Permit (Trachinotus falcatus) may be found in the waters of Key West from calm, warm days in February, increasing in size and numbers in March and reaching a zenith in April and May. After spawning, they spread out and can be found on both the flats and structures in both the Atlantic as well as the Gulf ofMexico. They are common through out the summer months, into the fall.
The larger Permit show up in the earlier months, with the highest concentration of fish showing for the spawn in April. We have had numerous line class I.G.F.A. world records for permit. We also have techniques whereby we have boated as many as 20 of these great gamesters on a fly rod in a single day. Although the Permit is considered a great fish for the table, we encourage the release of this great gamefish so that their numbers will continue to make Key West the “Permit Capital of the World”.
During the months of April and May, schools of Permit, sometimes numbering in the thousands, frequent the shoals and wrecks around the Dry Tortugas. These fish are not shy like those of the flats. Casting a fly will often result in several of these silver giants, with backs out of the water, pushing and bumping each other in order to eat your presentation. This is a sight that is unlikely to be forgotten in any anglers lifetime.
Permit Photo Gallery
Permit Fishing Locations
Dry Tortugas
The Dry Tortugas is the last, great vestige of sportfishing in the northern hemisphere. This remote group of islands are surrounded by more than ten thousand square miles of fishing resources that have remained relatively untapped due to the time that it would take to cover this vast and remote area.
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico, for our purposes, begins at the North side of the flats, along the lower Florida Keys and includes a portion of the Florida Bay, continuing to the West and North of the Dry Tortugas, encompassing more than 5000 square miles of fishable water within range of our hi-tech, offshore boats.
Key West
Key West offers the sportfishing enthusiast the largest variety of gamefish in the world. Other locations will argue that they are the sportfishing capital of the world, or the best for this species or that particular fish. There are more “I.G.F.A. World Records” from the waters of Key West than the next closest, several locations combined.
Marquesas
Marquesas is a magical word that conjures thoughts of tropical breezes, emerald green water surrounding a tropical island paradise. A ring of islands surrounded by acres and acres of pristine water and shallow flats where giant Tarpon, Permit, Bonefish, Mutton Snappers, great Barracudas and monster Sharks of all kinds prowl the flats.
