Best Setup for Pompano Surf Fishing

Written by Tyler Paul in Surf Fishing 

The Best Setup for Pompano Surf Fishing

Anglers target Pompano using two methods of fishing: spiked fishing and active fishing. Spiked fishing is where the angler casts a line out and sets the rod in his or her rod holder between casts. Active fishing involves more casting and retrieving and is usually associated with sight casting and jigging. The most common style of fishing when targeting Pompano from the surf is Spiked fishing.

The spiked fishing method is best accomplished using: a 10ft to 12ft long, medium power, moderate action rod; a 500/5000 series saltwater spinning reel with 15lb to 20lb braid; a Pompano rig with 2oz to 4oz pyramid sinker; and Sand Fleas and/or Fishbites for bait.

For the more active approach, using artificial lures or jigs, a slightly different setup is preferred. For this I recommend: a 7ft to 9ft medium power fast action rod; 300/3000 series saltwater spinning reel with 10lb to 15lb test braid; 20lb fluorocarbon leader; and a pompano jig or small 1/2oz to 3/4 oz bucktail jig. 

Nice sized Pompano caught on Palm Coast Florida Beach using Fishbites

“The best fishing setup is the one you have available. Get out and fish!”

Recommended tackle for Pompano Fishing from the Surf

To catch Pompano you need a few major ingredients including: a rod and reel; main fishing line; leader line; hooks; sinkers or weights; and bait or lures. In this article we will discuss the two major methods of catching Pompano from the surf, discuss the setup required for each, and provide recommendations for building your setup. For a quick and easy shopping list I have provided a few examples of equipment needed based on style and preference based on experience and research.

Pompano Surf Fishing Setup: Spiked Fishing

Pompano Surf Fishing Setup: Active Fishing (Spinning)

Pompano Surf Fishing Setup: Active Fishing (Conventional)

If you are interested in understanding how these packages were built I encourage you to continue reading this article. Below we will discuss details such as: rod selection based on application; reel selection based on rod selection; braid vs mono; leader line; Pompano rigs; and bait/lure selection.

Best Surf Rod for Pompano Fishing

Selecting the best rod for Pompano Surf Fishing basically boils down to how you want to fish and your budget. The how is either spiked fishing or active fishing as well as spinning or conventional. As for budget, I can only say there are many rods out there that can fit into any budget. Anglers can be just as successful on an inexpensive rod as they are on a high end custom built rod. However, I can tell you from experience that you get what you pay for. I will spend the extra buck or two on a quality rod from a reputable company. I prefer St. Croix rods for their reputation for high quality rods and reasonable prices. Another benefit of St. Croix is that they are made in the USA.

Spiked Fishing (using a sand spike or PVC rod holder)

The mass majority of anglers up, down, and across the Atlantic and gulf coasts, typical practice what is known as “spiked fishing” when targeting Pompano.  This technique is where you cast your line out, place the rod in a sand spike/rod holder, and wait for a bite. This type of fishing is great if you are looking to chill out, take in the scenery, and enjoy a nice beverage or two in between reeling in some good keeper Pompano. For this style of fishing I recommend a 10ft to 12ft rod with medium power and moderate action. Factors driving to this rod selection can be reviewed in detail below. A few rods I recommend at various price points provided below in order of lowest cost to highest.

Length

For this type of fishing you need a rod that can cast your leader, bait, and a 2oz to 4oz sinker out a decent distance and keep the majority of your line out of the waves and rough surf. I have found that a 10 to 12 ft surf rod general does the trick for most surf conditions and I tend to lean more toward the 10ft over the 12ft. If the surf is so big that the 12ft rod isn't tall enough I tend to switch strategies or pick a different day.

Power

As for rod power, since Pompano are relatively small (but scrappy) fish, the medium power rod should be all you need.  I prefer to user lighter tackle when fishing for Pompano mostly because I like to feel a little tug compared to just meat hauling with oversized tackle.  With that, you want to make sure your rod is at least rated for up to a 4oz lure weight.

Action

Rod action, when spiked fishing for Pompano, isn't as important as length and power since precision and distance are usually not that big of a factor. Pompano tend to hang out pretty close to shore where they can hunt for sand fleas and other invertebrate that live in the surf wash. When targeting Pompano from the surf I tend to cast between 20ft to 50ft near holes or troughs between sandbars. Also, since we are usually fishing with circle hooks which is designed for fish to hook themselves, action doesn't play a huge role in hook set either. However, if you intend on using live bait such as sand fleas or shrimp I recommend a medium action rod. The medium action rod tends to create a less violent casting action that helps prevent casting bait off your hook. Additionally the medium action rod can lend better to casting your lead out further when compared to a fast action rod do to it's more whip like effect.

Sight Fishing (cast and retrieve)

If you enjoy a more active approach to Pompano fishing you may consider casting an artificial lure such as a Pompano Jig or a Bucktail Jig. These lures are usually in the 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz range and used by casting out into the surf and worked back in by bumping them off the ocean floor. This style of fishing requires more energy, precision, and attention when compared to the spiked fishing technique. As with any rod selection, it is very important to select a rod that compliments the style and lure weight that you intend to use.

Length

When selecting a rod length to jig for Pompano in the surf I tend to stay in the 7ft to 9ft range. Since you aren't leaving your lure in the water for very long there isn't as much need to get the line way above the surf. Additionally, when you are actively fishing you will cast many more times in a given amount of time compared to spiked fishing. With that comes fatigue and the larger the rod the more tired you will get. I tend to stay on the shorter side of this range.

Power

Power selection for active Pompano fishing is no different than before. Power should be selected based on type of fish bering targeted (Pompano) and the size lure you are casting. As stated before, the typical Pompano jig is usually in the 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz range so we need to pick a rod with a lure rating to match. Bigger doesn't mean better when it comes to sight casting for Pompano. A smaller properly sized rod will outcast a oversized rod all day long. Additionally, like I stated before, I like to use lighter tackle when at all possible in order to better enjoy the fight. For sight casting from the surf for Pompano I recommend a rod in the medium power range.

Action

When sight casting for Pompano precision becomes key.  With that, a faster action rod is preferred. An additional benefit from stiffer rods is there sensitivity during bait retrieval and detection of a strike. Also, faster actions are much better on a hook set compared to slower action rod which is also important for active fishing since we are no longer reliant on the circle hook to set itself.

Best Surf Fishing Reels for Pompano

In general your surf fishing reels are broken down into two categories: conventional reels and spinning reels. The most common reel used for surf fishing is the spinning reel mostly due to its ease of use. The conventional reel has some key advantages however, specifically its ability to add more precision to your cast. The negative of conventional reel is the learning curve required and potential for some nasty birds nests (or as I call them, “professional overruns”).

Another point to consider in your reel selection is the quality and resilience to corrosion. Low end reels may work just fine out of the box but in most case to salt water will get to them rather quickly. Proper care and maintenance will certainly help but when it's all said and done a low quality reel will need to be replaced much faster than one built to withstand the environment associated with saltwater fishing. I am not suggesting that you go out and buy a top-of-the-line reel, but I am recommending you weigh your options and strongly consider a reel with a good warranty.

Spinning Reels

If I were to pick the most versatile type of reel to fit most fishing situations and angler skill, I would pick the spinning reel. The size of spinning reel depends heavily on how you are fishing and what you are fishing for. Pompano are a relatively small but scrappy fish so a mid sized reel should o you well. However, if you are tossing some heavy lead you may need to step up the size a little to handle the extra load. If I am tossing out a 2oz to 4oz lead and using the spiked fishing method, where I set my rod in the rod holder between casts, I prefer a 500 or 5000 series reel.  If I am doing more active fishing such as jigging, where I am casting a 1/2oz to 3/4 oz jig, I tend to lighten my reel up to about a 300 or 3000 series.

Conventional Reels

Conventional reels are no different than their spinning counterpart when it comes to size. Just as I did with the spinning I also recommend a 500 series reel to handle the heavier lead during casting. For active fishing using lighter tackle I use a 200 series reel.

Best Fishing Line for Pompano

The main line refers to the primary bulk of line that is attached to your reel. This line is typically made up of a single spool of monofilament or braid fishing line. For pompano there isn't much need for super heavy main line since they are relatively small (but scrappy) fish. I typically don't go below 20lb when using braid since the diameter is so low but on my smaller conventional reels I use 15lb test mono.

Monofilament

In the not so distant past monofilament fishing line, otherwise known as mono, was pretty much king in the fishing line industry. If you ask most anglers today however, braid has pretty much taken the throne. With that being said, mono still has its benefits over braid in some applications. The benefits of todays monofilament fishing line compared to braid are: it's softer and easier on the hands; has good shock absorption qualities that can aid in hook set and fighting qualities; higher abrasion resistance for fishing around structure; and it's cost. Some negatives of mono include: larger line diameter which reduces line capacity; memory retention which can reduce casting distance and increase tangles; and durability under UV exposure. Since we are taking about Pompano fishing, line capacity and distance shouldn't be that big of a factor since Pompano are usually within 30 yards from shore. The big takeaway should be to expect more line maintenance since you will need to re-spool more frequently (probably once or twice per season). I prefer to use mono on my conventional reel when sight fishing for pompano. Read more in our Complete Guide to Monofilament.

Braid

Braid fishing line has become extremely popular recently and is the primary choice of line for most anglers today. Braid is preferred over mono mainly for its lower high strength to diameter ratio which increases line capacity. Other benefits of braid include its increased sensitivity due to lack of stretch and superior resilience to UV exposure. Read more in our Complete Guide to Braid.

Best Leader Line for Pompano

A leader is a piece of line, typically monofilament or fluorocarbon, that is attached to the end of your main line.  The purpose of a leader is to protect against line breakage and to aid in bait presentation. Fluorocarbon is the preferred material for leader, according to most anglers, due to its superior abrasion resistance, added stiffness, and transparency. For a high quality leaders used for pompano I recommend 20lb test fluorocarbon leader. I personally use Seaguar 20lb Fluorocarbon Leader for tying my pompano rigs.

Best Hooks for Pompano

Pompano are relatively small fish with a pretty small mouth. With that, an equally sized hook is recommended to increase your chances of the fish taking the hook and getting a good hook set. This goes for any type of hook be it a circle, khale, or even your jig head. The most common hooks used for Pompano are the Circle and Khale hooks in the 1/0 to 2/0 size range, a discussed in our article What Size Hook to use for Pompano. For anglers who prefer to use the spiked fishing method, where the rod is primarily sitting in a rod holder between casts, the circle hook is recommended.  The circle hook has the advantage of having the ability to let the fish set the hook on itself. In other words the angler doesn't have to actively set the hook when a bite is detected. As a matter of fact, an active hook set with a circle hook could instead rip the hook out of the fishes mouth. If an anger is more likely to or enjoys the action of actively setting the hook, a khale hook is recommended. An additional benefit of the circle hook is that a gut hook is much less frequent therefore increasing chances of a safe and easy release of the fish not going in the cooler. Khale hooks also result in less gut hooks than the J-hook but perhaps slightly more frequent than the circle hook. I prefer hooks by Eagle Claw since they are good quality hooks and one of the very few hooks main in the USA.

Pompano Rigs

Now that we know the best line and hooks to use for Pompano fishing I want to mention the Pompano Rig. I think the Pompano rig itself makes or breaks your fishing successes when it comes to surf fishing. When targeting Pompano from the surf, there is no other rig that can compete. If you are a “Do-it-yourself” type of angler then there are plenty of articles and “How-To” videos that explain how to make a good Pompano Rig. However, if you are looking to spend an extra buck or two on some good pre-rigged setups look no further. Here are a few good sets of Pompano Rigs in various colors to get you started right away. These rigs can also be picked up in most local bait shops near the coast. I recommend everyone, even the DIY folks, pick up a least a few of these rigs to have on hand to use in the water or as an example to build your own.

Tight Lines Y'all

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