I may have tossed back a keeper Pomp

[estreetbrat]

Me and the wife spent a couple nights down on St Pete Beach.

Friday we went to FDP and while fishing from the Bay Side Pier. I caught what I thought was a Jack Crevalle and quickly tossed it back. Later that day, I seen several people jigging for pomps on the Gulf Side Peir

The more I think about it the more I think it might have been a pompano.

I checked the sticky fish ID thread and i'm still not sure. Can anybody link a good side by side picture of these two fish?

TIA

[inshorebasher]

Jack Crevalle


Pompano


Jacks also have scales and pompano do not if I recall

[jab]

pomps are smoother than jacks and dont have a spot

[tylerdurden]

one fish wont go to far tho. If you wanna see a whole one, there is a restaraunt called pepins on 4 st in st pete that has a dish where they cook it whole then filet it at your table. PRETTY GOOD TOO, kinda pricy tho

[filletnrelease]

Last year I was Pomp fishing on the NSP. Guy down from me was catching Jacks and throwing them in his cooler. Two FWC officers was checking coolers and asked if he had anything. He told them he has some Pomps. When they opened his cooler, I could hear them laughing from where I was at.

[eaglesfanguy]

Oct 13, 2009 7:59:17 GMT -5 filletnrelease said:

Last year I was Pomp fishing on the NSP. Guy down from me was catching Jacks and throwing them in his cooler. Two FWC officers was checking coolers and asked if he had anything. He told them he has some Pomps. When they opened his cooler, I could hear them laughing from where I was at.

HAHAHA thats just too funny!!!

Its funny when dorks keep trash fish thinking there a prize.. But not so funny when its a valued fish and thought of as trash..

Could you imagine his fright when he cleans em, then cookes em .. and throws up in his plate..lmfao.. He's never gonna eat a pompano again ..lol

[LintTrap]

I haven't been in Florida for too long but I have yet to catch a Pompano. I made a trip to the east coast and the weather didn't cooperate. I also spent a week straight fishing Ft. Desoto on the bay side as I saw a couple get hooked, but of course never on a day that I was there. I'll get one sooner or later..... little suckers.

[eaglesfanguy]

Lint i been here 4 years.. never hooked a pompano........ dont seem to be many 30 miles offshore...

[LintTrap]

LOL tough life at 30 miles out..... try 30 steps offshore over here.

[inshorebasher]

caught a few last year off the east coast jetty's but off the west coast i hear doc's goofy jigs off the st. pete side gandy does the trick.

[filletnrelease]

A few places I have some luck. The draw bridge going into Tierra Verde at the marina was hot last year. The NSP from the Y toward the toll, same on the SSP. I like those Silly Willy jigs with a teaser in either yellow or hot pink. Early morning has produced best for me. Toss it 30 feet or so and bounce it off the bottom as it drifts back at you. An occasional flounder will also take it with this method. JMHO

[arrantzale]

i was using a docs goofy jig with the pink teaser one day in early spring and i caught 5 jacks on 6 casts. i thought i had found the magic lure but i havent caught anything on one all summer

[lostmans1]

if you find yourself in a feeding school of jacks you can use hotdogs, tree bark, a 14" silver figuro style chain, seaweed, a marlboro red, a dog leash- point is, jacks will eat anything, a few weeks ago i came across a school and bet my buddy i could catch one on anything he found in the boat........so he goes for an empty pack and hooks and says here- i put is on my 1 sized owner and snagged one under the gill plate- he didnt pay bc he said it wasnt a "legal" catch but the debate continues- i got the fish to the boat didnt i!!!!!! lol