Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Pompano Beach, FL (A Guide)

Pompano Beach is an overlooked fishing Florida fishing spot, but can actually offer some of the best fishing in Florida throughout the year. Knowing the best time of year to fish these rich waters can make a huge difference.

The best fishing times for Pompano Beach are from May through early September for king mackerel, grouper, permit, tarpon, snook, and redfish. Winter is typically the slowest fishing season in these coastal waters.

Fish Species	Best Times to Fish near Pompano Beach, Florida
King Mackerel	Available year-round; summer until early September is the best time.
Tarpon	May through August is the best fishing season for local tarpon.
Snook	May through August is the best fishing time for snook in these waters.
Redfish	Available year-round; April until early September is the best time.
Grouper	June through October is the best fishing season for grouper.
Permit	Summer is the best season with mornings being especially good.

Pompano Beach fishing has it all, from leisurely experiences on the reefs to high-octane offshore adventures. Natural and artificial reefs, rich offshore sites, and deeper wrecks are all well-known features of the city. Anglers visit the city’s historic municipal fishing pier every year, which was recently upgraded.

Anglers flock to Pompano Beach for its annual tournaments and special events. A sailfish tournament takes place in February, a seafood festival takes place in April, and the Fishing Rodeo takes place in May. It’s a sea-oriented community with an amazing charter fleet and knowledgeable captains.

Best Times to Fish in Pompano Beach

Kingfish

The royal term King Mackerel comes from the fact that they are large predators that may weigh up to 50 pounds. Kingfish are known for their spectacular leaps, spins, and fast dashes. They have this personality because they are voracious feeders who will eat both live and dead bait, as well as spoons and huge plugs.

They prefer to stalk schools of smaller fish around ridges and wrecks in search of prey. In Florida, the mackerel season runs all year. March-April and October-November are the two king mackerel seasons, with mid-March being the ideal time to catch a monster mack.

Wahoo

Despite having a two-year lifespan, Wahoo quickly grows to amazing sizes, providing lifetime memories for anglers from Key West to Jacksonville along Florida’s Atlantic coast. You’ll want to be on the water during full moon times from July through August if you want to catch this fish.

Because they are structure-loving fish, they love to congregate near wreckage, debris, tall weeds, and ledges. Wahoos can be found up to 1,000 feet below the surface of the ocean. Their numbers peak in early August. Brightly colored lures or flutter jigs, as well as live bonito and herring, are all good options for catching wahoo.

Mahi Mahi

Anglers, both professional and amateur, enjoy pursuing mahi mahi. This is owing to their tenacious temperament, which makes them a worthy adversary on any given day. They migrate in groups and swim close to the surface on a frequent basis. Mahi mahi is frequently seen near float wood or other floating structures.

If you find something drifting off the coast, it’s probably worth investigating. Mahi mahi can be found in large numbers throughout the offshore waters, particularly at depths of 120–150 feet. Artificial baits have proven to be the most effective method for catching them.

These beautiful fish start to bite early July through late October, altho mid-August their numbers really pick up. Ballyhoo and chopped fish of various kinds have been the most successful baits for catching mahi-mahi across the region.

Sailfish

Sailfish is one of the most valued sportfishing species in the world, known for their acrobatic displays. These monstrosities move through the Gold Coast in the winter months, following the Gulf Stream’s warm waters. This is when “Sailfish Alley” really comes to life, with plenty of action and chances for record-breaking days.

Sailfish movement in the local Gulf Stream is often limited to a very narrow length of water along the continental slope. This allows anglers to use deadly effective techniques like live bait trolling and kite fishing with live bait. Even if you’re fishing for other species, if you’re lucky, you might hook a Sailfish in this region.

The season typically runs from November through February, but it could extend into April. Sailfishing near Pompano Beach is fantastic in mid-January. Sails can be caught all year. During the winter, when cold fronts from the north come, sailfish hunt baitfish balls that are migrating south.

Grouper

Pompano Beach boasts plenty of great bottom fishing sites thanks to its rich reef system and plenty of wrecks. This is fantastic news for anglers hoping to catch grouper that call these waters home!

These creatures are great prey for anyone looking for a tasty meal. This is one reason why you can’t catch Grouper all year. Grouper are bottom-dwelling fish that dig furiously and fight much harder when hooked.

When you factor in their deliciousness, they rapidly become a “must-try.” During the cooler months, they can be caught in shallow water by trolling artificial lures, although most local anglers prefer “bottom-fishing” for this species. The optimum time to catch grouper is between May and June.

Snapper

A species that can be found in depths of 60 to 440 feet off the coast. The red snapper has a pointed bottom fin that distinguishes it from other snapper species. It is pinkish to crimson in color.

Shrimp nets used to kill millions of red snapper youngsters, but new laws have helped the species recover. In Pompano Beach’s waterways, red snapper is one of the greatest eating fish. The season varies from year to year, although it normally falls between June and July and October and November.

Spotted Sea Trout

Spotted Sea Trout, often known as speckled trout, is a schooling species that live in the shallow waters of bays and estuaries. It eats shrimp and small baitfish in grassy areas, and its upper jaw includes two large canine teeth.

One of Pompano’s most popular sport species, the spotted sea trout, will take anything from top-water plugs to saltwater flies. When the weather cools off in mid-October, it’s the greatest time to go sea trout fishing. Use top-water baits to capture Sea Trout early in the morning during the late fall and early winter.

Tuna

Bluefin, Yellowfin, Albacore, and even Bigeye Tuna are abundant in the waters off of Pompano Beach. The tuna season begins in early July and usually lasts until the beginning of October.

Tuna are primarily obtained by trolling plastic lures in the early season (July-August). Trolling is your best hope to increase your chances of reeling in a once-in-a-lifetime giant.

Pompano

As the name would suggest, Pompano is abundant in the waters surrounding Pompano Beach. Pompano eats small crustaceans that wash ashore on the beach and are carried to the fish by the waves.

Early in the season, from May through April, is when you’ll have the highest opportunity of catching huge pompano. Anglers who prefer to fish from the shore or from a pier will have no trouble finding them.

The jig is the most popular and effective artificial bait for pompano. The approach is to drag and bounce the jig off the bottom, replicating a fleeing crab or shrimp’s preferred food source when it whips up sand as it bounces. However, many locals will tell you that sand fleas are the only and best way to get a good-sized pompano.

Sea Bass

Sea bass is a scavenger who consumes whatever they can fit in their mouth around. Crabs are among their favorite foods, along with many varieties of smaller fish.

A large strip or chunk of squid will work perfectly for sea bass. Shrimp is also a good choice for sea bass, and they can be used live, dead, or frozen. Shrimp do not stay on the hook as well as sliced baits, but they’re still rather effective.

When the currents are strong or the crabs are a nuisance, fresh-cut fish is perfect. In the Pompano Beach area, April and May are fantastic months for catching a trophy sea bass. Despite this, sea bass is caught regularly throughout the fall and far into the winter.

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.

Recommended Fishing Charters in Pomano Beach

These Pompano Beach-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Type of Fishing Offered
Benny’s Book a Mate & Fishing Charter (Pompano Beach)	Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef
Local Fishing Charters (Pompano Beach)	Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef
True Grit Sportfishing (Pompano Beach)	Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef
Never Enough Sport Fishing (Pompano Beach)	Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef
Deja Vu Fishing Charters (Pompano Beach)	Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef
Fishing Guide Capt Tom Hinterschied (Pompano Beach)	Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef
Reel Floridian Fishing (Pompano Beach)	Inshore & Offshore
Ringmaster Charters (Pompano Beach)	Nearshore & Offshore
Just Right Charters (Pompano Beach)	Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef
Naughty Girl Sportfishing (Pompano Beach)	Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef

Main Fishing Options in Pompano Beach (Best Times)

So, what kind of adventure are you looking for? It all depends on your preferred mode of transportation to the fishing grounds. When fishing in Pompano Beach, you have several options for experiencing the local waterways. The following are some of the most popular options, which cater to a variety of fishing enthusiasts.

Fishing charters:

Taking a private charter is an excellent way to make the most of your time. Set aside a few hours to visit the city’s abundant offshore fishing grounds, on which the city’s reputation was based. On longer trips, most captains will tailor the trip to your preferences, allowing you to explore different locations and get a taste of everything this fishery offers.

This means that before heading to Sailfish Alley, you can spend some time testing the bite at a few offshore deepwater wrecks. You can take a break from fishing and go snorkeling on the reefs, or you can devote a full day to pursuing a certain species in search of the catch of a lifetime — the choice is yours.

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Fishing on a Party Boat:

Pompano Beach is a terrific area to go party boat fishing since it is a very affordable way to have a good time. You are likely to have a busy day, with Snapper, Porgy, Triggerfish, Amberjack, Grouper, and other species inhabiting a variety of reefs. The fact that the seafloor dips to around 100 feet is one of Pompano Beach’s best features. Even aboard the slowest of boats, an action-packed day can be had. 

Despite being a cost-effective alternative to more expensive private charters, party boats aim to meet the needs of numerous people at once. This implies the captain might not be able to accompany you every step of the way. Anglers with more experience should be alright, as Barracuda, Tuna, King Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, and Bonito will keep you busy throughout your stay.

Kayak Fishing:

While kayak fishing has been around for years as a fun, economical way for the competitive fisher to put their skills to the test and reel in huge catches, it has recently gained popularity as a fun, inexpensive way for them to put their abilities to the test and reel in big catches.

Numerous experienced kayak anglers in Pompano Beach have caught some of the world’s most infamous deepwater brutes, including Kingfish, Sailfish, and Tuna. However, this might be a little too adventurous for many.

Fishing from the beach:

Because of its location in southern Florida, Pompano Beach enjoys year-round access to shore fishing targets that are uncommon in the state’s northern regions. This makes it a popular method of fishing in the area because it can provide high-quality catches like Pompano and Permit without the need to book a charter. Even though many of the prime targets will be out of reach from the shore, it’s a wonderful value for visiting fishermen.

It’s hard to discuss local shore fishing without mentioning the Pompano Beach Fishing Pier, popularly known as the Fisherman’s Wharf. All anglers looking for the greatest shore fishing in town rejoiced when it reopened recently.

Best Spots To Fish in Pompano Beach (Best Fishing Seasons)

Pompano Beach Fishing Pier:

The Pompano Beach Fishing Pier, This Pompano Beach landmark was just reopened for fishing after undergoing extensive renovations as part of the city’s most recent development project. It has large fishing platforms, sufficient shade to keep you cool in the summer, and great fishing.

Snapper fishing is excellent because of the rocky bottom surrounding the pier, but other species such as mackerel, snook, and cobia are also accessible targets. The best time to fish the Pompano Beach Fishing Pier is May through November.

Sailfish Alley: 

Let us not forget Sailfish Alley when visiting Pompano Beach hoping to catch your next trophy fish. You can’t go wrong with a trip to this world-famous stretch of water. As the name implies, this location is famed for the legendarily large number of sails that pass by.

If you are a serious sports angler, this is one of the top destinations in the world. Large numbers of mahi-mahi, wahoo, and king mackerel can be found here as well. The best time to fish Sailfish Alley in Pompano Beach is November through February.

Artificial Reefs:

Decommissioned vessels have found a new use in the seas of Pompano Beach. Artificial reefs like Okinawa and Lady Luck now provide habitat for some of the fishery’s most delicious species. The list of targets varies depending on the wreck, but they all have some worthy competitors.

King Mackerel, wahoo, and dorado are just a few of the species worth mentioning that thrive in the artificial reefs. The best time to fish artificial reefs in Pompano Beach is May through November.

Natural Reefs

There are many natural reefs off the coast of Pompano Beach, part of the Florida Reef Tract, and are amazing and diverse. The Reef Tract, which comprises the Inner, Middle, and Outer Reefs, offers a variety of lucrative places at varying depths. Snapper, grouper, kingfish, and cobia are just a few of the species that may be found here.

Reefs near-shore provide a healthy population of native fish easily accessible for anglers of all skill levels. The best time to fish natural reefs in Pompano Beach is May through November.

Pompano Beach loves and breathes fishing, which should be obvious from the moment you hear its name. The city has fought to protect its reefs, expand fishing opportunities, and entice visitors to fall in love with its natural beauty. The city has transformed into a world-class fishing destination thanks to hard work and perseverance. All you have to do now is show up and have a great time!

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