Fish Identification Photos: Steel Pompano, Trachinotus stilbe: The Steel Pompano is a pelagic species found in the first 75 feet of the water column that is characterized by a slender oval shaped body with silver sides and a white belly.
The Steel Pompano has a pointed snout, straight lateral lines, and tiny pelvic fins.

The anal and dorsal fin lobes are low and the deeply forked caudal fin has a dark exterior margin. It has a distinctive white bar down the rear of the head which affords instant recognition (as pictured below) which quickly fades after collection.

The Steel Pompano might most likely be confused with the Paloma Pompano, Trachinotus partensis (no white bar at rear of head, long pelvic fins), or the Whitemouth Jack, Uraspis helvola (first dorsal fin a small triangle, no white bar at rear of head, inside of mouth white, modest sized anal and dorsal fin lobes).

The Steel Pompano is reported to reach a length of 20 inches. In Mexican waters it is exceedingly rare with only one documented historical collection made at the Revillagigedos Islands.

Normally, the Steel Pompano occurs around the oceanic islands of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean and along the coasts of Costa Rica and Panama.

The Steel Pompano is a member of the Carangidae or Jack Family which are known in Mexico as jureles and pámpanos.

Steel Pompano, Trachinotus stilbe: Caught midmorning in February 2007, in 70-degree water, utilizing a flylined sardina bait, just off the Punta Gorda, 5 miles north of La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Size, approximately 12 inches and 1.5 pounds. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.