Pompano

Pompano, POM puh noh, is the name of a group of valuable food fishes. Several kinds of pompanos are found in the salt waters around North and South America. The Florida pompano lives along the Atlantic Coast of the United States and in the seas from the West Indies to Brazil. The Florida pompano is about 11/2 feet (46 centimeters) long and weighs about 7 pounds (3.2 kilograms). It is bluish above and silvery or slightly golden underneath. The breast is yellowish. The body of the Florida pompano is oblong and flattened from side to side. The flesh of the pompano is highly prized for its rich flavor. Large numbers are caught in nets. Many pompanos are taken on the Florida coasts. The pompano rarely takes a hook.