Permit
PERMIT
Permit are one of the flats grand slam fish along with tarpon and bonefish. Permit are
difficult to find, approach and induce to eat a fly. This along with their tenacious
fighting ability, landing a permit is one of the most highly prized accomplishments on fly
tackle.
Permit range throughout tropical waters including Florida from Ft. Pierce on the east
coast to Panama City on the west coast and the Florida Keys.
Permit are members of the jack family living in deep water holes and around old
wrecks. Permit move to the shallow water flats to take advantage of the rich food supply.
Preferring the ragged rocky shorelines and hard bottom flats, they will work the deeper
edges and points while waiting for the highest tides before moving higher onto the flat.
Because of their difficult nature, permit are usually caught while fishing the flats for
other species. Permit are extremely wary, difficult to see in the water and if you do get a
fly in front of them, they are very finicky
Permit can be caught all year in the Keys but Spring and Fall provide the most favorable weather conditions for them to move onto the flats. Northern areas are best during the warmer weather when the water temperature rises.
Permit fishers must understand that permit are out of their normal element on the flats. They move up onto the flats only to hunt for food and while there they are very nervous, fleeing in panic at any sign of danger such as boat noises and fly lines slapping on the water or flailing overhead. Fly fishers must understand this and assume the proper attitude and techniques.
Those going out with the purpose of catching a permit must be armed with information
specific to the permit.
This begins with an understanding of the "flats fishing" basics.
The ideal conditions for permit would be:
A warm sunny day, the water is clear and
70-80 degrees with a slight wind rippling the water surface. A strong tide is coming in
that will flood the highest points of a rocky flat on which you will be poling or wading.
While ideal conditions are rare, each element increases the chances for success.
A bright day with clear water is essential in order to see the permit and effectively
present the fly.
Permit like warm water. They will not move onto a flat having water
temperatures out of their comfort range.
Wind can provide an important advantage for the flyfisher. Permit do not like calm
conditions in shallow water and a slight wind will ripple the surface enough to cover
them as well as the splash of the fly line hitting the water. Too much wind, however,
may cloud the water making conditions impossible.
Water levels also determine where permit will be found. At low tide, permit hold in
channels and basins adjacent to the flats that have access to the safety of deep open
water. On the weak high tides, the fish will be working the edges of the flats. Which
edge they are on may be affected by wind and water conditions. Permit move up
onto the flats during spring tides and other strong tides. Lush feeding areas are flooded at
these times giving access to the opportunistic permit. The timing of these tides are well
noted by serious permit fishers. During the colder months, tides are not as important as
water temperatures but the rule is: The higher the tide the better.
Permit Food
Permit eat crabs. They may also eat other crustaceans but mainly crabs. Blue crabs are a favorite for bait fisherman.
Permit Flies
The permits favorite food is crabs. Flyfishers must have a fly that resembles a crab,
quickly drops to the bottom like a crab and enters the water quietly. Crab patterns have
been developed that look like crabs and sink quickly as do the naturals. Arguably the
best fly pattern for permit is the "Del Brown Merkin" sizes #2-#2/0. The Puff, McCrab
and other crab patterns are also good for permit. Fly fishing for permit was not
considered reasonably before the developement of these crab patterns.
Use a full size crab pattern on windy days. Large patterns are more visible to permit and
their noisier presentation is less noticeable in the wind. If one pattern is rejected, change
size, weight or try color variations but its a good idea to stick with crab patterns. Upon
rare occasions, permit will take a bonefish fly but not with any consistency.
Many Guides use nothing but the Merkin Fly in different sizes, weights and color
variations.
|  |
Permit Methods
Permit may be fished by wading stealthily or by poling a flats boat which are covered by
general "flats fishing" basics. Guides who know the movements of the permit are strongly recommended.
Find
Seeing the permit is critical for proper presentation and retrieve.
Look for permit on top
of flats and around rocky shorelines and points during high tides. During falling or low
tide check the basins and channel edges.
While hunting for permit on edges of flats and near rock piles, look for black sickle like
tails and fins penetrating the surface and under water.
Look for muds and tailing permit.
When they dip down to eat in shallow water the tail can be seen above the water surface.
Look for shadows underwater or a large eye without body.
Also look for a permits
distinctive wake as they move.
Look for the mirage like shape of the permit caused by
sunlight reflecting off their body.
Cast
When a permit is spotted, move into casting range very quietly. When in range the
window of opportunity is very small. Keep false casts to absolute minimum and get the
fly in front of the permit quickly. Accuracy of the cast is more important than the
distance. On calm days sixty foot casts are normally sufficient but in a stiff breeze forty
foot casts are adequate. The ideal cast has fly sinking right in front of permit.
Presentation
When a crab is approached by predators out on the flat, it immediately drops to the
bottom and stays still. This is exactly what the permit should see. When you encounter
permit they will generally be either moving through the area or feeding. For the former,
gauge the water depth, the speed of the permit, tidal currents and the sink rate of the fly
and cast so that the fly reaches the anticipated meeting point just before the fish.
Feeding permit move erratically and therefore hard to lead. As they move along
looking for food, they dip down to eat then come up and move in whatever direction
they are facing. For this reason, the fly should be presented as close as possible. Wait for
them to tail then put the fly right in front of them. Whatever the situation you must make
your fly imitate a natural crab.
Retrieve
The best retrieve for permit is no retrieve. If your offering is refused, a small movement
of the fly may bring back the permit for another chance.
Hook up
Since you wont feel a strike as with other species, seeing the permit tail near your fly is
the best indicator that they have taken the bait. If the permit appears to take the fly wait
briefly then pull the slack slowly with the line hand to determine that the fish has taken
the fly. If you feel resistance strike firmly with the line hand NOT the rod tip. With this
method, if you miss, the fly is still in the permits area for a possible second chance.
Sweeping with the rod pulls the fly out of the area preventing a second chance. If the
permit is indeed on the line strike several more times with the rod when you get a chance.
Extra sharp hooks are necessary as the permit mouth is very hard to penetrate with a
hook.
Fight
When hooked the permit makes long powerful runs. Just let them go while trying to clear
any slack line and getting them on the reel. If hooked near the edge of flats, permit
usually head for deep water. Permit will use many tactics to dislodge the hook or tangle
the line by using sea fans, coral, crab traps, rubbing their mouth on the bottom or other
tricks. If nothing else works they turn sideways using their wide bodies to resist your efforts to pull them in. Keep constant rod pressure to keep the permit from resting and
take back line when possible. Pulling opposite to their direction of travel keeps them off
balance. Be ready for several more runs and settle in for a struggle.
Release
Decide ahead of time if you want to keep your permit, if you should be so lucky as to
land one. If you decide to release the fish, try to leave it in the water, unhook and revive
quickly to insure its survival. Permit are very good eating and they are not endangered
although Florida does have regulations.
Other methods
A chumming method that works well for permit requires either good GPS numbers or a
guide to find the locations of permit schooling up on the surface over deep holes.
Approach the location quietly and anchor within casting distance. Throw live blue crabs
to center of the school of permit one at a time. This creates a competition among the fish
to get the crab. Continue throwing out the crabs until the permit are sufficiently teased,
then cast a crab pattern fly.
Spin and Bait
Bottom fish over wrecks or deeper water at the edge of rocky flats with crabs, shrimp, clams and conch.
Use your "back button" or Return to Information Table