Pompano

Season in Louisiana

Grand Isle surf: pompano among mid-summer catches (Cormier); winter pompano at close-in platforms (Felsher). (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

The Grand Isle surf in mid-summer (Cormier).

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. See Louisiana rules.

Recipes for pompano

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

Limits

FishOS has not checked the LA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries before you keep a fish.

Sources

• Louisiana Sportsman, Glen Cormier, June 1, 2004: boys of summer are on the beach (Grand Isle surf) (Angler knowledge)
• Louisiana Sportsman, John N. Felsher, Jan 23, 2026: winter fishing at Grand Isle (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 Louisiana