Permit in Florida

Meet the species

Permit
Image credit: © diane rome peebles

Scientific name

Trachinotus falcatus

Overview

Offshore near structure; inshore over grass flats, sand and in channels.

Typical size

Common to 50 pounds

At a glance

Peak months
March–august
Regions
Southeast, southwest, keys
Water
Saltwater
Bait
Anglers cast live crabs to schools of permit hoping to catch one of these line-stripping fish, which also take shrimp & clams and occasionally small fish.

Florida fishing record

Weight
56 lb 2 oz
Location
Ft. Lauderdale
Date
Jun 30, 1997
Angler
Thomas sebestyen
Type
Florida state record

Open record source

Record catch notes

56.13 lb; by thomas sebestyen; on 06/30/1997; at ft. Lauderdale

When to fish

Peak months

March–august

Good months

March–november

Season notes

Closed/REGS: FWC permit: special permit zone (primarily keys) closed apr 1–jul 31, other zones open year-round. Closed or poor months special permit zone closure. Best-time months from FWC Where-to-Fish: peak from seasonal WTF bullets (n sea 4, n yr 0, thresh> 2). Peak mar, apr, may, jun, jul, aug good mar, aug, sep, oct & nov.

More season details

Where to fish

Florida regions

Southeast, southwest & keys

Water

Saltwater

Habitat

Offshore near structure; inshore over grass flats, sand and in channels.

More locations and access

How to catch

Anglers cast live crabs to schools of permit hoping to catch one of these line-stripping fish, which also take shrimp & clams and occasionally small fish.

Bait

Anglers cast live crabs to schools of permit hoping to catch one of these line-stripping fish, which also take shrimp & clams and occasionally small fish.

Lures

Crab pattern flies/jigs for flats sight-fishing

Videos

Sources

Information comes from the supplied source datasets. Check linked FWC regulations for current rules.