Florida Pompano: Florida Panhandle regulations & tips
Season status · as of Oct 24, 2026
| Waters | Status today | Next 7 days | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf state + federal waters | Open year-round | Open all 7 days | FWC |
Regulations
| Size | 11" fork length minimum |
| Bag limit | 6 per harvester |
- Hook and line, cast net, and beach or haul seine only.
- No multiple hooks with natural bait; no snatching.
- Different rules apply to permit and African pompano.
Sources (checked Oct 24, 2026): FWC: Permit, Florida pompano and African pompano. If anything here disagrees with FWC or NOAA, the official page wins.
When they bite
Open year-round. Locally, spring and fall are the classic surf seasons.
Where locally
The surf zone along Navarre, Pensacola Beach, Okaloosa Island and PCB, especially troughs and the first sandbar. Piers too.
Spots to try: Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier, Okaloosa Island Pier (The Island Pier), Panama City Beach piers (M.B. Miller & Russell-Fields).
Gear basics
- 9–12 ft surf rod with a spinning reel
- Pompano rig (check the multiple-hook rule if you use natural bait)
- Sand fleas, shrimp or Fishbites
- Pyramid sinker and a sand spike
Local tip: Dig sand fleas right at the waterline. They're free bait and pompano love them.
The bite and location notes are general angler know-how, not a fishing report.
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