In the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico, resides one of the coolest, most prehistoric-looking fish.
It happens to be one of the best to eat but also one of the most elusive. Found around the world in tropical climates, big African pompano catches have surged in recent years in the Gulf and angler Dave Miller might have led one of his friends to a recent world record.
While good weather has been rare this winter, Miller and crew took advantage of the small window Friday, Feb. 9, aboard his 31-foot Contender. They started around the 45-mile mark fishing big bottom for African pompano, or APs as many anglers call them.
“I look for lots of bait on a spot,” said Miller, a law enforcement officer who resides in Sarasota County. “We started around 45 miles that day and didn’t quite see the fish we wanted, so pushed out further.”
Calm weather made the trip easier, and the crew started fishing with slow-pitch jigs and pinfish on the new spot that had the activity Miller was looking for. But when they would hook up to fish, the tax man was ready and waiting.