Pompano

Season

No SCDNR profile. Local reports place pompano at piers in May and in fall, and a few at Cherry Grove in late summer. Tied to warm water (see waterTempF). (Our inference)

Where to find them

Right in the wash and the first trough, especially where sand fleas are thick.

In the wash and first trough, rooting for sand fleas and coquinas.

What to look for

Sand fleas in the receding wash, clean green water, a gentle shorebreak.

What to throw

Pompano jig1/4 to 1/2 oz, Small, with a teaser. Bounce it along the bottom so it kicks up sand puffs like a sand flea.

Bait

Live sand fleas (mole crabs), Shrimp pieces with Fishbites, Clams. Double-drop pompano rig with floats or beads, #1 to 2/0 circle hooks, 2 to 4 oz sinker.

Leader

20 to 30 lb.

Common mistakes

• Casting far beyond them
• Fishing them in dirty, rough water

Landing

Strong for their size; slide them up on a wave.

Handling and safety

No special hazards.

Keep or release

Prized eating. No SC size or bag limit.

Recipes for pompano

Typical: 1 to 2 lb, 10 to 14 in. Large: 3 to 5 lb.

South Carolina limits

• Minimum: none
• Maximum: none
• Bag: none
• Season: No state regulations listed

Last checked 2026-10-07. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. SC DNR fishing regulations.

Sources

• Gregg Holshouser Grand Strand fishing reports, 2019-2020 (mirror) (Angler knowledge)
• NOAA repository: Florida pompano culture document (temperature tolerances) (Official source)
• Carolina Sportsman: soaking baits in the surf (Fort Fisher, NC, 2023) (Angler knowledge)
• SC finfish size and catch limits 2026-2027 (eRegulations, linked from SCDNR), last updated Aug 11, 2026 (Official source)

All the fish of Myrtle Beach