Permit

Permit are essentially shallow water, schooling fish occurring over sandy flats and reefs in depths from 1 to 17 fathoms.

Region

South

Catch ease

Medium

Habitat

Bay, Ocean

How to identify a Permit

It is distinguished from the common pompano by having fewer soft rays in the dorsal and anal fins. The second dorsal fin has 1 spine and 17-21 soft rays (22-27 in the pompano). The body is laterally compressed and the second and third ribs are prominent -- often as big around as ones thumb in fish weighing over 10 lb. (4-5 kg). These larger ribs can be felt through the sides of the fish and help in distinguishing the permit from the pompano. In overall appearance it is a silvery fish with dusky fins, though the back is usually bluish or grayish. The ventral fins and the anterior margin of the anal fin may be orange in some specimens. Often there is a triangular yellow patch before the anal fin.

Where to catch Permit

The permit can be found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts, U.S.A. to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies. The greatest concentrations are off south Florida and it is there that the biggest specimens are taken. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

Backflow

Bays

Breakers

Jetties and Breakwaters

Nearshore Reefs and Shoals

Ripples, Currents, Swirls and Sprays

Shore Points

Tidal Flats

How to catch Permit

They feed in much the same way as bonefish, rooting in the sand on shallow flats. Their diet consists primarily of mollusks, crustaceans, sea urchins, and less commonly, of smaller fish.It is a tough fighter on light tackle. When hooked it makes an initial long, fast run toward deep water, twisting and pausing to bump its head on the bottom or rub its mouth in the sand in an effort to disengage the hook. If there is coral, a sea fan, or any other obstacle on which the permit can snag the line, it will. To complicate matters, its mouth is as tough as shoe leather and it simply spits out the hook the first time there is any slack in the line.Fishing methods include casting to fish sighted in shallow water, bottom fishing, fishing over inshore wrecks, and jigging from boats or while wading. Baits and lures include crabs, shrimp, streamer flies, bonefish jigs, weighted bucktails, and plugs. Permit up to 8 or 10 pounds are considered excellent eating. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: