Saltwater · Year-round in the Keys; peak spring and summer on the flats, spring over wrecks
Permit
Trachinotus falcatus
The holy grail of the flats — a deep-bodied, crab-crunching phantom of the Florida Keys, and the hardest of the flats grand slam to fool.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Deep, disc-like silver body with a blunt, steep forehead
- Long, sickle-shaped black dorsal and anal fins and a deeply forked black tail
- Dark blotch on the belly in front of the anal fin
- No teeth — lips are thick and rubbery
- Look-alike: bonefish are slim and torpedo-shaped; permit are tall, deep discs
Habits
- Cruises flats edges and channels, tipping up to blow crabs and shrimp out of the sand
- Gathers over wrecks and reefs in spring to spawn in big schools
- Notoriously the wariest flats fish — far more refuse shots than takes
- Feeds best on moving water, especially the first of the flood tide
Distribution
Where to find them
- Flats edges and channel drop-offs in the Florida Keys, Key West above all
- Wrecks and reef structure off the Keys in spring
- Passes and beach troughs along Florida's Atlantic coast in summer
- Occasional fish on deep flats around south Texas jetties
Where they live
How to catch them
Crab fishing on the flats
Rig: 7' medium spinning rod, 20 lb braid, 30 lb fluorocarbon leader
Bait/lure: Live crab, hooked through the shell corner
Key tip: Lead the fish by 6-10 ft and let it tip down on the crab; do not move the bait as it approaches.
Fly fishing with crab patterns
Rig: 9-10 wt fly rod, floating line, 12 ft leader
Bait/lure: Del's Merkin and other crab flies
Key tip: Cast so the fly lands softly well ahead; a permit that spooks rarely gives a second chance.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: 7' medium spinning rod or 9-10 wt fly rod
- Line: 20 lb braid / floating fly line
- Terminal: 30 lb fluorocarbon leaders, live crabs, crab flies
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 5-15 lb; large specimens 30 lb and up
On the table
Good but rarely kept — a premier sport fish, prized on the flats and usually released.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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