Description:
greenish gray on back, shading to silvery sides; fish in
dark waters showing gold on throat, pelvic, and anal fins;
deep flattened body with small mouth; no scutes; 22 to 27
soft dorsal rays; 20 to 23 soft anal rays; origin of anal
fin slightly behind origin of second dorsal.
Similar Fish:
permit, T. falcatus, palometa, T. goodei.
The permit is deeper bodied; dorsal body profile not
strongly angled at insertion of second dorsal fin; pompano
rarely grow larger than 6 pounds, permit common to 40
pounds.
Where found:
INSHORE and NEARSHORE waters, especially along sandy
beaches, along oyster banks, and over grassbeds, often in
turbid water; may be found in water as deep as 130 feet.
Size:
usually less than 3 pounds.
*Florida
Record: 8 lbs, 1 oz.
Remarks:
spawns OFFSHORE between March and September; feeds on
mollusks and crustaceans, especially sand fleas; local
movements are influenced by the tide, and seasonal
movements are influenced by temperature.
* The
Florida records quoted are from the Department of
Environmental Protection's printed publication, Fishing
Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The
records are provided as only as a benchmark.
Regulations
Min. Size
Limits: Not less than 10" not more than 20"
at the fork.
Closed Seasons: None.
Daily Rec. Bag Limit:
10 per person per day
aggregate of permit or pompano.
Remarks:
May possess one over 20" of
either permit or pompano. Gigging, spearing, and
snatching prohibited.
