Palometa

Family Carangidae, JACKS and POMPANOS
Trachinotus goodei

Description: grayish-blue-green on top of head and along the back; bright silvery sides; yellow on breast; elongated dorsal and anal fins; dusky or black with bluish edges; deep body, with four narrow bars high on the sides, and traces of a fifth fin nearer the tail; no scutes.

Similar Fish: pompano, T. carolinus ; permit, T. falcatus .

Where found: in clear water along sandy beaches and bays, occasionally found over reefs; most common in south Florida.

Size: rarely over 1 pound, reported to 3 pounds.

*Florida Record: n/a

Remarks: thought to spawn OFFSHORE in spring, summer, and fall; has shown rapid growth in mariculture experiments; readily strikes small artificial lures.

*The Florida records quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.