March is when Pompano Beach fishing gets serious again. Water temperatures along the South Florida coast are climbing back toward the mid-70s, and that shift is pushing fish movement in all the right directions for local anglers.
Pompano fish — the actual species, not just the city namesake — are starting to show in the surf zone. The beach break between the pier and the inlet has been producing solid runs for those fishing the early morning tide. A standard pompano rig with sand fleas is the go-to setup, and it’s been paying off consistently for those willing to be on the beach before sunrise.
Off the pier, kingfish have been the headline catch. Several large kings have been landed in the past two weeks, with the best action coming on live bait in the late afternoon when the tide is running. The pier bait shop has fresh bait most mornings — call ahead on busy spring break weekends when they tend to sell out early.
Offshore, sailfish season is winding down but hasn’t finished yet. The boats running out of Lighthouse Point Marina have had mixed reports — some spectacular days, some quiet ones — which is typical for this time of year as the fish continue to spread out.
For inshore anglers, the Intracoastal canals and flats around Hillsboro Inlet are holding snook and redfish. The spring spawn hasn’t kicked off fully yet, but the fish are feeding actively, which makes for excellent catch-and-release action.
Tight lines. March in Pompano is one of the better months on the water.
