Pompano

Overview

The Pompano (Trachinotus ovatus), also known as the Liche glauque, is a schooling, pelagic fish belonging to the jack family, Carangidae. It is widely distributed across the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, where it is frequently encountered in coastal and offshore waters.

Appearance

This species features a strongly compressed, elongated, and oval-shaped body with tiny, nearly invisible scales. Its coloration is typically silver with a greenish-grey back and a series of three to five vertically elongated black spots along the anterior half of the lateral line. The caudal fin is deeply forked with black margins, and the tips of the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are also black.

Distribution & habitat

The Pompano is found from the British Isles and Scandinavia—where it is considered a rare vagrant—southward to Angola, including the Mediterranean Sea and various offshore islands. While primarily a pelagic species, it is often found in shallow coastal waters, particularly in areas of surge over sand or mud bottoms. Juveniles are commonly observed in large schools within the surf zone along sandy beaches, and the species occasionally enters brackish environments such as lagoons and river estuaries.

Biology & behavior

Known for its rapid growth, the Pompano is a social species that typically forms small to large schools. It is a highly adaptable fish that can live for approximately five to seven years. Smaller individuals are sometimes spotted near steep rocky shores at night.

Feeding

Adults are active predators that feed on a variety of small crustaceans, mollusks, and small fishes. Juveniles primarily target benthic invertebrates found in their shallow-water habitats.