Permit Fly Fishing In Key West, FL

A day spent fly fishing for permit in Key West usually starts based on the tides. A lot of things have to go right in order to catch permit on the fly, and the tide is a major factor in finding fish on the flats. If the tide is too low, the fish can’t be there, and if the tide is too high, the fish can be almost anywhere. There are perfect windows in the tide that congregate fish, either on their way on or off of the flats. These windows in the tides give anglers opportunities in specific areas where the fish are actively feeding such that there guard is down enough to enable a boat to get close enough for a shot to be taken.

Permit give themselves away on the flats in a few main ways. The first of which are wakes their bodies make as they swim across shallow water. Waking fish can be spotted a long way off in calm conditions. Another sign that there are feeding permit is mud, or areas of cloudy water stirred up by permit actively feeding on the bottom. These muds can be seen from a distance when visibility is good and can give anglers the time they need to get into position for a good shot. The most tell-tale sign of permit is when they are tailing. While feeding on the bottom in shallow water, their big black tails will come out of the water and sometimes even slap around as they root and grub for crabs and shrimp.

Shots at permit aren’t usually easy, and many permit anglers have practiced the art of fly casting for years before they successfully feed their first one a fly. Most shots at permit are of the longer variety (longer than fifty feet) and need to be placed accurately with stealth. Permit are notorious for spooking while the fly is still in the air. However when everything goes right, a fly placed directly in front of the fish’s face will get its attention, and maybe even a bite.

Days spent permit fishing are maximized by fishing the right places at the right times. When the time isn’t right, many permit anglers shift gears and target bonefish as both permit and bonefish frequent the same areas. If bonefish aren’t around sometimes the tide is right to spend a couple hours looking for tarpon while waiting for the next window of opportunity to find some happy permit.