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Fish of South Padre Island

Florida pompano

Identification, habitat and South Padre Island field notes for florida pompano.

A small, deep-bodied, blunt-nosed silver jack with a yellow wash below and a smooth, scaleless tail
base — the feature that separates it from a young crevalle jack. TPWD gives an average of two to five
pounds and a Texas record of 6.25 pounds and 23.25 inches from 1989. Pompano spawn in the Gulf, and
young fish swarm the surf zone in summer; adults push into the bays in September and October and move
offshore in winter. They feed on beach fleas, small crustaceans, small fish and animals buried in the
sand — which is exactly why sand fleas and small jigs work in the SPI surf. Best fishing is summer and
autumn.

Source-backed field notes

  • TPWD lists the primary sport species of the Laguna Madre as spotted seatrout, red drum and black drum, with snook, gray snapper, Florida pompano and barracuda as secondary species specific to the lower bay. (TPWD Short Report: Laguna Madre)
  • The Texas state record Florida pompano — 6.41 pounds, 24.63 inches — came out of the Lower Laguna Madre on June 18, 2006, taken on live shrimp by Juan Carrillo III. (State Saltwater Records: Rod and Reel — TPWD)
  • Texas fly-rod state records for this sub-topic: crevalle jack 30.00 lb / 40.00 in (Sep 17 2009, Ronald Cruse, Clouser); Spanish mackerel 6.60 lb / 30.88 in (Jul 29 2007, Christopher Golla); African pompano 8.60 lb / 30.00 in (Aug 28 2006, Stan Nabozny, white chum fly); Gulf kingfish 0.88 lb / 12.50 in (Nov 10 2001, Thomas Sheehan); southern kingfish 1.19 lb / 14.25 in (Jul 9 2000, Galveston Bay, Kenneth Thyssen). (State Saltwater Records: Fly Fishing — TPWD)
  • TPWD's Outdoor Annual states there are no bag, possession, or length limits on game or nongame fish except as listed in the guide — so jack crevalle, ladyfish, Florida pompano, whiting (Gulf and southern kingfish), lookdown and hardhead catfish carry no Texas bag or length limit. (Saltwater Bag and Length Limits — TPWD Outdoor Annual)

Observe responsibly

Wildlife, tides and access conditions change. Keep a respectful distance, do not feed wildlife, stay out of dunes and marked nesting areas, and use current official rules before fishing or handling any catch.

Useful next steps

Before you keep a fish

Fishing limits & special rules

Checked . These are dated summaries, not a live season check. Recheck the official rules before fishing, especially for federal waters or a charter trip. A good forecast does not mean a fish can be kept.

Texas waters and Texas landings

Applies to: Texas salt water / Texas landing · recreational · Florida pompano

TPWD lists no species-specific bag, possession, or length limit for this fish. Other rules still apply.

Check the Texas authority for the water, method, and fish identification that apply.

  • TPWD general rules prohibit taking, killing, or disturbing threatened or endangered fish.
  • Other Texas rules can still apply, so use the linked TPWD page before keeping a fish.

Source date or edition: 2026-09-01 through 2027-08-31

Official sources

Federal waters — check the official rule

Applies to: Gulf federal waters / protected-species rules · recreational · Florida pompano

We have not confirmed the federal limits for this fish. Check the official rules before keeping it in federal waters.

Use the official federal authority for the applicable waters and trip type.

  • Texas limits do not establish what you may keep in federal waters.

Official sources

Licenses, measuring fish and responsible release · Check island conditions

From field guide to outing

Plan a fishing outing for florida pompano

Choose a place, check the season and make this outing your own.

Season

Often associated with moderate surf and seasonal movements rather than one guaranteed month

Habitat and areas

Gulf surf and clean sandy passes where waves expose small crabs and other prey

Read the surf for troughs, bars and cuts, then keep baits in different zones until a pattern appears

Time of day

Choose daylight so you can assess access and footing. Tide, wind, water clarity and recent fronts can change the plan; no hour guarantees a bite. Check the official marine forecast and ask a local operator about your date.

Bait, tackle and approach

Small pieces of shrimp, crab-like baits and sand-flea imitations are common

Use a bottom rig light enough to detect a bite but heavy enough not to roll constantly

Carry dehooking tools and check your licence, current limits and any closures with TPWD. Confirm federal rules when applicable. Watch for teeth and sharp spines.

Choose a place for this outing

Habitat match means the setting fits the species' habitat—not a sighting report or a percentage. Not assessed means we have not established that match. Color always has a text label.

Select a place to see how it relates to this species.

Read the place guides before choosing →

Saves the place, your interest, selected timing and suggested supplies. It does not book anything. Your existing trip stays intact.

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