The Permit
April 21, 2013
By Florida Sportsman Editor
The Permit, Trachinotus falcatus
Deeper body and blunter head than the Pompano. Large, sickle-shaped tail. Scutes absent. Silver overall; sometimes has a black blotch on side under the pectoral fin. Like Pompano, small Permit may also show some yellow on the underside.
SIZE
Can run as high as 40 or 50 pounds, with 20-30- pounders fairly common. World record 60 pounds; Florida record 56 pounds, 2 ounces.
Advertisement
FOOD VALUE
When small enough to be confused with Pompano, the confusion extends to the table. Both are excellent.
GAME QUALITIES
Advertisement
Rates as one of the very best gamefish—a long runner on the flats and a strong, stubborn deep fighter offshore. Also one of the most challenging to fool, especially with artificial lures.
TACKLE AND BAITS
Although offshore Permit are large enough to provide sport with light and medium saltwater tackle, the epitome of Permit fishing is to stalk them by sight on shallow flats, and cast directly to them. Light spinning, baitcasting and fly tackle can be used in the shallows—provided the angler has a good supply of line and a means (a guide with a pushpole, preferably) of chasing the fish. Best natural bait is any sort of small live crab. Dead pieces of crab and lobster also work well. Live shrimp are often accepted, especially if skittered across the surface, and then allowed to sink. If using small skimmer (Bonefish- style) jigs, try to get the Permit to follow the lure, then stop it dead and let it sink into the grass or mud. Best flies are those with weighted or epoxy heads that will sink in the manner of a leadhead jig.
FISHING SYSTEMS
Casting; Still Fishing.
OTHER NAMES
Round Pompano,Great Pompano
RANGE
All Florida, the Bahamas and Caribbean.
HABITAT
Permit are found in the surf, inlets and passes of both coasts, but are more numerous in the southern half of the state. In warm weather, they roam South Atlantic reefs and many Gulf wrecks.“Classic” Permit stalking on the flats is largely confined to Dade County and the Florida Keys, as well as the Bahamas and Caribbean.
Permit Another big ole permit caught by forum member Capt Mike Bartlett.
Permit Good ole permit caught by forum member Capt Mike Bartlett.
Tampa Permit Alex Kaye got into some permit in Tampa Bay, pass crabs were the bait of choice.
Keys Permit Forum member Scott Crown with a nice sight fished permit in the Keys.
Permit Florida Sportsman Forum Member Aquaholik showing off his Permit he caught in Clearwater.
16lb Islamorada Permit Rick Hubbs landed this 16 Lb Islamorada permit in June on a live crab using 12 lb fluorocarbon with no leader.
Double Perm Brothers Chris and Taylor Karr caught these permits off of Stuart Florida using live crabs.
Chris Karr's permit Chris Karr with an excellent permit caught on live crab off Stuart Florida
35 lb Permit First Permit caught in Tavernier and it was a big one
Permit Spencer Pare caught this awesome permit off of Stuart, Florida.
Adams Permit Permit caught by Adam Hughes on the Permit me off of Stuart, Florida.
Permit Permit caught by Kent Hughes on the Permit Me off of Stuart, Florida.
Adams Permit Permit caught by Adam Hughes on the Permit me off of Stuart, Florida
Blairs Permit Blair Wickstrom with a monster permit caught with a dead crab