The differences between golden pompano and white pompano
Sep 11, 2025
Leave a message
Although the golden pompano and the white pompano are both called "pompano", they belong to different families. The golden pompano belongs to the carangidae family . It has a slender body shape with a length-to-width ratio close to 2:1, a hard spiny dorsal fin, and is golden all over. The white pompano belongs to the pompano family . It has a body shape similar to a rhombus, with a length-to-width ratio of 1.5:1. Its dorsal fin is smooth and its body color is silvery white. In addition, the golden pompano grows fast and can reach 1 pound in one year of cultivation, while the white pompano takes two years to grow to half a pound. Therefore, the white pompano in the market is generally smaller in size.
The term "pompano" is derived from their flat body shape, but one is golden and the other is white. The color difference between them is determined by pigment deposition and habitat . The golden pompano is rich in carotenoids and has a golden color. It mostly inhabits warm water areas and is suitable for artificial breeding. The white pompano appears silvery white due to the reflection of light by guanine crystals on its body surface. It mainly relies on wild catching and is sensitive to water temperature. Although the two are not closely related, they are both classified as economic fish due to their delicious meat and few bones. However, the white pompano is usually more expensive because of its low yield and delicate taste.
