Permit, like their miniature cousins the pompano, are actually members of the jack family. And just like their jack relatives, permit are extremely powerful fighters. This characteristic alone is one of the many reasons that I have recently added permit to my “top three” wish list of favorite fish to catch.

Once thought of as primarily a flats target stalked exclusively by skilled fly-fishermen just as they do bonefish and tarpon, today, anglers of all sorts have discovered big numbers of permit spawning on the offshore reefs and wrecks where they make easy targets for fishermen of all ages and all skill levels. This includes women new to the sport.

Female anglers account for a fast growing segment of the sport fishing community. More and more women of all ages are learning to enjoy fishing. Statistics prove that there are now over 17 million female anglers registered in the United States alone. They are quickly catching on to the fact that sport fishing is not an extreme sport all about strength. It is a sport that requires more finesse and patience than anything else – two traits women seem to have plenty of.

Pompano are such highly-prized fish that some anglers refer to them as “golden nuggets. This term may seem excessive to anyone who has never caught or eaten one of these snub-nosed mini-members of the jack family, but to those of us who regularly target pomps, the name fits well. They are tough fighters on light tackle, and when placed on the dinner table before a tired and hungry angler, they are, in fact, truly golden.

I often reflect back to the very first time my father took me fishing. I was barely eight years old, but those memories will stay with me forever. From that day on, I was hooked, and continue to enjoy the sport with my entire family. I make it a point to get my niece and nephews out on the water every chance I can. They love visiting their aunt because they know they will be fishing and boating from sunup until sundown enjoying all of the wonders that the great outdoors have to offer.

Fly fishing is becoming increasingly popular
among lady anglers.

What is it that makes fly fishing so appealing to the lady angler? After speaking to many female fly casters I came to the conclusion that one thing is for certain -- passion plays a major role in their quest to become lost in the solitude of fly fishing.