Welcome -- might as well put my .02 in a couple of days late.
I've caught pompano off the end of the Mexico Beach pier and the beach at First Street (the east end near the county line). There's a little dip in the sandbar there that they seem to like. Or at least there was one a couple of years ago.
I've had more luck with the two-drop pompano rig they sell in tackle shops than I have with jigs. Live shrimp have worked for me, but most folks swear by sand fleas. I'm eager to try some of the artificial ones they have now.
I like a medium-length surf rod, not too stiff so you can enjoy the fight. I'll have to second what dbplug said; pompano seem to run in the clear water where the waves break, just at the top of the bar
Howell Tackle in St. Joe Beach is a good place for info and gear. They had a pompano seminar there last April.
Good luck.
Going to tryem soon as weather warms up and I'll be sure to let yall know how it goes.