African Pompano

just another permit?

Written by Graeme Field

If I am brutally honest with myself and with you for that matter, I have to admit that there isn't another fish that I have so far crossed watery paths with that possesses the ability to get my knees wobbling like a reel with a buckled spool than the African pompano, Trachinotus blochii. Sleek, spooky, powerful and downright gorgeous, it has rightfully earned its title as king of the flats in our part of the world, most notably on magnificent flats of the outer Seychelles atolls. Bones and GT's are quickly forgotten when a sizable pompano comes sneaking onto the flats to feed, in doing so presenting what is for many anglers a chance of a lifetime. They tend to have such a profound effect that sometimes flyfishing etiquette is even forgotten as anglers clamber over each other to have a shot at these prized trophies. But even though African Pompano are clearly held in such high regard in our waters, how do they compare to the fish that worldwide is regarded as the Holy Grail of saltwater flyfishing – the Atlantic permit? Pretty damn close I say!

Other than the fact that it doesn't attain as large a size as its Atlantic cousin (everything is bigger in America mind you), it certainly possess all the attributes that make any permit species such a respected, challenging and tricky target on fly. Pompano will enthral and enrage even the best anglers out there, and the sight of a rusty golden sickle tail waving around on the flats will reduce even the most hardened of fly anglers to a trembling mess. They are just as spooky, just as elusive and just difficult to catch as true permit - and just as rewarding when you get it right! They aren't around in substantial numbers, and just like with Atlantic permit, you aren't going to get many shots at a trophy fish so you need to make your chances count. Successfully stalking, hooking and landing a big pompano on the flats will certainly give you bragging rights in the bar for many an evening.

Found along the east coast of Africa, Indian Ocean islands and as far across as Australia, pompano are highly sought as a flats species. Although their preferred habitat consists of flats, mangroves, shallow creeks and waterways, they are also found in deeper water and around offshore reefs. But they are difficult to target on fly unless they are feeding in shallows where anglers are able to sight cast to them. Bait fishermen still catch them from the shore from Kwazulu-Natal northwards, but due to the horrific overfishing in countries such as Mozambique and Tanzania, miles and miles of perfectly formed permit flats lie barren, netted to within an inch of their lives by over zealous locals. Fly anglers are now all but forced to head for the hallowed waters of the Seychelles for the opportunity to sight cast to pompano on the flats.

Here they can be found cruising on the glistening white sand, tailing around the edges of turtle grass flats and sneaking up the deeper channels and cuts that create access and exit points to and from the main flats. They are particularly abundant on atolls such as St Joseph and Astove, where they move in with the tides along clearly defined paths.

But even in these prime locations, they still remain elusive and challenging, and live up to the reputation shaped by Atlantic permit. Perhaps it is because there aren't great numbers of them, or that anglers get so few good shots at them, or that they posses such a large, all seeing eye that normally spots you before you spot them - whatever the reason, they remain one of the most challenging fish to take on fly.

So you've mortgaged your house, sold your car and you finally find yourself calf deep in gin clear water watching a big pompano feeding on the flats ahead of you – now you just got to pick a fly, present it, hook, fight and land the fish of a lifetime. You might have picked up from the preceding paragraphs that this may just be easier said than done!

I've had the privilege of guiding in the Seychelles for a number of years, and have been fortunate to have had the opportunity of witnessing permit feeding in a number of conditions, have seen them caught and more often have seen chances squandered. I would like to share with you some of the tactics that have proved successful for me. They are by no means “correct” and certainly aren't foolproof, but they have produced results so are worth considering should you wish to target an African pompano on fly.

Obviously, fishing for these extremely finicky and wary fish differs from place to place – so the best advice is to listen to your guide as he will know the best methods and flies for the area.

The first thing to remember is that you have more time than you think. People tend to get “buck fever” when confronted with a feeding pompano, and therefore start ‘attacking' the fish in a great hurry as they believe their window of opportunity is really small. However, pompano can be stalked for ages if you are patient and careful. They are extremely shy and spooky fish, and the worst thing you can do is cast too close to them – they will bolt for safety immediately. Once spooked they stay spooked (you will seldom, if ever, get another chance at a spooked fish) so take your time the first time!

The second important thing to remember with pompano is that they feed quite erratically – i.e. they do not feed in one direction that allows you to anticipate where they will move to. A bonefish for instance will feed in a slow zigzag pattern, and it is quite simple to anticipate where it is going to be, allowing you to present the fly ahead of the fish in its anticipated path. A pompano will turn without warning, feed in one direction for a few moments, then turn at 90 degrees and head the other way – it just depends on what mood it is in. You therefore want to keep the fish within casting distance, but reserve your actual casts for when you feel the fish is going to move in a specific direction – then place your fly quite away ahead of the fish. Don't cast unless you have a good shot – the fish will become alert to danger if you keep flogging the water.

Something to remember is the slower and more methodically the fish is feeding, the better your chances are of a hook up. I like to work the periphery of the fishes feeding area and leave the fly lying on the bottom for the fish to find. If it doesn't see the fly or react to it, wait until you are sure that the fish is well clear before lifting the fly out for your next cast. Keep stalking it, keep dropping it 10 – 15 feet away from the fish, and its feeding pattern will eventually intercept your cast.

Ideally you want the fish to catch its first glimpse of the fly just as it sinks to the bottom – remember you are trying to imitate a crab or crustacean that has just dived for cover as it senses the impending danger. Too close and the fish will spook when the fly hits the surface, so rather cast too far away and leave the fly lying on the bottom. Pompano have incredible eyesight and will pick up the fly easily. Theyw ill also pick you up easily so keep a low profile at all times, and keep dropping the fly up ahead of where you think the fish may move.

Then, possibly the most important aspect of fishing for permit – DO NOT STRIP! And I don't mean that you should keep your clothes on (although this preferable, especially if you aren't alone on the flats), I mean leave that fly lying dead still on the bottom. I like to make a cast far enough ahead of the fish so that if it does see the fly on the drop, it only catches a glimpse of it as it reaches the bottom. I then immediately take up any slack line and just keep the line taught enough to maintain contact with the fly. Generally (there are no fixed rules!) forcefully stripping a crab fly will spook a permit in no time. Although you probably feel as if the fly is lying motionless and lifeless on the bottom, there is always a tiny current or a bit of wind or even a bit of line drag which causes the fly to slowly creep along the bottom, which is much more realistic. Pompano love this. So just make your cast, take up your slack and hold on!

I was chatting to some other Seychelles guides a few weeks ago, and I believe that anglers are having great success with pompano on normal bonefish patters (such as a tan Gotcha) stripped really fast. Apparently the pompano are pouncing on these speedily retrieved shrimp imitations with great gusto, and it is proving very effective. I have not tried this method so cannot comment on it – I personally find it difficult to experiment too much when one has so for opportunities at these fish, so I tend stick to my tried and tested patterns and methods. But I believe this method works, so by all means give it a go!

As far as tackle goes, I prefer a fast action 9-weight rod with a weight forward floating line. I use a leader of about 10 – 12 feet in length, tapered to 12 or 14lb. I like use Velcro crab patterns in sizes 2 – 2/0 and generally light tan in colour – but your guide should tell you what is best for the area.

So get out there and go for it. Keep a low profile, wade as quietly as possible, and keep putting your fly in the zone – and you will have success. Don't get despondent, permit and pompano can be the most frustrating fish in the world. They will often spook for no apparent reason, and sometimes even swim right over your fly without batting an eyelid (so to speak). A big fat pompano may even tail right next to your fly and eat a live crab inches from where it is lying, as if your fake crab doesn't even exist. You will try and try and try, curse and cringe, but eventually, when you least expect it, you will make a good cast and it will all come together. When that magnificent fish casually noses down and sucks in your fly and your line pulls tight, all the frustration is forgotten in an instant, and you will never be the same again!

For guided trips to catch permit or pompano, please contact Graeme Field at Liquid Horizon www.liquidhorizon.co.za T: +27 72 203 7633 E: graeme@liquidhorizon.co.za