Fish o' the Day - Florida pompano

Another coastal fish that will be seeing some hurt in the coming months. If you've spent much time on Gulf beaches, you've doubtless had juvenile pompano nibbing around your toes. Trachinotus carolinus is a jack, in the Family Carangidae. It's deep-bodied form is different from many of the jacks, which tend to be a bit more streamlined. Pompano also lack the scutes (specialized scales) on the caudal peduncle (the region where the body tapers into the tail) that that are found on most jacks. They're silvery in color, often with a greenish tint on the dorsal surface that trends to yellowish below. They're fond of warmer waters, ranging throughout the Gulf and along the Atlantic Coast from Brazil to Massachusetts. Their occurrence at higher latitudes is a summertime phenomenon. Pompano begin spawning in the Gulf in early spring, and the young individuals start showing up on sandy beaches in April and May. Late in the fall, the fish will move out into deeper water. The juveniles feed on small invertebrates, like amphipods, copepods, and larval forms of other crustaceans. As they grow, they begin feeding on larger inverts like mole crabs and coquina. Although they can reach lengths of almost two feet and weights of 8 pounds, a 2-3 pound pompano is a nice one.

Pompano grow rapidly, reaching lengths of about 8" in a year. They mature rapidly, at a year or two, and their entire lifespan is only 3-4 years. This attribute, coupled with their tolerance of a wide range of environmental conditions, has made them an attractive candidate for aquaculture. These prospects are being investigated in a number of locations, notably at Mote Marine Lab.

Of course, pompano aquaculture wouldn't have much of a future if it weren't for the fact that they're an excellent food fish. They're the hero of a lot of dishes, the most notable probably being the Pompano en Papillote made famous at Antoine's in New Orleans. While we'll admit to eating a few, we like them when they're still in the water too.