Fly Fishing For Permit
Catching a permit on the fly is like the holy grail of fly fishing. Many anglers consider permit the hardest fish to catch on a fly. They are very difficult to fool into biting and they are extremely difficult to land because they are so strong. You can find permit on the flats just like bonefish. Anglers will sight-fish for them, meaning you will see the fish before you make a cast. Permit’s tails can be seen above the surface as their head is positioned towards the bottom feeding on crabs. Avoid spooking them, present a fly pattern that imitates a crab, get them to eat it, then hold on.
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Key West Permit: Fishing for Permit in Key West
Permit fishing in Key West can be a blast. Spring is a great time to be here for permit. You can fish them with live bait or artificials. Fly fishing for permit is a challenge that many anglers come all the way down to Key West to experience. Permit will be eating shrimp and crabs off of the flats. Get a live shrimp or crab in front of their face and they are most likely going to eat it. If you want to catch them on artificials, just throw lures that imitate crabs and shrimp. Jigs work well.
Key West Inshore Fishing
Key West is home to some excellent inshore fishing. While most anglers like to come here to sight fish the flats, there are plenty of fishing opportunties for those that want to stay close to shore.
Some of the main species of fish that are targeted inshore around Key West are barracuda, bonefish, grouper, jacks, sharks, snapper, tarpon and permit.
- Visit Key West for more information.
Key West Fishing Seasons | Key West Fishing Calendar
With the warm tropical waters of Key West, there are plenty of fish to catch here year round. Take a look to see what you can catch throughout the different fishing seasons.
Inshore / Flats Fishing: The inshore and flats waters around Key West are loaded with fish.
- Winter: The winter months have some excellent fishing for barracuda, permit and shark.
- Spring: Spring brings in warmer waters and lots of bonefish, tarpon and permit. Also barracuda, jacks, grouper, sharks and snapper.
- Summer: Barracuda, bonefish, grouper, jacks, sharks, snapper, tarpon and permit.
- Fall: Barracuda, bonefish, grouper, jacks, permit, sharks, snapper
Offshore / Deep Sea Fishing: The offshore can be excellent, although, it is usually overshadowed by the excellent inshore fishing.
- Winter: Barracuda, Bonito, Cobia, Kingfish, Mackeral, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo
- Spring: Amberjack, Barracuda, Cobia, Mackerel, Sailfish, Snapper, Tuna
- Summer: Barracuda, Dolphin, Mackerel, Snapper, Tuna
- Fall: Barracuda, Mackerel, Sailfish, Tuna
For information on the area, visit Key West.
Florida Keys Flats Fishing: The Lower Keys
The lower keys are known to be some of the best flats to fish in the entire world. There are numerous types of fish to catch such as redfish, permit, snook, tarpon, trout, barracuda, sharks and bonefish.
Big Pine Key is known for its big numbers of bonefish, permit and tarpon. Key West and the Marquesas Keys are home to some of the best permit fishing in the world. If that weren’t enough, tarpon are here year round as well as trout, bonefish, redfish and barracuda.
- For information on the lower keys, check out Key West and Big Pine Key.
Florida Keys Flats Fishing: Upper Florida Keys
The upper Florida Keys of Islamorada and Key Largo hold some of the biggest bonefish in all of Florida. The fishing guides here target the flats for a variety of species such as redfish, trout, snook, tarpon and permit. There are plenty of flats to fish and the Everglades National Park is just a short ride away.
- For information on the area, check out Islamorada and Key Largo of the Florida Keys.
Winter Marquesas Keys Fishing
Winter is a great time to fish the keys. Hardly any people and lots of different fish species. Fish are still on the flats and there are lots of fish on the wrecks and reefs as well. From permit, redfish, snook and tarpon to grouper and snapper, there is plenty here to catch in the winter.
Winter probably is the best time to catch the most different species around the Marquesas Keys. The only problem with all of the different species……what fish do you go after? Don’t worry. Most popular saltwater baits and lures will catch a variety of species.
Fishing Resources
Fall Marquesas Keys Fishing
The fall is a great time to fish the Marquesas Keys because many of the tourists are gone and the fishing pressure is down quite a bit. The reefs and wrecks provide some good fishing at this time of year, but the flats can be real productive. If you’re looking for smaller tarpon, bonefish and permit, check out the flats on the Marquesas Keys.
Fishing Resources
Summer Marquesas Keys Fishing
Summer calls for hot weather in the Marquesas Keys, but it’s worth dealing with the heat to catch some of the fish that are around. Tarpon fishing is very good with shark fishing hitting its peak during the summer time. The shallow reefs, wrecks and flats will hold fish in the summer. Expect to catch permit, bonefish, snapper and more during this time of year.
Fishing Resources
Spring Marquesas Keys Fishing
The spring time provides lots of action around the Marquesas Keys. The tarpon begin migrating along the Keys. Shark fishing is good. Permit can be found throughout the area and many other species of fish can be caught — barracuda, snapper, grouper to just name a few.
Fishing Resources
