Discover the best permit fishing destinations, guided trips, and lodge-based experiences worldwide. Explore remote waters and world-class angling with expert local hosts.
Permit are the ultimate saltwater fly fishing challenge—wary, fast, and maddeningly unpredictable. From Mexico’s Yucatán to the Outer Islands of Seychelles, sight-fishing for permit demands stealth, perfect presentations, and mental stamina.
Permit (Trachinotus falcatus) hold near-mythical status among saltwater fly anglers. They feed in skinny water, often tailing on flats or mudding near deeper channels, but are notorious for ignoring perfectly placed flies. Those who succeed often speak of it as their most rewarding catch.
While typically targeted with crab patterns on foot or from skiffs, permit are also caught on spinning gear with small jigs or live crabs. Still, it’s the visual fly game—long casts to moving fish in shallow water—that defines the experience.
Home to Ascension Bay, Espiritu Santo, and Chetumal Bay, the Yucatán offers consistent access to permit in shallow flats, often near mixed-species schools. It’s among the best regions in the world for beginners to see—and potentially land—their first permit on fly.
While best known for bonefish, the Bahamas holds solid permit populations—especially in deeper flats and around channels. Islands like Andros and Abaco offer selective, challenging fish for experienced fly anglers.
Cosmoledo, Farquhar, and Providence Atoll offer unique Indo-Pacific permit encounters. These fish tail over turtlegrass and coral rubble and are often found alongside GTs and triggers. Tides and timing are critical for permit shots here.
With expansive flats and deep cuts, Belize is one of the most famous permit fisheries in the world. From Turneffe Atoll to Placencia, anglers encounter both numbers and size—often during dedicated permit weeks at specialized lodges.
Florida’s permit are big and smart, often feeding over wrecks or oceanside flats. The Keys are ideal for advanced fly anglers looking for a true technical test, especially during spring and summer.
Cuba’s remote archipelagos, like Jardines de la Reina, offer solid permit action with less pressure than more developed fisheries. Tides and sun matter, but shots here can be excellent when conditions line up.
Permit are famously difficult to catch. Their sharp vision, selective feeding, and unpredictable behavior make them one of the most frustrating—and addictive—targets in saltwater fly fishing. They require stealth, accuracy, and unshakeable patience. A single fish landed can make an entire trip. It’s the one species many seasoned anglers will chase for years before breaking through.
Permit are broad, powerful fish with a distinctive sickle-shaped tail and long dorsal fin that often trails behind them. Their silvery body can take on shifting hues in different light, with dark fins and a soft yellow glow near the belly. A rounded head and small, hard mouth are made for crushing crabs and shrimp. Most fish run 10 to 25 pounds, but 30+ pounders are fairly common in places like the Caribbean and Florida.
Permit fishing depends heavily on light and tide. Low wind, high sun, and mid-tide movement offer the best chance for spotting fish and controlling presentation.
FishingExplora features lodges and guided trips in the Yucatán Peninsula, Bahamas, and Seychelles—regions offering some of the most consistent permit action in the world. These trips are designed for serious saltwater fly anglers who value technical fishing, experienced guides, and remote waters. Whether chasing your first permit or your fiftieth, these destinations offer some of the best shots anywhere.
Permit have exceptional vision and often feed in unpredictable patterns. They spook easily, demand perfect fly presentation, and may follow but refuse flies—making every hookup feel hard-earned.
A 9- or 10-weight fly rod, floating tropical line, and 16–20 lb fluorocarbon leader are standard. Choose saltwater reels with strong drags and crab flies with weighted eyes for turnover and stealth.
The Yucatán, Belize, and Seychelles are top options for permit on fly. Cuba and the Florida Keys also produce large fish but often with greater difficulty or pressure.
Permit are generally most active in spring and early summer across most regions. Calm weather, sun angle, and moderate tides all improve visibility and casting conditions.
Absolutely. In most flats regions, permit share habitat with bonefish, tarpon, and triggers—making mixed-species days common, especially in Mexico, Belize, and Seychelles.
