Catching pompano comes down to locating the fish, then choosing between a bright goofy jig when they are active and a baited bottom rig when they are not. For this How 2 Tuesday I brought in Captain Matt Budd, who fishes for pompano both recreationally and commercially, which means he has learned things most anglers never do. He covers how pompano give themselves away by skipping across the surface, why bright colors trigger them, how to fish the traditional pompano rig with floats and Fish Bites, how to keep your catch fresh, and an advanced quill trick that fools finicky fish on slow days.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
Matt Budd looks for fish skipping across the surface, jumping and bouncing on their sides like a flat rock someone skipped. That behavior gives them away and tells you they are in the area. When they are not skipping they often cruise just under the surface away from the boat, because they are spooky fish, so once you mark where they are you can set up on them with a jig or by anchoring and baiting.
When pompano are active Matt throws a goofy jig such as a Doc's or Gulfstream, and almost any bright color works, with pink, yellow, green, and chartreuse all producing. When they are inactive he anchors and fishes bait like sand fleas or clams, often tipped with Fish Bites, an artificial bait with mesh inside that holds a sand flea and comes in flavors like sand flea, squid, shrimp, and clam. On some days Matt catches pompano on Fish Bites alone.
It is essentially a chicken rig that looks like a small tree, with the lead on the bottom and one to three short dropper lines coming off the main line. Each dropper carries a hook and usually a small bright pompano float or beads that keep the bait off the bottom so crabs cannot reach it. Matt finishes it with a swivel up top. You can tie the dropper using a blood-knot style connection that leaves one long tag end.
Very important, because pompano have a high oil content and spoil quickly. Matt recommends a rolling cooler with a bag of ice for beach anglers. If you do not have ice, fill your five-gallon tackle bucket with water and try to keep the fish alive as long as possible rather than letting them bake on hot sand in the sun. He says the fish is best eaten the first or second day before it develops a strong taste.
Beyond the basics, Matt ties small quills, short flies on a number one or two hook with bucktail or nylon hair, sometimes with added flash, trimmed straight across just behind the hook. He attaches one on a loop knot above his goofy jig so it rides up as the jig falls, and finicky pompano will often hit the quill instead of the jig. It can make a huge difference on tough days, though it can also draw ladyfish and bluefish.
Captain Matt Budd is a Florida captain who fishes for pompano both commercially and recreationally and may know as much about the species as anyone I have talked to. He runs Jupiter Fishing Academy and shares his knowledge on YouTube and Instagram as Captain Matt Budd, and at jupiterfishingacademy.com.
Matt's first key is recognizing how pompano give themselves away, skipping across the surface on their sides. When they are not skipping they cruise just under the surface and stay spooky. I had him describe exactly what to look for in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The choice between an active-fish goofy jig and a baited bottom rig is the core of pompano fishing, and Matt has leaned hard on Fish Bites to bridge the two. He explains the colors, flavors, and why Fish Bites changed his game in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The standout tip is Matt's homemade quill that rides above the goofy jig and fools finicky pompano. It is an advanced move that catches a lot more fish when the bite is hard, with a few ladyfish hazards. He details how he ties and rigs it in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Pompano reward anglers who read the fish and adjust, from a bright jig on the bounce to a quill on a slow day. Locate them, match the presentation, keep them cold, and you will put more of this prized fish in the box.
How 2 Tuesday is my weekly series where I break down one fishing skill at a time, from knots and casting to gear, tactics, and the habits that make you a better angler. Watch and listen to every How 2 Tuesday episode from Tom Rowland.
Capt. Matt Budd · pompano · goofy jig · Fish Bites · sand fleas · pompano rig · quill jig · Jupiter Fishing Academy · ladyfish · How 2 Tuesday · Saltwater Experience
I'm Tom Rowland, a professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, and the longtime host of the Saltwater Experience television show. On the podcast's How 2 Tuesday series I break down one practical skill or lesson at a time, from fishing technique and gear to the habits that make you a better angler, in short, focused episodes you can put to use right away.
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