We fished Tiger Shores Beach yesterday with an incoming tide, but the pompano weren’t there. Only whiting and croakers. There were a few keepers caught off the Stuart Causeway using Capt. Joe’s 3/8 oz. jigs. The trout have been showing up at the powerplant taking shrimp and CAL jigs along the shallows outside of Little Mud. The jack frenzy continues all over the Indian River. Just look for birds.
Surf Fishing for Pompano – Tips & Tricks
Pompano are one of the best eating fish found along the beach and inshore waters. Related to jack crevalles, they average just over a pound and put up strong fights for light tackle anglers. With a Florida slot limit 11”- 20” (one can be over 20”) and 6 per day bag limit, pompano make a great seafood dish during the holidays. They are caught all year along the Treasure Coast, but show up in numbers as they migrate south from the Carolinas (October through April).
Sandfleas and shrimp used on a “chicken rig” (double hook floater rig with pyramid weight) work well for bait. For lures, 3/8 oz to ½ oz Doc’s jigs, Nylure chrome head jig and swivel jigs work great. For fly fishermen, Crazy Charley patterns are used in pink, white, gold, tan, and rootbeer size #6, #8, and #10. Small, bright clousers with gold wrapped heads also work well with intermediate sinking lines.
The inshore migrating schools show up during the beginning of outgoing tides along grass flats and near the inlet. Here in Stuart, schools can be found moving through the Sailfish Flats near Boy Scout Island and the Stuart Causeway. Look for the small sand bottom channels weaving through the grass flats, and work the edges. Pompano can also be found further back in the North and South Forks. Not far from the Roosevelt Bridge, look along the shallows inside the docks and small bays using the same tackle.
For surf fishing on the beach, pompano instead like incoming tides, where the water is deep enough for them to swim through the troughs looking for stirred up sandfleas. The equipment used on the beach can be the same as inshore. Long beach casting rods work, but are not necessary as the pompano are mostly close to shore. Light and medium size spin rods work fine using 12-15 lb. line. To find sandfleas, look along the water being washed up for an inverted “V.” This means the sandfleas are digging back down into the sand. We then use a sandflea rake or shovel to dig them up.
Unlike common surf fishing, we don’t hope for calm, glassy conditions. Instead we want Mother Nature to be stirring up bait in the shoreline and the pompano will turn on.
Sandfleas and shrimp used on a “chicken rig” (double hook floater rig with pyramid weight) work well for bait. For lures, 3/8 oz to ½ oz Doc’s jigs, Nylure chrome head jig and swivel jigs work great. For fly fishermen, Crazy Charley patterns are used in pink, white, gold, tan, and rootbeer size #6, #8, and #10. Small, bright clousers with gold wrapped heads also work well with intermediate sinking lines.
The inshore migrating schools show up during the beginning of outgoing tides along grass flats and near the inlet. Here in Stuart, schools can be found moving through the Sailfish Flats near Boy Scout Island and the Stuart Causeway. Look for the small sand bottom channels weaving through the grass flats, and work the edges. Pompano can also be found further back in the North and South Forks. Not far from the Roosevelt Bridge, look along the shallows inside the docks and small bays using the same tackle.
For surf fishing on the beach, pompano instead like incoming tides, where the water is deep enough for them to swim through the troughs looking for stirred up sandfleas. The equipment used on the beach can be the same as inshore. Long beach casting rods work, but are not necessary as the pompano are mostly close to shore. Light and medium size spin rods work fine using 12-15 lb. line. To find sandfleas, look along the water being washed up for an inverted “V.” This means the sandfleas are digging back down into the sand. We then use a sandflea rake or shovel to dig them up.
Unlike common surf fishing, we don’t hope for calm, glassy conditions. Instead we want Mother Nature to be stirring up bait in the shoreline and the pompano will turn on.
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