Catching a permit is regarded as one of the most challenging endeavors in the sport of fly fishing. The behavior of the fish, their often erratic feeding patterns, are much less predictable than a bonefish or a tarpon. This is largely why permit have the reputation they have. Of course like all fish, they have their favorite foods and there are specific flies that imitate that prey better than any other fly.
Each famous permit fishery has a unique characteristic that sets it apart from other fisheries. It is also important to consider the best way to present the fly, some fly patterns should be striped, while others are more effective with little or no movement.
Here is what we have found to be the go-to-flies at best permit flats in the Caribbean.
The Best Permit Flies in Xcalak Mexico
Xcalak Mexico is the southern most village along the Mesoamerican Reef on the eastern Yucatan coast. A comfortable one hour boat ride north of San Pedro Belize is one Mexico’s top permit fisheries. Permit schools swim between the turtle grass edged mangroves of the main land and the rocky sandy flats of the reef. These flats are productive, but the best permit fishing is found in Chetumal Bay. The vast open flats of the bay host all sizes of permit. From cruising extra large single permit, to large schools of fast moving hungry 1-3 pound permit.
The first permit fly to make sure you have stocked up in your fly box is a mantis shrimp. The favorite pattern of the guides in Xcalak is Bob Veverka’s Mantis Shrimp. The long rubber legs give the fly a lot of movement and fish react best during a slow retrieve. One of top features is are the bead chain eyes. This fly works great with the cruising permit you often encounter during early morning in Chetumal Bay. When the sun is low in a.m. sky, seeing into the water can be difficult, and most of the shots will be to cruising permit. Cruising permit can be as difficult to catch as any other opportunity, but it is typically the easiest shot to predict the direction the fish is swimming. The boat needs to be in the right position for a productive shot. The nervous water created from the cruising fish can be seen from a long distance, giving your guide the ability to move the boat into just the right spot. The most productive shots will come as head on shots or slightly angled. Since they will likely be moving quickly, you’ll need to lead the fish.
Cast your fly across the ‘line” the fish is swimming. The bead chain eyes sink at just the right speed for 3-5 count. Timing is everything, you want to strip soon enough that the fly doesn't sink to the bottom and in time so the fish sees it and eats it. The Mantis Shrimp is perfect for this method. Other flies that will work for this shot are the Grand Slam Grab, bead head EP Crabs (tan), and rubber legged Gotcha’s. Be sure to have these in your fly box for your next trip to Xcalak Mexico.
The Best Permit Flies on Turneffe Atoll
The largest atoll in the Caribbean, Turneffe Atoll is its own ecosystem of reefs, channels, lagoons, islands, and miles of permit flats. Surrounded on all sides by 2000+ feet of water, Turneffe is the perfect habitat for permit with a lot of variety of flats. The flats on the eastern edge of the atoll are mostly hard bottom coral flats. The inner lagoons have both deep turtle grass flats and hard corral flats. On the western side, the prime flats are 3-6 foot depth of water.
The traditional spot and stalk permit fishing done on the east side and west side and along the islands in the lagoon. Time and time again the guides at Turneffe Flats choose a 3-Tone or Tan EP Crab to get the job done. The lead eyes on this fly can create a challenge for casting, but they are necessary to get the fly to the depth of the fish. This fly should be stripped to activate the rubber legs and to make it look alive. The most common shot you’ll experience on these flats are slowly cruising, feeding fish. This is a less predictable shot since permit commonly will feed and turn in a different direction, so it requires the fly to be delivered close to the permit. Leading the fish by 1-2 feet is most effective (it can also be the most likely to spook the fish off the flats) then at least a 1 count before stripping the fly.
The other most common shot on Turneffe is found in the northern end of the central lagoon, where large schools of permit feed. The schools range in size from a few fish to over 50 fish. These aren’t typical ‘schoolies’, the size the of fish can reach 30 pounds. When the schools are found close to the mangroves edges of the lagoon, the guides say they are more likely to eat. The most productive fly for these lagoon schools is the Avalon Fly. The tan rabbit strip gives a life like swimming movement when stripped. The permit are eating this fly as a large shrimp or perhaps a bait fish. What ever they are feeding on, this fly looks like it. The guides share experiences of seeing multiple permit trying to eat the same fly. It is a fly to make sure you have in your fly box.
The Best Flies for Permit in Punta Gorda Belize
Southern Belize has long been known as the best permit fishing in the Caribbean. The prime fishing area is very large ranging from the southern border north to Dangriga. One the best areas in this region is the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve. A short boat ride to the north of Punta Gorda Belize the reserve protects a group of small most uninhabited islands and pancake flats. Schools of permit; small groups and singles feed on the rocky turtle grass flats. The Bauer Crab is hands down the most productive fly for this part of Belize. Fish on these flats are attracted to sinking crabs. Casting your fly just inside the range of the permit’s vision is the best target. In some cases that maybe 5+ feet. If they see the fly, they will undoubtably move to inspect. Depending on how your guide directs you, either no movement or a slight twitch will entice the fish to eat.
A bit farther north is vast lagoon. In the lagoon, the bottom is soft and muddy with a depth around knee deep. Hundreds of stingrays and bat rays feed in this area, along with permit, bonefish, and the occasional jack, sheep's head, and snook. The permit that are in the lagoon are there for one reason, to feed. Tailing permit and digging fish are common shots. A great method of presenting the fly is to cast fly in the fishes path and let it sink into the mud. Slowly moving the fly releases mud into the water and attracts the fish. Even if the fly isn’t that close to the fish, when they see the fly they will turn to inspect. Keeping the fly moving slow, really slow will bring on the strike. The top fly choice is the also a Bauer Crab, with the Camo Crab being another top choice. The stiff rubber legs pushes mud while still keeping a crabby shape. It is irresistible to the permit and a fun technique in these conditions.
The Best Flies for Permit in Ascension Bay
Mexico’s Ascension Bay is HUGE. This fishery has a vast variety of classic permit flats. Anglers will find soft muddy bottom flats dotted with hard white sand flats in the large northern lagoon. The southern point of the bay has hundreds of islands with hard white sand flats, the kind that permit anglers dream of. A common shot in Ascension Bay is to cruising fish.
These fish are attracted to a moving fly, so rubber legs are a necessary. They are usually by themselves, or with one to two other permit. You may also see schools of permit. If the school is large in numbers, then the average size of the fish is typically smaller, under 5 pounds. Similarly, if there are less fish in the school, the bigger they will be. The guides of Ascension Bay have their favorite flies, but the Squimp is the top pick of most of them. The lead eyes and rubber legs are what set this fly apart, and the Squimp is a great choice for both permit and bonefish. If you are chasing permit in Ascension Bay, the fly should be bigger. A size 4 or 6 is perfect. For bonefish, a smaller version will work best. Movement on this fly should be painfully slow, especially for permit. Stripping too fast is the most common reason an interested permit will turn off from a Squimp. The large yellow bead chain eyes must give this fly a distinctly life like look to the permit. They also help the fly reach the white sand bottom quickly before stripping across the path of a permit. Never go to Ascension Bay with out a range of sizes and weights of this fly, or you will regret it. This fly works.
Having these permit flies in a variety of sizes and with both lead eyes and bead chain eyes will make you well armed for any permit fishing opportunity. If you want more information about the best flies for permit in any location, please contact us bellow.