Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 14:42 Monday, 29 June 2009 08:24

The permit fishing at Casa Blanca and Playa Blanca may be the very best in the world! As many as 56 permit have been caught on by fly in a single week. Another week, guests boated 10 Grand Slams (permit, bonefish and tarpon all in one day. One guest even boated 14 permit in one week, strictly on fly tackle.

Permit is by far the most difficult fish you’ll ever encounter on the flats. It has superb eyesight and a well developed sense of smell. Aside from their obvious physical differences, permit differs from bonefish in several other bays. Because of their body size, they seem to be much more comfortable in deeper water. Although it is fairly common to see permit with their tail and dorsal fin out of the water, they usually won’t remain there for long. They’re constantly on the move and never remain in one area for a great deal of time, so quick accurate casts (and a little luck) is essential. Don’t become discouraged with a few refusals; permits are difficult but catchable. Anglers at Casa Blanca and Playa Blanca boat them every week during the season.

Tailing permit are most likely to take a fly, but stumbling upon one is somewhat rare. Cruising permit are most commonly encountered, so you must be prepared to place the fly well in front of the fish, allow it to settle to the bottom and patiently wait for it to swim to the fly. Permit swim more erratically than bones, changing directions often. You might need several casts to get the fly into position. When the permit is several feet from the fly, “walk” the fly along the bottom in a slow, deliberate, crab-like fashion and then stop the fly completely. All smart crabs know that they cannot outrun a permit and will remain motionless in hopes that the permit will overlook them.

If the permit doesn’t immediately pounce on your fly (which is about 75% of the time), don’t immediately begin stripping away. Think like a crab and manipulate the fly into “slowing removing itself” from the vicinity. (This, of course, is quite difficult with all the adrenaline flowing). The trick is to try to keep the fish interested, allowing it to look the fly over. Don’t be afraid to let the fly remain motionless if the permit is eyeing it; as almost always, permits prefer to take a motionless fly. If you are using a Clouser Minnow, just use a normal strip; they are designed to imitate an active prey item.