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.