root in the sand and mud for "Sand Fleas" and small crustaceans.
The food value has been proclaimed to be some of the best with the flesh firm and rich. Pompano cooking is an art in Florida and Louisiana. They are an excellent game fish on light tackle. They strike fast and runs fast. On light tackle they can average around 2 lbs but are a spirited fighter. They are flat sided and can have a sudden reversal of its forward motion. The Pompano can be unpredictable wit its fighting tactics. In shallow water they will come out of the water on there own and skip across it.
Pompano are found in the Florida waters along the Atlantic coast and Gulf coasts year round. However they can be found most plentiful in the Fall, Winter and Spring seasons. Migratory for the most part they head southward into the Florida Keys before the Fall storms to to spend the winter months in the warmer waters. And in the Spring move back North.
Pompano can be taken on artifical lures such as flies and bucktail jigs. Pompano prefers crustaceans, and sand fleas to baitfish. The pompano is a bottom feeder and the trick is to keep the lure bouncing on the bottom. After the cast allow the lure to sink all the way then a slow retrieve and bouncing by raising the tip of the rod up and down. Pompano can also be taken along the in shore tidal waters. Fisherman that still fish for them from anchored skiffs in the bays and estuaries using sand bugs on the bottom and in some other areas clams are used. On the Southeast coast along the Florida Keys they maybe found with long casts onto the sandy flats along the Gulf areas. Although the Pompano average around 2 lbs there are times during each season that some show up weighing more than 4 lbs. and sometimes as big as 7 lbs., anything larger is generally the close relative to the Atlantic Permit which can weigh more than 30 lbs.