Permit

Permits are found along grass and sand flats in 3-4 feet of water just offshore. Effective fishing techniques for catching Permit include vertical jigging, bottom bouncing and drift fishing. Live crab is the best bait for catching permit, although shrimp-tipped jigs are also effective.

Permit

Region: South
Habitat: Bay, Ocean

How to identify Permit

The permit’s body is long and flat with a silvery coloring. They have lighter-colored fins, and a bluish or grayish back. Their tails are forked, and they look similar to a pompano. Anglers can tell the difference between the two fish by looking at the chins, fins, and bellies. The permit has orange coloring in these locations, where the pompano’s coloring is yellow. The maximum length of these fish is 48 inches with a maximum weight of 79 pounds.

Where to catch Permit

These fish can be found residing along the coastlines of the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and West Indies. They are most abundant in southern Florida. Their spawning season runs from April through October. Young permit can often be found inshore near grass, mud, channels, and sand flats. Adult fish tend to stick to deeper offshore waters near oil platforms, artificial reefs, and wrecks.

Range: South
Permit Fishing Map

The following are habitats where you can catch Permit:

How to catch Permit

Permit can often be found around wrecks and channel drop-offs near flats. They can be difficult to catch and are strong fighters. They have a tough mouth and can disengage from the hook when the line isn’t taut. They will twist, turn, and rub against things to free themselves from the line. Anglers should opt for a 20-pound braid line with a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader. A popular technique for catching these fish is vertical jigging under the boat. Other fishing methods for catching permit include bottom bouncing, drift fishing, still fishing and trolling.

The following are effective fishing methods and techniques for catching Permit:

Best Lures, Bait & Tackle to catch Permit

The best bait to use to catch Permit is live crab, although shrimp-tipped jigs also work well. It is not recommended to use smaller fish for bait.

The following are fishing lures, bait and tackle that can be used to catch Permit: