SRAC Publication No. 7206 VI December 2007 PR Species Profile—Florida Pompano Kevan L. Main, Nicole Rhody, Michael Nystrom and Matthew Resley1 Florida pompano,Trachinotus carolinus, and yellow ventral surfaces (Fig. 1). It Temperature is one environmental is a member of the jack family is a coastal, shallow-water, pelagic variable that may be a constraint on (Carangidae) and highly prized by species that grows to 25 inches total pompano culture. Pompano are cold recreational and commercial fishers. length (TL) (63.5 cm) and can weigh 8 intolerant and show stress at low tem- Other common names for this species pounds (3.6 kg). There are no obvious peratures, which may restrict their are pompano, common pompano, morphological differences between potential for outdoor culture. Research Atlantic pompano, sunfish, pom- male and female pompano, other than has shown that mortalities occur at paneau sole (French), and pompano the larger size of some mature temperatures of 50 to 53 °F (10 to 12 amarillo (Spanish). Pompano is a great females. Pompano is a warmwater °C). Mortalities also occur when there tasting fish with a mild flavor and species found from Massachusetts to are extreme changes in temperature flakey texture. It commands a high Brazil. In the northern hemisphere, over a short period of time. The opti- price in the seafood market and they migrate north in the spring and mal temperatures for juvenile growth demand exceeds supply from the south in the winter. Pompano are appear to range from 77 to 86 °F (25 small and unpredictable commercial commonly seen in schools along to 30 °C), although juveniles have catches. sandy beaches and in bays and estu- thrived at temperatures as high as In the 1960s and 1970s, researchers aries. They are diurnal feeders that 93 °F (34 °C). and commercial producers examined eat mollusks and crustaceans, such as The exact size and age of maturity the potential of Florida pompano as an coquina clams, mole crabs, shrimp varies; however, most males and aquaculture species. Although early and other invertebrates. females are believed to mature by 14 spawning, larval rearing and juvenile Juvenile and adult pompano tolerate a inches TL (35.6 cm), with some growout trials were successful, reliable wide range of environmental condi- maturing as small as 10 inches fork hatchery, nursery and growout meth- tions, including low levels of dissolved length (FL) (25.4 cm). About half of ods were not developed. In the late oxygen (≥4 mg/L) and salinities rang- females mature during their first year, 1990s, researchers and commercial ing from 0 to 50 ppt. Research has at a size of 11.8 to 12.8 inches FL farmers began to reevaluate the cul- shown that, if acclimated properly, (28.5 to 32.5 cm), with all females ture of pompano because of advances juvenile and adult pompano adjust in techniques for captive broodstock well to lower salinities; however, in maturation, spawning and larval rear- the hatchery phase higher salini- ing; the development of methods for ties are necessary for buoyancy producing new live foods; and new and survival of the eggs feed formulations for marine fish. and young larvae. Natural history The life history and ecological require- ments of Florida pompano are not completely understood. What is known is mainly based on populations in southeastern U.S. coastal waters. Pompano is a deep, thin-bodied fish that is silver with green to grey dorsal 1 Mote Marine Laboratory, Center for Aquaculture Research and Development, Sarasota, FL Figure 1. Illustration of Florida pompano (©Diane Rome Peebles). reaching maturity between 2 and 3 spawning activity inshore or in estuar- Spawning behavior years at 14.8 to 15.7 inches FL (37.6 ine waters and many questions remain to 39.9 cm). Males are also believed regarding the reproductive biology and There is limited information on spawn- to mature at approximately 1 year of behavior of this species. However, ing behavior in captive pompano. age. Collections of sexually mature recent studies indicate that there may Kloth (1980) described the spawning adult pompano for captive spawning be more inshore spawning habitats behavior of two females that were in southwest Florida support these than previously thought. induced to spawn using hormones. observations. Of 175 individuals col- One female began by swimming slow- Fecundity has been estimated to range ly around the bottom of the tank and lected from March through May in from 133,000 to 800,000 eggs per sea- 2005 and 2006, mature males had a then rose to the middle of the water son. Early authors examining ripe column with one of four males follow- mean weight of 1.5 pounds (680.4 g) females reported one individual, and a mean length of 12.1 inches FL ing her. She remained stationary for 15 weighing 1.3 pounds (590g), with an seconds, with the male positioned (30.7 cm), whereas mature females estimated 630,000 eggs. Others esti- had a mean weight of 1.7 pounds below her, and then returned to the mated 425,000 eggs in another mature bottom of the tank. Shortly afterward, (771 g) and a mean length of 12.3 female measuring 10 inches FL (25.4 inches FL (31.2 cm). The smallest eggs were seen floating on the surface. cm). In a more recent collection of sex- This female repeated the spawning mature fish caught in this 2-year ually mature adult female pompano, sampling period were a male at 10.8 behavior six times, with each event lower estimates of fecundity were lasting 10 to 15 seconds and an interval inches FL (27.4 cm), weighing 1 reported, including three pompano pound (453.6 g), and a female at 10.6 of 4 to 10 minutes between each event. measuring 10.7 to 10.8 inches TL (27.2 The second female exhibited similar inches FL (26.9 cm), weighing 1.3 to 27.4 cm) with fecundity estimates pounds (589.7 g). behavior, completing two spawning ranging from 133,400 to 205,500 acts with two different males; each Pompano spawning is believed to oocytes per female (Muller et al., event lasted about 15 seconds and occur from early spring through 2002). there was an 8-minute interval October. Reproductive seasonality between them. varies among Atlantic and Gulf of Culture techniques Mexico populations. Those located in Induced spawning the tropical Gulf of Mexico and Broodstock procurement Caribbean Sea may spawn through- Scientists working independently of Pompano can generally be collected out the year. Seasonal spawning pat- one another have produced pompano throughout the year in Florida’s coastal terns of pompano have been verified with varying degrees of success and estuarine waters. Mature adults by the abundance of small juveniles throughout the years. Research has pri- can be acquired for captive broodstock (10.9 to 20.1 mm standard length, marily focused on developing tech- using trammel nets, hook-and-line, or SL) along exposed, sandy beaches niques for the commercial culture of gill nets, if special permitting is and in the surf zone from late spring Florida pompano, including the consis- obtained. (Since 1995, the use of through fall. Large numbers of juve- tent production of high-quality eggs. entangling-type nets has been prohibit- niles have been reported along the Captured pompano have been induced ed within 1 mile of shore on Florida’s Atlantic Coasts of Florida and to spawn year-round using hormone Atlantic Coast and within 3 miles of Georgia during April and May, North injections coupled with photoperiod shore on Florida’s Gulf Coast.) Gill and South Carolina in June and July, and temperature manipulation. nets are the most efficient way to col- and Delaware in July and August. In Additional techniques for out-of-season lect large numbers of adult pompano, the Gulf of Mexico, most juvenile gonadal maturation and successful but the species’ small, deciduous recruitment occurs in April and May, spawning of pompano include photo- scales and the extensive handling asso- with a smaller “wave” of individuals period and temperature manipulations, ciated with gill netting can cause seri- reported in August and September. followed by abrupt temperature shifts. ous injury and death. Individuals The actual spawning location for caught with a hook-and-line are usual- Successful hormone-induced spawning pompano is unknown, but it has ly handled less and suffer less physical of Florida pompano, using both volun- been suggested that spawning occurs damage. However, this method can be tary and strip spawning methods, was offshore, where the transport and more time consuming and a fish may first reported in the 1970s by Hoff et al. distribution of pelagic eggs and lar- be severely stressed unless it is landed (1972, 1978a, b). Spawning was induced vae are influenced by prevailing cur- quickly. Pompano collected offshore by injecting females (oocyte diameter rents. Evidence for offshore spawn- can be held for a short time in live 580 to 718 µm) with two separate doses ing is based in part on the collection wells on boats with the use of liquid of human chorionic gonadotropin of specimens in the 1950s and 1960s oxygen. Then they are transported to (HCG) (0.55 IU/g and 0.275 IU/g body off the Atlantic coast of north shore and transferred to tanks and/or weight) administered 24 to 48 hours Florida. Additional evidence was col- ponds to be used for spawning. apart. Spawning occurred approximate- lected in Florida waters when larvae Juveniles can be captured in the wild ly 30 to 40 hours after the primary measuring 3.1 and 4.6 mm SL were and reared in captivity until they reach injection at 73.9 °F (23.3 °C) and a identified in plankton tows up to sexual maturity.