It is possible to catch Pompano from the surf at night, however, you are more likely to have success early in the morning during moving tides. Increase you odds of success when Pompano fishing at night by picking bright nights, during moving tides, and using bright colored bait.
Pompano Hunting Technique (sight vs smell)
Pompano hunt using primarily their sense of sight. With that, just like you and I, it is more difficult for the Pompano to effectively hunt at night. You are much more likely to catch fish that use smell or other senses such as electroception, the ability to detect electric fields or currents, such as catfish at night. Again, catching Pompano at night isn’t impossible, just more difficult.
How to Catch More Pompano at Night
Bright color baits such as pink or chartreuse colored Fishbites tend to provide the best odds for attracting the passing Pompano cruising in the night waters. Also, moving tides under high bright moon light also helps to bring fish in and provide some light to help the Pompano see. Don’t be surprised, however, when you start catching a mess a mess of catfish out there as they love the smell of Fishbites too. A big plus for night fishing thought is that larger game fish such as Red Drum, Black Drum, Shark, and Stingray are much more prevalent. Increased odd of catching big fish like these make night fishing very attractive to many fisherman. As a matter of fact, most shark fisherman will be seen at night. Another perk of night fishing for Pompano is the temperatures and beach population. Florida summers can be brutal during the day but at night are near perfection.
Night Fishing Regulations
It is legal to surf fish on most beaches along the Florida coasts. However, it is always a good idea to check local laws, rules and regulations before heading out. Many public assess points, for example, operate under sunrise to sunset open to close and may even gate off parking when outside these hours. State parks are another example where beach access may be prohibited outside posted operational hours. For example, Port Canaveral Florida’s Jetty Park only allows access for fishing between the hours of 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily. It is best to check first and if you can’t find any information, call your local government office and ask for some help and guidance. Local fishing tackle shops are another great resource to ask about local rules and regulations around night fishing from the beach.
Licensing and permits are typically no different when fishing during daytime hours or night. Be sure to always have your fishing license on hand when fishing. I typically carry my license either in my wallet, which I have on me at all times, or in my tackle box. Also be sure to check you local beaches to make sure surf fishing is permitted in general.
Night Fishing Safety
Night fishing comes with its own risks which means additional preparation and care is required. To reduce risk of getting yourself in a bad situation, be sure to gear up and plan accordingly.
Have a plan
It is typically a bad idea to explore new areas for the first time on a night fishing trip. I always recommend scouting the area a few times during optimal day conditions so that you are aware of any dangerous obstacles. Plus, any good fisherman knows it is best to scout your spots to find the best holes, cuts, and structure to increase your odds of limiting out. It is never a good idea to have to navigate over dangerous structure and terrain for a “better” spot, especially when night fishing. Leave the stuff out of reach where it is. It isn’t worth your health and safety.
Don’t go alone
Avoid fishing alone, especially when night fishing. A fishing buddy not only increases you safety, it also increases your enjoyment. Tell you buddy to come along and enjoy the night air and adventure. If you insist on going without a buddy at least be sure to let someone know your plans. You may have to slip them a twenty to keep you honey hole a secret, but worth it if something were to go wrong while you are out there.
Have the right tools
A good flashlight is a must have when night fishing. I typically cary two forms of fighting to help me navigate in low light conditions. Typically I wear a good for hands free operations and carry a spare flashlight in my tackle bag. I also carry a few spare batteries on a waterproof bag as well just in case. I also keep a good set of first aid on hand in my dry bag in the tackle bag just incase I get a bad cut.
Summary
Night fishing for Pompano may not be the ideal time to catch your limit, but it can be fun none the less. You are apt to catch at least something and may even land a monster Red while you are poking around for the pomp. My opinion is any time on the water is a a good time to be out there. With that being said, night fishing comes with some additional precautions so make sure you are geared up properly and have checked all your local rules and regulations before heading out. As always, we wish you the best out there! If you enjoyed the tips here, check out our YouTube channel too!
Tight Lines Y’all
-Tyler
