Project Description
Florida Pompano
Trachinotus carolinus
Range/Geographical Distribution: From Massachusetts south to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Central America, and some parts of the West Indies.
Habitat: Beaches, estuaries, shallow bays, piers, and sand flats.
Description: A deep-bodied fish with a silvery body and a dark back. The caudal fin is deeply forked. Juvenile fish have a yellowish belly, anal fin, and caudal fin; color may persist in adults.
Size: Grows to 25 inches in length and may weigh up to eight pounds.
Food: Mollusks, crustaceans and other invertebrates, small fish; primarily bottom feeders that opportunistically “graze” preferred species.
Breeding: Spawn from March to October. Eggs float and newly hatched fish feed off of their yolk sac for almost a month.
Predators: Striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, shark, flounder, and birds.
Conservation Status: No legal status.
Interesting Facts: Prized as one of the great food fishes in US waters, the dockside price for Florida pompano is typically among the highest per pound for any fish.
On the Coast: Pompano, especially juveniles, can be seen schooling along Georgia’s coast.