CHARTERS

Lower Florida Keys Permit Fishing Outlook

    A fish of much respect. The permit remains as one of the most captivating. Those who fish for them seem to never grow tired of it. In fact, those who do fish for them sometimes quit all other fishing. It must be because nothing else lives up to a large permit feeding in shallow water.  Once witnessed, someone might be able to understand. But for some reason it is hard to find words able to describe the fulfillment found in catching these gorgeous fish.

    Permit are plentiful in the Lower Florida Keys and Key West, getting them to take a hook is the trick. Thought to be one of the greater challenges in shallow water sight fishing, permit will demand the very best of an angler. When fished for with live bait, we have the upper hand. When fished for on fly, imagine casting a blade of grass to a deer and your halfway there. Although if it were easy we wouldn’t care so much, right?        

    Truth is,  permit are so magnificent because of where they are found. Some of the best permit fishing flats are of the most beautiful. The Lower Florida Keys and Key West are host to hundreds of flats and channels surrounded by thousands of underwater  reefs, ship-wrecks, and rock piles. A perfect environment for this fish.  And its when they swarm the flats in search of their favorite critters that we find them.  A well placed bait is all it normally takes from an angler. Though its the events leading up to the hook-up that make it all worth while. If you can hook and land just one of these fish in a day, you’ve accomplished something huge. 

    The best time of year to fish for permit on the flats of the Lower Florida Keys is between the months of February and April. This period of time is known as the pre-spawning period for permit in the Lower Florida Keys and Key West. Permit that invade the flats and backcountry during this time can range between 8 and 50 pounds in weight and are plentiful, as well as aggressive!

    The month of June sparks more  permit activity in the flats and backcountry of the Lower Florida Keys and Key West, as it only strengthens with the fall-fishing months between September and November. These months are a great time of year to fish for large permit receiving very low fishing pressure.

    Permit truly are the ultimate trophy of the flats fishing world; hands down.

Key Flat Charters Related Topics / Webpages

Flats Fishing Reports    Tarpon Fishing    Bonefishing    Permit Fishing

Lower Keys Flats Fishing Seasons    Lower Keys Satellite Views

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All permit pictured have been caught with flats fishing guide Capt. Luke Kelly