Pompano Fishing Guide: Surf Rigs, Bait & Seasonal Tactics

Pompano are the fish that turns casual beachgoers into dedicated surf anglers. One bite from a Florida pompano pulling against the current, and you're hooked on more than just the fish. These silver-sided speedsters patrol the surf zone in schools, slamming sand fleas and crab baits with a ferocity that belies their modest size. And the eating? Pompano is arguably the finest table fish in saltwater.

This guide covers how to find, rig for, and catch pompano from the beach, pier, and boat, with a focus on the surf fishing techniques that produce the most consistent results.

Species Overview

Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) are members of the jack family, though they fight harder per pound than most of their relatives. Adults typically run 1-3 pounds, with fish over 4 pounds considered excellent and anything over 6 pounds a genuine trophy. They range from Virginia south through Florida and around the Gulf Coast to Texas, with the heaviest concentrations in Florida during fall and winter.

Pompano are temperature-sensitive migrators. As water cools in the north during fall, they push south along the Atlantic coast into Florida. When spring warms the water back up, they head north again. This migration pattern creates predictable windows of outstanding fishing, particularly along Florida's east coast from October through March.

They have small, downturned mouths designed for crushing sand fleas, crabs, clams, and other invertebrates living in the sand. This mouth shape dictates everything about how you rig for them: small hooks, compact baits, and rigs that present bait on or near the bottom.

Techniques

Surf Fishing

Surf fishing is the primary method for targeting pompano, and it produces more fish than any other approach. The key is reading the beach to find where pompano are feeding.

Look for troughs and cuts between sandbars. Pompano use these channels to travel along the beach and feed on sand fleas and crabs that wash out of the sand in moving water. The back side of a sandbar on a falling tide is a prime spot: bait gets pulled out with the current, and pompano stack up to ambush it.

On rising tides, fish both sides of the bar. Pompano will push in close to shore to forage in the wash, sometimes feeding in water shallow enough to wet your ankles.

Moving water is essential. Dead-flat tides rarely produce. Plan your trips around tide changes and focus on the two hours before and after the turn. Early morning trips catch the most pompano, as schools are actively feeding along the surf line at first light.

Pompano Jigs

Small banana-style jigs tipped with sand flea or shrimp bits are deadly on pompano, especially when schools are running the trough and you can see them flashing. A 1/2 to 1 ounce banana jig, bounced along the bottom with short hops, imitates a sand flea or small crab perfectly. Work the jig slowly, letting it hit bottom between hops. Pompano eat on the drop, so watch your line.

Pier and Bridge Fishing

Pompano feed around pier pilings and bridge structure, especially where current pushes bait against the structure. Drop a pompano rig straight down near the pilings with sand fleas or shrimp. The same rigs used in the surf work from piers and bridges. Just adjust your weight to hold bottom in the current.

Tackle

Rods and Reels

For surf fishing, a 9-10 foot medium action spinning rod paired with a 3000-4000 size spinning reel is ideal. The length helps you cast past the bar where pompano stack up. If you're fishing inside the first trough and don't need distance, your standard 7-foot inshore spinning setup works fine.

Spool with 15-20 pound braided line for maximum casting distance. Braid's thin diameter cuts through the wind and gets your rig past the bar where a thicker mono would fall short. For tips on line selection, check our Mono vs Fluoro vs Braid guide.

Rigs

The pompano rig (also called a double-dropper rig) is the standard: two short dropper loops above a pyramid or sputnik sinker, each holding a small circle hook (#1 to 2/0) tipped with bait. Some anglers add colored floats or beads above the hook as an attractor. The Gamakatsu Inline Circle Hook is a solid choice here.

A fish-finder rig works when pompano are spooky or you want a more natural presentation. Slide an Egg Sinker on the mainline above a swivel, then tie 18-24 inches of 15-20 pound Diamond Illusion Fluorocarbon to a #1 or 1/0 circle hook. The sinker holds bottom while the bait floats naturally in the current.

Use Owner SSW Circle Hooks on all pompano rigs. Their small mouths mean you need a compact hook that sets in the corner without gut-hooking. Read more about hook selection in our Circle Hooks vs. J Hooks guide.

Weight Selection

Hold bottom or go home. If your rig is rolling down the beach in the current, you're not fishing. Start with a 2-3 ounce pyramid sinker. The AFW Pompano Rig comes pre-tied and ready to fish on a calm day. In stronger surf or current, switch to a sputnik-style weight with wire grippers that dig into the sand. The wire grippers fold out when the weight hits bottom and hold your rig stationary even in strong wash.

Bait

Pompano eat what lives in the sand, and your bait should reflect that:

• Sand fleas (mole crabs): The number one pompano bait. Period. Dig them from the wet sand at the waterline or buy them from bait shops. Hook them through the hard shell from bottom to top, leaving the hook point exposed.
• Fiddler crabs: A top choice, especially when sand fleas are scarce. Small, tough, and irresistible to pompano.
• Shrimp: Fresh or live shrimp work well on pompano rigs. Use small pieces rather than whole shrimp to match the size of their mouth. Cap shrimp with Fish Bites or fish gum to keep them on the hook through the cast.
• Crab knuckles: Effective for pompano along with redfish and black drum. Cut from blue crab claws.
• Clam strips: A solid backup bait, especially in areas where sand fleas are hard to find.

When sand fleas are available, nothing else comes close. If you need to catch your own bait, a cast net works for shrimp and baitfish, though sand fleas are dug by hand from the wash zone.

Seasons and Timing

Fall and winter (October through March): Peak season in Florida as pompano migrate south with cooling water. Schools stack up along east coast beaches and are accessible from the surf. This is when dedicated pompano anglers log their best days.

Spring (March through May): The return migration north brings pompano back through Florida and up the Southeast coast. Look for them as water temperatures push into the mid-60s.

Summer: Pompano are present but less concentrated south of the Carolinas. The fish spread out and become less predictable from shore.

Best daily windows: early morning, especially the first two hours of light on a moving tide. Pompano feed actively in low-light conditions and taper off as the sun gets high.

Tips for More Pompano

• Read the beach before you set up. Walk the waterline at low tide and note where troughs, cuts, and deeper pockets form. That's where you'll cast at the next tide change.
• Cast past the bar. Pompano often feed on the back side of the first sandbar. Getting your rig past it, especially on a falling tide, puts you in the strike zone.
• Use multiple rods. Where regulations allow, setting 2-3 rods at different distances lets you find where the school is running. Once you get a bite, focus your efforts at that range.
• Keep baits fresh. Sand fleas die quickly in the heat. Keep them in a bucket of wet sand, not water. Replace soggy, washed-out baits frequently.
• Match weight to conditions. Start light and increase only until your rig holds. Overly heavy weights reduce sensitivity and make it harder to detect bites.
• Watch the birds. Terns and sanderlings working a section of beach often indicate baitfish and crustacean activity, which means pompano aren't far behind.

Regulations

Pompano regulations vary by state. Minimum sizes, bag limits, and seasonal closures differ across Florida, the Carolinas, and the Gulf states. Always check your state's current regulations before fishing. Visit your state marine fisheries agency website for the latest rules.

Final Thoughts

Pompano fishing is accessible, affordable, and produces some of the best-eating fish in saltwater. You don't need a boat, an expensive reel, or years of experience. A surf rod, a bag of sand fleas, and a couple hours around a tide change are all it takes. The hardest part is finding them, and once you learn to read the beach and track the seasonal migration, that gets a lot easier too.

Stock up on AFW Stainless Ball Bearing Snap Swivels, Diamond Braid Gen III, and the right hooks before your next beach trip. And for more surf and inshore techniques, check our Surf Fishing Guide for more technique and rig breakdowns.

Know Before You Go: Regulations change frequently. Always check current size limits, bag limits, seasons, and gear restrictions with your state fisheries agency before heading out. For Atlantic species, visit ASMFC.org for interstate management updates.

Questions about tackle? Call us at 888.453.3742 or email help@thetackleroom.com.