Very few destinations rival the Florida Keys with shots at respectable sized permit. (15lbs. +) Crabs, shrimps, small fish and crustaceans make up the permit's diet; for fly fishing purposes crab and shrimp fly patterns seem to be the most productive. I like Merkin variations in tan with light blue and a splash of wine red tied weedless on quality #2,#4 hooks and Borski Fur Shrimp on #2, #4, and #6 tied weedless in tan, olive, or light rootbeer. Armed with these two patterns in various colors and weights and a 9 or 10 wt. rod, a flyfisher is prepared to feed any permit willing to eat.
The presentation is the most crucial part of permit catching. A speedy and accurate delivery is required. To maximize your chances of the fish eating your fly, you must place the fly within a foot, to a foot and a half, of the permit's head, somewhere in a 180 degree area from it's left eye around the front to it's right eye. Once the fly has been delivered, let the fly sink. With rod tip down and pointing at the spot the fly entered the water, watch the fish. If the permit reacts to the fly by a quick short movement and stops, tips up, or "kicks" it's tail, then the fish most likely has eaten the fly. A long steady pull with your line control hand will determine if the fish has indeed taken the fly. If the line comes tight follow through with a quick sharp strip strike. If it doesn't come tight, at least you haven't removed the fly from the zone. Watch the fish. Repeat. This is just one tactic of many, in which I can help you as a professional Florida Keys fishing guide, that will be employed to deceive one of Florida Keys most wiley of game fish, the permit.
Once hooked, battle with a permit can be slightly more technical than with bonefish. A hard initial run with some zig-zag action toward any coral, rock,sponge, sea fan or even just the bottom rubbing it's face on anything and everything in an attempt to dislodge the fly characterises the permit's tactics. Because of this you must hold the rod as high as possible and your line control hand must have "medium" tension on the fly line as you clear the line to the reel. Once the fish is on the reel a tight line at all times is necessary. Permit don't give up very easily but as the battle progresses if you slowly tighten the drag in between runs it will shorten the fight and increase your chances of landing the fish...and there is no greater feeling than landing a permit on fly.