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Packs of prowling permit can be found hovering above southwest wrecks.
Get in on the action!
Florida is world renowned for its vast sport fishing opportunities. The
diversified habitats and species of fish are endless. No where is this
more true than in the southwest region. Whether inshore or off, you’re
likely to have consistent action by simply applying proper methods and
some basic tactics and techniques.
For the shallow water aficionado, southwest Florida is heaven! Just a small number of the most sought after species calling the Gulf Coast home include snook, tarpon, redfish, cobia, Spanish mackerel, trout and permit. Tarpon and permit without question surpass all the other species for their shear power and uncanny fighting ability.
Generally, both tarpon and permit can found hunting along flats, sandy beaches, cuts, inlets and channels. While both are mainly inshore targets, schools of the later can also be found roaming many miles from land. Artificial wrecks in the 35 ft. to 70 ft. depths provide ideal habitat for packs of these powerful fish. The unseen decaying underwater structures lying on the Gulf floor create a hotel of sorts for multitudes of baitfish and crustaceans. Packs of luminous permit, like knights protecting their castle, prowl the surrounding waters to take advantage of the melee.
Though a rare catch in the northern reaches of their territories, permit inhabit the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to southeastern Brazil and from the West Indies to the Gulf of Mexico. Luckily for us, from May through October, the species is extremely abundant right here in South Florida. Closely related to common jack crevalles, permit are true warriors and mean business!
An average 20 lb. permit may not provide you with the aerial display of a tarpon but I assure you, pound for pound they’ll be right up there with the silver king. As a matter of fact, if you asked me, in a hypothetical tug-of-war between a fifty pound permit and an equal size tarpon, I think it would be an even draw. Their shear brilliance, power and stamina are clearly why permit are so highly sought after. They’re regarded by many to be the ultimate gamefish.
Schools of permit encountered around wrecks will vary in numbers depending on the size of the individual fish. Large groups may contain as many as 50 to 100 individuals. With the average member tipping the scales at somewhere between ten to twenty pounds, that’s a lot of permit! The real slobs in the thirty to forty pound range tend to be in smaller groups, no larger than five to ten fish.
Permit can reach a maximum length of about 50 inches. The Florida record is a whopping 56.2 lbs! They grow rapidly until the age of 5 at which point growth slows considerably. They reach sexual maturity somewhere between two and a half and three years old and can live as long as twenty five.
Permit mainly feed on crustaceans and mollusks, which they make easy work of with their crushing granular teeth. They’re opportunistic feeders and have also been known to devour small baitfish such as pilchards and sardines. However, their favorite meal is far and away a live crab, about the size of a silver dollar.
Permit are cozy in a surrounding water temperature of anywhere between 75 and 85 degrees. Spawning usually peaks sometime in May or June, with a noticeable decrease of activity in the winter months. The results of recent surveys conducted in 2003 have inclined the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to update the daily size and bag limits. As of January 2004, the FWC raised the minimum size from 10” to 11” for all anglers and decreased the bag limit from 10 fish to 6 fish per person, per day. The upper slot limit is 20”, with a provision that allows one fish to be over 20” in the daily bag limit. However, it’s an unwritten rule amongst all inshore anglers that all permit should be released unharmed to fight another day.
Throughout the Florida Keys, in Biscayne Bay and along most of the Gulf coast is where you’re most likely to encounter these brutes. Stalking permit on the flats is perhaps the best known method of crossing paths with these elusive fish. Permit feeding on the flats are usually alone or in pairs and very leery, making this the most difficult method of approach. On the other hand, targeting permit above a wreck out in the Gulf of Mexico is very different. These fish are usually very approachable, however, like with any species there’s a right way and a wrong way. Let me be a little clearer.
Scientific studies have proven that permit have excellent vision and can see clearly for quite some distance. For the angler who powers up to the wreck at full throttle, your chances of an encounter may have been ruined by your needless aggression. When approaching any wreck, it’s best to idle toward it and shut down when close, so not to spook any fish that may be in the vicinity.
If you take the time to look, more often than not you can spot permit working the surface above the underwater structure. The fish are usually holding from the surface down to mid- depth and are rarely at the bottom. When I’m targeting permit around a wreck, I prefer to do it in one of two ways.
The first and probably the most effective, is to anchor up-current of the wreck and let the fish come to you. You don’t need to be positioned right above the sunken structure. In fact, you’ll be better off a short distance away from the bulk of the wreckage.
Permit are extremely bright. They’ll attempt a variety of tricky maneuvers to rid themselves of the foreign object stuck in their mouth. Hooked permit have actually been documented nudging their rubbery lips into jagged coral. They’ve also been seen attempting to wrap the unfamiliar monofilament tether around underwater pilings and debris. By setting up a short distance away from the wreckage, a hooked permit will have to work that much harder to get you back to the formation.
Another reason anchoring up-current of the wreck is an excellent option, is to keep you in one spot. This translates into less of a chance of spooking the already distrustful fish. Keep in mind, under ideal conditions permit will practically swim right under the boat, even if you’re a hundred yards away from the debris field.
Method number two when attempting to locate schools of permit around Gulf coast wrecks is to shut down your engine a few hundred yards away and slowly make your way toward it with the use of your quiet trolling motor. Try and approach from down current and keep a sharp eye peeled for sickle like fins slicing through the surface. Only approach within casting distance of the wreck and then back off. This method is a little more difficult but the main body of fish may be several hundred yards away from the actual structure and it will allow you an opportunity to scout a larger area.
It’s a good idea as you close in to the wreck to keep a close eye out for small patches of weed that may be floating on the surface. Permit will often nudge patches of seaweed in an attempt to dislodge any crabs that may be hiding there. If no fish are spotted on the surface, look for silver flashes at mid depth. Be careful though, schools of large jack crevelle and spade fish are easily mistaken for permit and have fooled even the best of us. Jacks will typically be more brownish/ yellow in color.
For those actively searching for permit, here’s a rule to live by: if a wreck is in deep enough water (30 ft. or more), has patches of weed hovering above it and crabs drifting on the surface, it’s definitely a permit drive thru and definitely worth your undivided attention.
Ideal tackle for wreck permit fishing is pretty basic. Set yourself up with at least two 7 ft. spinning outfits. Reels must have super smooth drag systems and be filled to the brim with a minimum of 12 lb. test. Terminal rigging is fairly simple. Use a spider hitch to create a two ft. length of shock leader. Add three ft. of 30 lb. mono or fluoro leader material with an Albright knot and finish things off with a small 2/0 or 3/0 circle hook.
The crËme de le’ crËme of bait is a small live crab. I like to buy crabs the night before and keep them aerated until I’m ready to use them. At the most, two dozen should be all you need. The last thing you want to happen is to run out of crabs during a hot permit bite. Live shrimp are a close second, and if for some reason either aren’t available, small º once white jigs or bucktails will sometimes work. Chumming/chunking with small pieces of fresh crab or shrimp will assist in persuading the permit into a feeding mood.
When using live crabs make a small hole in the shell about an eighth of an inch away from either of the two points. Work the hook from the bottom up through the top of the shell. This will not harm the crab and will insure it stays lively. If you were unable to purchase live crabs from your local retailer, you can always look for them swimming on the surface near the wreck you’re fishing. If you spot any helpless wanderers before a hunting permit does, simply use your bait net to scoop them up.
There are two main techniques utilized when fishing crabs. The first is to sight fish, and toss the crab about 10 to 20 ft. in front of any cruising permit. The second is to simply free line your crab out behind the boat and let the crab naturally drift in the current. You can keep your crab near the surface by using a small piece of Styrofoam. There are several different types of swimming saltwater crabs. As a rule, as long as it swims on the surface it will work.
When a permit engulfs your crab, he’ll most likely take the time to first crush it and then eat it. Be patient and allow the fish a chance to get the hook in his mouth before locking up. Remember that you’re using circle hooks. No need to heave back, just reel down and the design of the hook will do the rest. When using live shrimp the same methods apply, just hook the shrimp just above the tail.
Now that the fight is on, you’ll immediately feel their raw power. They’ll make long screaming runs and are easily capable of melting all the line off your reel. If necessary, be ready to crank up the motor and follow the fish. If you’re anchored up, make sure you have an anchor ball attached to your ground tackle. This will prevent you from having to pull the anchor all the way in before following the fish.
Hooked permit have the inexplicable ability to know where the structure is at all times and will do everything in their power to take you there. Most of the fish encountered will be between 20 and 30 pounds, but I have seen fish in the 50 pound class. When hooked up, keep constant pressure on the fish. Try applying side pressure to change their direction and keep them off guard.
Expect a grueling battle with a 30 pound permit to last around 30 minutes. When you finally do get the fish boat-side, wear a glove and grab the fish just in front of the tail. Snap a couple of quick photos and release the fish unharmed to fight another day. If you need to, spend the time to revive the fish for a minute or two prior to release.
Fly fishermen should use 9 or 10 weight outfits. Permit are finicky about taking artificial bait but decent crab imitations should work well. The main concern should be presentation and proper depth. Remember, these are finicky fish and if you really want to score on a regular basis, use live crabs for bait.
Most of the productive permit wrecks start about 8 miles off the southwest coast and most can be found by purchasing a good chart from your local accessory retailer. Hot Spot Charts and Captain Segull’s Charts are both good choices.
Along with all of the popular wrecks, the microwave towers situated about twenty miles out should not be overlooked. Tower T is located at 25-48.0N 82-13.0W. It’s in 68 ft. of water and is close to Marco Island and Naples. Besides permit, Tower T holds good numbers of big mangrove snapper.
Tower D is located at 25-34.0N 81-43.0W. It’s about 20 miles southwest of Indian Key Pass in the Ten Thousand Islands region. Along with permit, you’ll find big cobia and snook here.
Tower R is located at 25-28.0N 82-06.11W. It’s approx. 30 miles from Marco ports and about 25 miles south of Tower T. This is probably the most fished tower and will consistently yield excellent results.
While fishing for permit may be slow at one location, don’t give up. Try hopping from spot to spot. Always keep your eyes open. Even out in the open water you never know when you may come across a school of roving permit.
Any inshore angler will tell you, once you land your first permit, you’ll be hooked! Targeting these fish around wrecks and other types of structure is definitely a world of fun. My best day ever resulted in hooking 22 fish in only three hours of fishing. We could have caught more, but we unfortunately ran out of crabs. That’s ok though, as I really don’t think I could have reeled in another one anyway. Well until next time; keep your rod bent and your drag screaming!
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