Permit fish are abundant in the lower Florida Keys.

The permit is one of the most beautiful fish that swims the waters of the Florida Keys. There is nothing like seeing a twenty pound plus permit tailing in two feet of water searching for crabs or a school floating motionless a foot or two under the surface with their tails and dorsals out of the water. This is where the true meaning of stealth comes into play. The permit fish has the reputation of being the hardest fish to take on fly and for good reason. Catching one that way gives you some high powered bragging rights.

Permit fish are more abundant on the flats in the spring and fall although they can be taken year round. Wreck anglers do well in the winter months and mid summer. In the years that I have been a Florida Keys fishing guide, the permit population has really increased. I don't remember seeing the numbers that I do today on the flats. When fishing for permit with a fly rod, we use a 9 or 10 pound weight with an imitation crab fly. When fishing with spin tackle, we use 10 to 12 pound test with live crabs.