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 Caribbean 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.
Another species of pompano is the palometa, also called round pompano. This fish lives as far north as Cape Cod. It reaches about 11/2 feet (46 centimeters) in length and weighs about 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms). It is a good food fish. The largest pompano is the permit, also called the great pompano. The permit grows up to 33/4 feet (114 centimeters) long and weighs up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms). It lives in the seas from Florida to the Caribbean. The permit also is an excellent food fish.
