paloma pompano
Trachinotus paitensis
Pompano that forms schools over sandy beaches of the eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Chile. Seldom caught on a rod, it has very prized flesh.
Also called: pampo-pombo, pámpano paloma, paloma pompano
- maximum
- 51 cm
- depth
- 0–100 m
who is the paloma pompano
Fish of the family Carangidae, with a deep, strongly compressed body, forming schools in shallow coastal areas with sandy bottoms. It occurs from southern California to Chile, including the Galapagos, and reaches 51 cm total length, with a common size of 30 cm. The upper third of the body is dark, with a white belly and golden reflections on the flanks. It feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, other invertebrates and small fish. It has a small commercial fishery, and the flesh is considered excellent to eat.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the paloma pompano.
identification
Fish with a deep body that becomes shallower with age, strongly compressed, of the family Carangidae, with a small mouth and small, fine teeth that disappear with age. The upper third of the body is dark, and the belly is white with golden reflections on the flanks. There are no distinct marks on the body.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Occurs in the eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Chile, in coastal areas with sandy bottoms, including the Galapagos.
Habitat: Shallow coastal areas with sandy bottoms, from 0 to 100 m deep.
rules for the paloma pompano
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It poses no danger to anglers. A schooling fish: release it carefully so as not to injure its small mouth.
in the kitchen
The flesh is considered excellent to eat, and the species has a small commercial fishery.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01175, b = 2.89; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Trachinotus paitensis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Trachinotus paitensisNames by country and language.