UTERPompano fishing in The First Coast
In The First Coast, pompano peak April–May and October and are around March–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Spring run — the first trough on the rising tide.
Peak fall run — fish moving south down the beach.
Pompano in The First Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingFirst spring fish in the surf at Jacksonville and St. Augustine.
- AprilPeakSpring run — the first trough on the rising tide.
- MayPeakPeak spring on the beaches.
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArrivingFall run starts as the water cools.
- OctoberPeakPeak fall run — fish moving south down the beach.
- NovemberLeavingThe last of them before the cold.
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish pompano near Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville
Spartina marsh, oyster-lined creeks and the Intracoastal from Ponce Inlet to the Georgia line, the St. Johns River and the Mayport jetties, St. Augustine and Matanzas inlets, and the beaches. More like Georgia's lowcountry than the rest of Florida.
Fish Scouter charts 233 grass flat, 18 beach / surf, 5 pass / inlet spots in the The First Coast map area — the kinds pompano hold on.
What to use for pompano
- Sand fleas (mole crabs)On a small circle hook or a pompano rig, digger-end first — the pompano and whiting bait.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Fiddler crabsA #1 hook through the back corner of the shell, dropped tight to the piling — the sheepshead bait.
- Leader15–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–1/0
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 62–82°F water, best at 66–76°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch pompano in The First Coast?
Peak season is April–May and October. Pompano are in The First Coast March–November. April: Spring run — the first trough on the rising tide.
Where do pompano hold in The First Coast?
Look on beach / surf, pass / inlet, grass flat, channel edge — around Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Mayport, Fernandina Beach.
What is the best bait for pompano in The First Coast?
Live bait: sand fleas (mole crabs), live shrimp, fiddler crabs. Sand fleas (mole crabs): On a small circle hook or a pompano rig, digger-end first — the pompano and whiting bait. Tackle: leader 15–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–1/0, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for pompano in The First Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about pompano · The First Coast, the whole year