What's Biting FLTampa Bay
Pompano in Tampa Bay
Surf fishing with sand fleas and Fishbites on double drop rigs, or jigging the passes and bridges on the Gulf side in spring.
Next seven days
| Day | Bite | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | 8 | Strong tide swing 3.1 ft |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 7 | Breezy 21 mph. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 6 | Breezy 18 mph. Rain likely 79%. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 2.4 ft |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 8 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 8 | |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 8 | Light wind |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 8 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
Seasonal pattern
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Editorial baseline for Florida. Green months are prime, yellow fair, red slow. Preferred water temperature 65–80°F.
Regulations that apply here
Applies to: state and federal waters unless noted
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Pompano Statewide | open now Open year-round | 11" fork length | 6 per harvester | Hook and line, cast net and beach or haul seine only Prohibited Gear: harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. |
| African Pompano Statewide | open now Open year-round | 24" fork length | 2 per harvester | State waters: Hook and line only. Federal waters: Hook and line and spearing. Vessel Limit: No more than 2 per vessel Prohibited Gear: harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. |
- Pompano Endorsement Zone (PEZ) is a zone created that allows commercial fishermen who hold a pompano endorsement (PE) to use gill nets legally for pompano in federal waters off Florida. This zone is from federal waters lying between 25°09' North Latitude (Cape Sable) and 26°00' North Latitude (Hurricane Pass in Collier County) in the Gulf of America.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-10-29. Review flags: The page lists 'Permit inside the SPZ' and 'Permit, all other state and federal waters outside the SPZ' as separate regulation blocks; species names are taken as written.; The PEZ section appears to describe a commercial endorsement zone and does not contain recreational season/size/bag limits; it is included in general_notes only.