Choose Your Own Adventure

Each of our favorite permit fishing locations is unique to itself.  Some locations are better for hooking and landing your first permit.  Some locations offer the best opportunity for landing a 25 pounder.  We've chosen to promote each location for its individual character.  Depending on what you desire in a permit fishing adventure, there is a location in the Caribbean that will meet your needs.  Below is a self-guide to help you hone in some of the best options.

Catch your first permit

Over the past decade we've heard from numerous experienced anglers who long for this one elusive fish.  If you too want to catch your first permit, let The Permit People connect you with the top guides, at the top lodges, in the best locations to accomplish your goal.  

catch your biggest permit

What is your 'Fish of a Lifetime'?  Is it a 20 pound permit?  Maybe it's a permit over 30 pounds?  If you are interested in hunting for big, we mean, really big permit, then let The Permit People design your next fishing adventure.  We'll put in the best guide boats, on the best flats, to ensure the odds are in your favor for accomplishing this feat.  

Catch a grand slam

Catch your first permit or your biggest permit may only be part of your goal.  You may also desire to join an small, but elite group of anglers who have conquered the near impossible - catching a bonefish, permit, and tarpon - all in the same day.  The Permit People will dial you into the top fisheries to be able to make this happen.  Another appealing aspect of these fisheries is that if permit are being elusive and/or selective, you'll be in the prime waters for catching bonefish and tarpon.

focus only on permit fishing

Fishing for Permit is a serious addiction.  If you have the disease you know what we mean. You dream about being on the front of the boat and seeing a large school of tailing fish, or maybe just one giant tail... either way you know that the only way to make a memory is to put in your time.  You would rather cast once for the entire day, than catch dozens of other species.  We know which guides in the Caribbean share your ailment.  We'll pair you with the fishiest permit guides, who won't stop until you say uncle.

flats fishing vacations for couples and families

We know that fishing isn't everything and that not everyone can fish all day everyday. Some days are best spent snorkeling with the family, spouse, or friends.  There are many wonderful lodges throughout the Caribbean that cater to non-anglers and anglers alike. We'll match your activity goals with the best adventure or relaxation providers in the prime permit fishing locations.

Turneffe atoll Belize

Formed centuries ago, Turneffe Atoll is the peak of an ancient oceanic mountain.  Coral reefs surround the atoll, that is dotted with mangrove islands, channels, and lagoons.  With over 250 square miles of prime permit fishing, Turneffe Atoll is one of our top recommendations for catching your first permit. 

Xcalak Mexico

The road ends at Xcalak, Mexico (Pronounced “ish-ka-lak”).  This small fishing village is an unspoiled tropical paradise located in the heart of Mayan Yucatan - and at the very southern end of Mexico - just a few miles from the Belize border. Xcalak boasts the best kept permit fishing secret in the Caribbean.  

Punta Gorda Belize

Southern Belize is often considered the Permit Capital of Caribbean, and its that reputation the attracts anglers from across the globe.  The expert guides on Punta Gorda know the best flats to get anglers into their first permit.  The lagoon to the north of Punta Gorda offers some the best permit fishing in Belize.

Catch a Giant Permit

The saying 'A permit is a permit' doesn't have weight with every permit angler.  Anglers who have accomplished the stage of permit fishing, landing a permit, often quickly turn their focus to catching a big permit.  What is a big permit?  Certainly any fish over 20 pounds is considered a trophy.  For a luck few, a permit over 30 pounds ranks as a fish of a lifetime.  The IGFA all tackle record is an incredible 60 pounds!  

Are you search for your trophy permit?  

The Permit People knows where to fish, who to fish with, and when to go to give you the opportunity to catch this fish.  Each permit location has a unique characteristic and a few are notable for the opportunity to land a giant permit. 

Punta Gorda Belize

The Permit Capital of the World, Punta Gorda Belize is regarded as one of the top locations to connect with a permit over 20 pounds.  A short boat ride to the north of Punta Gorda is the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve protects some of the most productive permit flats in Belize.  The Payne's Creek Lagoon is a unique system of back country tidal flats that are home to some of the largest permit in the Caribbean. 

Ascension Bay Mexico

A-Bay is another classic permit fishing destination is home to many large permit. Access to mile and miles of permit flats makes this an easy choice for anglers desiring to catch a giant permit.  A-Bay is home to multiple Permit Fishing Tournaments each year.  Consistently, the "biggest fish' award is won with a permit over 20 pounds.  In 2016, a 29.4 pounder took the honers... these are big permit flats.

Xcalak Mexico

One of the favorite destinations for The Permit People is Xcalak Mexico.  This sleepy little fishing village is the perfect launching point to the prime permit flats of Chetumal Bay.  Anglers can expect numerous shots at permit each day, with shots at permit over 20 pounds being very common.  While fishing these flats, The Permit People has had the opportunity to cast to multiple permit over 30 pounds.  Last year we had shots at a 40+ pounder.

Fish for a Grand Slam

To catch a Grand Slam in one day is a feat to be remembered.  The difficulty level of catching a permit can be high, add a bonefish and tarpon to catch list, makes the Grand Slam that much more special.  Not every destination offers this opportunity.

Ascension Bay Mexico

Ascension Bay is the best place in the Caribbean to catch a Grand Slam.  With miles of productive bonefish and permit flats, lined with mangrove channels and vast tarpon filled lagoon, anglers catch more Grand Slams in A-Bay than anywhere else.

Turneffe Atoll Belize

While large schools of bonefish and permit swim the coral flats of Turneffe Atoll, tarpon can be found rolling in the channels and back country lagoons.  The best time to catch a Grand Slam on Turneffe is during the annual tarpon migration.  Can you imagine catching a double digit bonefish, a 20 pound permit, and a tarpon over 100 pounds?  Turneffe is the best place to make this happen.

Xcalak Mexico

The best kept secret in flats fishing is located at the far south end of Mexico. Ample amounts of permit and bonefish can been found daily in Chetumal Bay and secret lagoons, known by a select group of guides in Xcalak are home to large numbers of juvenile tarpon.  This is a top location for a competition free Grand Slam

Punta Gorda Belize

The permit Capital of Caribbean is home to some of the most unique opportunities to catch permit everyday of the year.  The guides in PG are focused and determined to catch permit everyday they fish these flats.  If you want to focus solely on fishing for permit, this is the best place to do so.

Xcalak Mexico

The staff of The Permit People love this fishery and travel here often to hunt for the elusive fish.  The opportunity to cast to permit of all sizes, to singles, doubles, and large schools is unparalleled in Xcalak.  Permit fishing here isn't just possible, it is focal point.

Fishing Vacations with your family and non-angling spouse

A fishing trip and a family trip at the same time is possible.  Throughout the Yucatan there are numerous locations that your family and your fishing obsession can't come together.  Here are the top locations that we recommend for incorporating a family trip with a permit fishing adventure.

Turneffe Atoll Belize

The quality of fishing on Turneffe Atoll is well known in the angling community, but not everyone knows that Turneffe Atoll is also home to the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Belize.  This characteristic makes Turneffe the top choice for anglers and non-anglers who are vacationing together.

Punta Gorda Belize

The permit Capital of Caribbean isn't just a great destination for catching permit.  It is also an interesting place for Eco-tours. Bird watching, nature tours, Mayan ruins, cooking classes, and more are all available for non-angling companions of permit anglers.

Caye Caulker Belize

One of the favorite out islands in Belize, Caye Caulker is the perfect jumping off point for anglers and non-anglers alike. While anglers are hunting the permit flats of Long Caye, non-anglers can enjoy combing the streets of the village in search of unique Belizean handcrafts or many other water sport activities.