Pompano

Season in Alabama

Peak months: Apr, May.

Rainer: pompano more abundant in spring; Gulf Shores tourism puts pompano in the spring surf and in winter lists; an April 2026 report has pompano 'showing up in force'. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Just beyond the breakers and along the first or second sandbar, on sand fleas, ghost shrimp, peeled shrimp or pompano jigs (Rainer).

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

No special hazards.

Keep or release

Prized eating. Alabama rules apply; see the regulations file.

Recipes for pompano

Typical: unknown. Large: unknown. Alabama record 6 lb 13 oz (2010).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the AL limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Alabama Marine Resources Division before you keep a fish.

Sources

• Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism blog, David Rainer, Jan 27, 2026: spring surf fishing for pompano (Angler knowledge)
• Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism: fishing seasons (Angler knowledge)
• NOAA repository: Florida pompano culture document (temperature tolerances) (Official source)
• Gregg Holshouser Grand Strand fishing reports, 2019-2020 (mirror) (Angler knowledge)
• Carolina Sportsman: soaking baits in the surf (Fort Fisher, NC, 2023) (Angler knowledge)

All the fish of Alabama