Where are they hiding Tears.

[montylfl]

By Neil Taylor, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, June 7, 2017 6:44pm

What’s hot:

Pompano have hit full force in Tampa Bay. An annual phenomena, we will catch pompano at will for the next four months. A great fighter, pompano provide some of the best eating in the Gulf of Mexico.
Tackle and techniques:
This does not require heavy equipment. Everyone has their own way. I personally only use artificial lures. Bait chuckers can use a variety of fresh baits that will get pompano strikes. Shrimp, sand fleas, fiddler crabs. I only use the pompano jig and custom teaser that I tie. The pompano jig, originally an “ice fishing jig” is the weight. The teaser is the attractor and will catch 90% of the fish. Loop knot these two items together in a fairly tight loop knot. Sink it down in one of these locations: A Gulf Pass; A Tampa Bay bridge. Fishing the passes, pompano can be almost anywhere, but concentrate on the deeper areas in these passes. Bridge fishing the goal is to keep the jig right next to structure. “Structure” is cement, or in other words “the pilings”. In either scenario, the fish will be caught with the jig/teaser in contact with the bottom. “Jig” this setup and allow the lure to get all the way back down to the bottom after every jigging motion. The act of jigging is how the fish are hooked. Pompano must be 11 inches (to the fork) and an angler can keep six pompano per day.
Neil Taylor charters kayak fishing trips in the bay area and can be reached at strikethreekayakfishing.com and [phone].

[Mackerelman]

I think that Tears has been hiding in His Friends Boat.

He does not need Pompano when He has the Bigger Fish to Catch !

Unless He goes for the Big African Pompano.

[detroitd]

I've read this article in 2 different places. I was surprised about jigging tight to structure. Thought that was more mango and sheepshead territory. Pomps were more a pass-thru breed.

I know on Atlantic coast they hang out patrolling the troughs between sandbars scarfing washed out crustaceans. Hardly vertical structure.

Maybe coastal and gulf pomps are totally different in their behaviors. I do know I can't wait to get a chance to field test the teasers I've been making.
D

[tears143]

Haven't been reporting due to inconsistently. Since the beginning of this year, you can catch pompano off and on. Some week it is on fire and another week.. dead. So when I report and people go out and fish.. nothing

However, I have receive reports that they are pretty hot right now this past week... starting Sunday. This is at skyway.

*Hint* Neil Taylor usually do not fish near skyway. He fishes much deeper into tampa bay.

[atbuckhunter]

Jeeze where were these guys when I was in Fl? I did get a bunch but only got 2 keepers (lost at least 2 more keepers). Easily have become one of my favorite fish to fish for!