Corpusfishing.com

Kyle46n · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:14 am Post subject: Pompano questions

First, hello! I've been meaning to join this board. I'm active duty Air Force up here in San Antonio. I've made a couple trips so far down to the coast and look forward to many more this coming year.

I used to fish for pompano and whiting on the east coast of Florida quite a bit. I've figured out the whiting here on the Texas coast (not too difficult... they are everywhere! ), but have not caught any pomps. Of course I haven't heard too many reports until recently and I also hear alot about "pomp windows". What's this all about? Are these pompano migrating from somewhere? I know in Florida they would migrate back to the warmer waters of Cocoa Beach and south during the winter. Is it the same here? Also, do these pomps come in close to the beach? We had a much deeper first gut and second gut in Florida. So we would catch em in close pretty often. Obviously here, things are more shallow. Sand fleas were gold in Florida for pompano and whiting. I've caught plenty of whiting here on cut shrimp, but are ya'll using anything different for pomps? We don't even have sandfleas on the Texas coast do we? Anyways, thanks for helping me out with these questions. I love to post informative reports when I go, so I always return the favor.
Kyle

chuck · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:13 am Post subject:

I don't know much about any of it, i just saw the posts and went for it.
I did use live/dead shrimp on a double drop leader.
Waded out the bar and casted towards the second one.

I know calmer conditons help so here's a link to what the surf's gonna be doing

http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/corpus-christi-texas.html

But i do know they were great eating and alot of the ones we caught were in 15+" range.

Good luck.

2salty4U · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:22 am Post subject:

First, a genuine thank you for your military service. Second, welcome to the board. You'll get some better answers here than I can give, but from what I have read over the last couple of years, I think a pomp window is when the surf is calmer than usual, making it easier to spot fish and bait activity in the water. I think it's mainly a "flattening" condition created by wind speed and direction. Having said that, I've never caught a pompano, and although I'd like to, I haven't fished the surf. You just can't avoid learning a lot from reading here.

Big Ed · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:13 am Post subject:

Most regular pomp fishermen are using FRESH dead shrimp, peeled and placed on a hook with a piece of a product called "fishbites". These allow a bait to stay on your hook after the delicate shrimp are long gone. The "window" refers to both a lack of wind and clearing surf (they kinda go together don''t they?). In most place you need to wade out to the first bar and throw to either just inside or just outside the second bar. If you could reach the third bar that would work also. On the Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) there are places where the gut right off the beach is much deeper. Especially in the area called "Big Shell" (about 18 through 30 miles after you get off the paved road. You must have a 4WD to reach into Big Shell. The area is also called "The Bluffs" at times due to the build up of one to three foot sand "cliffs" in some areas. In that area you can sometimes catch them in the first gut right off the beach or the second. (more commonly called by locals the wade gut and first gut). You will occasionally find water just a few foot off the beach that is chest deep or more here. This area has an abundance of shell mixed with the sand and converging currents. It can be a great fishing area. Unfortunatly the convergence of currents also means that at times there is an overabundance of trash, grass and seaweed in the Big Shell.

My daughter and son in law are both in the Air Force. The son in law is doing his mandatory Petagon tour (that he hates) and my daughter is currently a supply officer in Kuwait. Gotta love the AF. Good Luck.
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Big Ed
San Antonio

"A word to the wise ain't necessary. It's the stupid ones who need advice.", Bill Cosby

The Trash Heap · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Pompano questions

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Welcome! I think you've got the info you need now. Post up a report next time you come down and thanks for your service.

Tyler

Kyle46n · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 12:53 pm Post subject: Thanks a bunch

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm definitely familiar with fish bites. I'm currently driving a two wheel drive Tundra, so no PINS for me ( I read the "Driving PINS" section here). I'll stick to the Corpus beaches. I make my own double hook rigs out of all mono except for the hooks....I use 1 to 1/0 mutu lights, Owner. So I'm good on the equipment. Need to buy some better surf rods for casting distance though. Thanks again.

Kyle

omaka · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 1:40 pm Post subject: pomps

Kyle, if you like throwing arties tnem pomps love gold Gotcha Plugs, gold spoons, and speck rigs provided conditions are ideal. I've had excellent catches on arties during Sept/Oct. Good luck! Go Air Force! and Go Spurs! Cool

cj8mule · Pony Mullet Joined: 13 Sep 2008 Posts: 66

Kyle- We are an AF family in SA. I'd be glad to take you on a trip to PINS. Was that you I pulled out on the 20mm on PINS last Saturday? (that was a tan/brown 2wd tundra). I won't be going to PINS this weekend, but we could hook up next weekend (12-13th). I usually post a report but didn't for last Saturday. We caught 2 slot reds, 3 pompano, and a 30 pound red that was around 40".... and of course a lot of whiting. PM me if you want to go.
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A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America, for an amount of....up to and including their lives.

The Trash Heap · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks a bunch

Kyle46n · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:58 pm Post subject:

crhfish · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject:

That brings back a good memory. I used to fish the East coast of Florida allot as a kid. From Melbourne down to Sebastian. Never worried about bait. We always took a little sand flea trap and had all the bait we needed. Huge sand fleas over there and all of the fish loved them.

kinnakeeter · Finger Mullet Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Posts: 18 Location: SATX

ccbobber · Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:31 am Post subject: welcome

welcome to the board. info already furnished exceeds my experience. having fished several times with johnny(trashy heap), you can't go wrong going with/following him down pins for some pomp lessons.
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ccbobber

mickeyd · Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:55 pm Post subject: Pomps

As stated above, these guys know their stuff.
If you want to fish around Port A. you might consider fishing Mustang Island around dunes 29 down to the 40's. You can go in at the new golf course at beach access rd. 1a and drive that beach in two wheel drive mode. I have never killed the pomps in that area like you can down on PINS but we have always picked up a few, especially this time of year on into April.
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Mike