How to catch Permit
Trachinotus falcatus
Permit are the ultimate flats challenge, a spooky, crab-eating gamefish that completes the flats 'grand slam' with bonefish and tarpon.
🏆 World record: 60 lb IGFA all-tackle, Ilha do Mel, Parana, Brazil (2002). IGFA all-tackle world record permit, a 60 pound fish caught off Ilha do Mel, Brazil. Records can change over time, so confirm the current mark at igfa.org. All records →
Where to find them
Flats, channels, wrecks, and reefs
Season
Year-round; best on calm, sunny days
Best baits & lures for Permit
Present a crab ahead of a tailing or cruising fish. Permit are notoriously selective, so a precise, subtle presentation is everything.
Timing matters as much as tackle. Baitful reads the tide stage, pressure trend, solunar windows and weather at your spot and scores the bite, so you fish Permit when conditions line up.
Ways to catch Permit
Eating Permit
One of the most sought-after flats gamefish and almost always released. It is not a target for the table, and large specimens may carry ciguatera risk in some regions.
Tip: Handle with wet hands, support the body, and revive fully before releasing this valued gamefish.
Where to catch Permit
Book a Permit charter
Guides and charter boats that target Permit, by destination:
Catching Permit: FAQ
What's the best bait for Permit?
Proven options include live crabs, crab flies. Present a crab ahead of a tailing or cruising fish. Permit are notoriously selective, so a precise, subtle presentation is everything.
When is the best time to catch Permit?
Year-round; best on calm, sunny days. Day to day, moving water and low-light periods around dawn and dusk usually fish best.
Where do you find Permit?
Look for Flats, channels, wrecks, and reefs. Anglers target them at spots like the Florida Keys, Belize, Islamorada.