Outdoors

Even the particular pompano can be had by the right jig

By RICK FRAZIER, Times Correspondent
Published August 3, 2007

Break out your pompano jigs because the "golden nuggets" are here and they're eager to bite.

Even though the pompano are biting, they are picky about the type and color jigs they'll hit.

Just like the pompano, veteran pompano chasers are choosy about their jigs. Most use a small yellow or white hair jig in the one-eighth- to one-half-ounce size. These jigs are tried and true. But in the last 10 years, a couple of local manufacturers have come out with a banana-shaped lead jig specialized to attract pompano. They come with no hair at all, though hair teasers can be added, and man, do they catch fish.

Doc's Goofy Jigs are the most popular of this style and have been around the longest. Developed and made in Pinellas County, Doc's Jigs come in a variety of sizes and colors. All of these jigs are handmade and Doc will even go as far as painting special colors for some requests. Doc's regular Goofy Jig in yellow is by far the best seller, but the yellow Goofy 3 or G3 is extremely effective as well.

Silly Willy is another of the lead banana-shaped pompano jigs. They're relatively new on the market, but when used correctly they'll catch fish, too.

Most local bait and tackle shops carry one or both of these pompano jigs, which are not expensive.

Yellow and yellow/white are the best-selling colors and the most productive in the lower end of Tampa Bay around the Skyway. In the darker-colored water near the Gandy Bridge, hot pink seems to get the nod. Have all three colors in the tackle box because, as stated earlier, pompano are picky.

Pier or bridge pompano chasers prefer heavy jigs. They say the most productive jigging technique is to keep the jig in constant contact with the bottom, creating little puffs of sand. The strong currents associated with these structures -added to that fact that you're 10 or more feet above the water - makes it hard to keep the lighter jigs on the bottom, even when working it down current.

A few pompano hot spots come to mind.

The Skyway fishing piers, particularly the north pier has long been a favorite. A neighbor of my in-laws would go to the pier every morning with great success.

A lot of people overlook the Bayway drawbridge, but over the last couple of weeks anglers are reporting good catches there.

The Tierra Verde drawbridge, or the 10-cent bridge as many call it, is always a great producer. Most anglers like the south side of the bridge.

At the north end of the bay, the Gandy catwalks, especially the Tampa side, hold fish as well. Be careful jigging there because the Asian green mussels will grab your jig and not let go.

Both piers at Fort De Soto Park hold pompano. In fact, that is where Doc's Goofy Jigs got their start.

Last, but certainly not least, is the short Pass-a-Grille jetty on Pass-a-Grille Pass. There is a group of anglers there that fish strictly for pompano, and they all work together by doing the "pompano dance." The best thing to do is observe before you fish it.

Pompano are affected by the rain water runoff diluting the salinity of their hangouts. Try to target them an hour before and after the tide change when the rain isn't as frequent.

Rick Frazier runs Lucky Dawg Charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at 727 510-4376. If you've had a great day fishing from land and want to share it with readers, contact the lubberline at (727) 893-8775 or e-mail captainrick@luckydawg.com.

[Last modified August 3, 2007, 03:10:22]