Fish Identification Photos: Gafftopsail Pompano, Trachinotus rhodopusi: The Gafftopsail Pompano is perhaps the most beautiful fish found in Mexican waters and is a member of the Carangidae or Jack Family.

The Gafftopsail Pompano is characterized by its diamond-shaped body that is very narrow with prolonged anal, caudal and dorsal fins. It has a silvery body and distinguishing four to six yellow-brown bars on its sides.

The Gafftopsail Pompano cannot be easily confused with other species with the possible exception being the Paloma Pompano, Trachinotus paitensis (which has shorter fins and no bars).

The Gafftopsail Pompano is pelagic and found out around the tip of the Baja California peninsula, from Magdalena Bay south along the Pacific side of Baja, in the lower two-thirds of the Sea of Cortez, and on mainland Mexico south of Mazatlan. It is found in the first 75 feet of the water column over sandy bottoms adjacent to rocky structure and can be caught just outside the breaker line.

The Gafftopsail Pompano is reported to reach a length of 24 inches but is normally in the 14 to 16 inch range. It is viewed by locals to be excellent table fare.

Gafftopsail Pompano, Trachinotus rhodopus: Caught from shore in the last hour of daylight in February 2003, in 70-degree water outside the breaker line in 20 to 30-foot water, utilizing 15-pound test with a two dropper loop rig, no swivels, 1.5-ounce bank sinker, and Mustad 92553 hooks, size #4, on cut squid at Km. 14 (Twin Dolphins), between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Size approximately 12 inches and 1 pound and gave a medium fight. Viewed by locals as excellent table fair. Description and photo courtesy John Snow. Gafftopsail Pompano, Trachinotus rhodopus: This super specimen photo of a Gafftopsail Pompano, 17 inches long, caught on 8-pound line from the beach on squid at Bahia de Palmas, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico, October 1994. Says veteran Baja angler Peter, "This is just about the greatest lightweight fighter of all." Description and photo courtesy Peter Langstraat. Gafftopsail Pompano, Trachinotus rhodopus: Caught from the beach Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico on cut squid in July 2005. Description and photo courtesy Dr. Robert Mierendorf.