Message #212

[eagleraycharters.com]

Late June is a little late for pompano, but that doesn't mean you can't catch them. Most years the pompano show up in numbers around mid-March and can be caught with some regularity until mid- to late May depending upon water temps. Get yourself a sand flea rake, a sand spike (to hold your rod), some pompano rigs (two hook rigs with a swivel on one end to tie to your tag end of your line from your reel and a snap swivel on the other for a pyramid weight). Depending on how rough the surf is you may need anywhere from a 1 1/2 oz pyramid lead to a 1/2 oz pyramid lead. Rake some fleas from where the surf is washing up on the beach and start fishing. I usually try to walk out to the first sand bar and cast out, but if the tide is high enough I will fish between the beach and the first sand bar. Be patient because the pompano cruise the beaches in schools and it can be a wait until they show up at your location. Once they are there you can catch several then the action will slow down till the next school makes their way past you. I've found that Henderson Beach State Park is a good place to catch pompano. Good luck!