Out of Africa

African pompano are a great bonus catch on offshore bottom-fishing trips where grouper, snapper and black sea bass are more commonly targeted.

An African pompano is always an outstanding catch on a party boat. They are excellent eating and are extremely strong fighters.

A juvenile African pompano looks like an aquarium fish, a Lookdown, because of the long, feathery fin rays on the tips of its anal and dorsal fins that give it a “threadfin” appearance. However, in the adult fish, the filamentous fin rays are lacking. Some anglers claim that other fish eat the delicate rays. However, scientists say these fin rays simply recede as the fish ages.

As the fish matures, it also loses the dark chevrons extending from top to bottom and it acquires an overall silvery appearance as it becomes more elongated.

A mature African pompano can weigh more than 40 pounds.

About Mike Marsh 356 Articles
Mike Marsh is a freelance outdoor writer in Wilmington, N.C. His latest book, Fishing North Carolina, and other titles, are available at www.mikemarshoutdoors.com.

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