Techniques for Permit Fishing with the Merkin
2000-11-30 - Capt. Tom Rowland

Early in permit flyfishing history, the permit was pursued with bonefish techniques. The most accepted method of bonefishing is to lead the fish and let the fly sink to the bottom. When the bonefish is close enough to the fly to see it, strip the fly to resemble escaping prey. This tactic has resulted in a fair number of permit caught, but usually spooks the fish. The more accepted technique is to try to get the permit to see the fly fall to the bottom. Blue crabs and others will travel on or near the surface, inhabit floating weeds or weed lines. At the first sign of danger, they will shoot to the bottom at about a 30-degree angle. Once there, crabs often rely on their camouflage to protect them from predators. If a permit sees a blue crab shoot to the bottom, the fish will pounce on the crab as if it was the last morsel of food on the flat. Permit eat many different foods, but crabs are responsible for the majority of their diet while on the flats. Mimicking this behavior by casting close to the fish and letting the fly sink to the bottom and remain motionless like a natural crab is my preferred way to fish. If the fish doesn’t see the fly fall, I will instruct my clients to "bump” the fly or strip it once to try to get the attention of the permit. If the fish sees this, there is still a good chance that it will take the fly if the angler lets the fly lay motionless on the bottom.

Weather plays an important role in the success of permit anglers. The ideal day for permit is not the ideal day for other fish. I like 18-25 mph winds with a crystal clear sky. Higher winds allow me to pole the boat to within 30 feet of a tailing permit and the high sun gives us the visibility to track a fish from 100 yards away. Spotting a fish at such a great distance and beginning the stalk is the epitome of sporting challenge. Poling in heavy wind seems effortless when we are watching a 30 pound fish tail repeatedly along the flat. As I approach the fish, my angler gets ready to make the difficult cast. Timing is everything in this situation. Casting too early is the most common mistake that my anglers make. With the high winds, cut your estimated distance in half and wait for your guide to tell you when begin the cast. The boat position is equally as important as the cast and windy days make it exceedingly difficult to set up the shot. A good guide will pole into position and tell you to begin your cast. At that moment, he will slowly swing the boat to allow a clear casting path while remaining in position to chase the permit if necessary. When the cast is made, watch the reaction of the fish. A well-presented fly will get the fishes attention, while a cast too far away from the fish will go unnoticed. I tell all my anglers that I would rather see them spook the fish by casting too close to the fish than having them never see it. Tremendous amounts of fish are spooked as the angler tries to recast a short cast.

If all goes well, the permit will rush over to your fly, tail up on it and ease off. Your line will come tight and you will be hooked to the most prized fish on earth. It sounds easy; it is not. While not easy, it is certainly not impossible and permit are caught on fly regularly. When an angler achieves the confidence that a permit will eat every fly that is thrown to them properly, that angler will begin to catch a lot of permit. Achieving such a high level of confidence is developed through long hours chasing permit. I cannot think of a better way to spend the day.

In order to attempt permit fishing with a fly, anglers need to go to a destination that has large numbers of fish frequenting the flats. A good guide who specializes in flyfishing for permit is probably the best investment that you will make in pursuit of these fish. There are only a handful of guides in the world who posses the skill, patience, equipment and drive to be successful flyfishing for permit. Seeking these professionals out and booking their services is the first and most important step to landing a permit. Fishing out of Key West, Florida offers the permit angler access to the best permit fishing on earth. The Lower Florida Keys, from Marathon to the Marquesas Keys has a dense population of permit and a vast diversity of situations to fish for them. During different times of the year, I concentrate my efforts for permit in all of the Lower Keys, but tend to fish for them most out of Key West. I consider the permit to be the most "year round" specie to frequent the flats. A little heartier than the bonefish, the permit can adjust to both colder and warmer temperatures while remaining active in shallow water. I will flyfish for permit every month of the year, but tend to give the months of February, March, July, September, October, and November the highest grades as to numbers of fish on the flats. There is simply no fishing that gets me as excited as flyfishing for permit. I would rather guide for permit than any other fish because no other guiding that I have done requires as much teamwork between the angler and the guide.
 
Key West offers the best accommodations in the Keys and most of my anglers choose to stay on the island. There are accommodations for every budget and taste from the chain type hotels to elegant guesthouses to five star resorts. Generally I give a few recommendations of some of my favorite places and my anglers may choose which one is best suited to their vacation. Key West also plays a great host to any non-fishing companions with its museums, shops and fabulous cuisine.