Often referred to as fork tailed devils, permit have developed a healthy reputation as being especially awkward and unforgiving. With so many other great species to target on the flats the question is, why bother? Some species can be called honest fish, and if you do the right things, you will get an eat. Permit are rarely like this, they are sneaky and conniving, fifty, one hundred perfect casts can be met with little more than non-committal follows.
This is a time for deep breathing to control nerves and stop legs moving like Elvis. Permit require you to be on your ‘A’ game. Sure they sometimes take on bad casts, but the more your fly hits the spot the better. It is this challenge of knowing you must be at your best that makes them so addictive. The fish simply asks the question, are you good enough?
Gracefully swimming with a serpentine action, permit glide through the water, their large eyes seeing everything. Sometimes they register your fly, others they march past without a fleeting glance. Rarely, do they charge and a hook-up ensues. Permit often follow, closely inspecting each detail of the fly. This pursuit can continue until the fish is chewing on your shoelaces and you have a perfect view of every inch of this gorgeous creature. Although hollow, this is a small victory and shows you are doing something right.
No permit is the same, each behaving slightly differently and each with its own personality which makes for ever changing and interesting fishing scenarios. Any chance of success requires plenty of thought and real awareness into how each fish is behaving. This will dictate how you approach and fish your fly. Getting both things right is essential. A tailing permit in skinny water requires a very different approach to a cruising fish in a metre and a half of water.
Even once hooked permit are not one-dimensional fish and have a large book of nasty little tricks. Many times, these fish sprint for the angler’s legs in a bid to wrap up and break free. Despite the hours and days of frustration that can come with permit fishing, the juice is worth the squeeze, and the harder you work the sweeter the juice.
Olly Thompson has spent hours pursuing these enigmatic fish and his video below gives a few clues on how to maximise your chances of success.
A large part of catching permit is travelling to the right destination, where you have the chance to have a good number of shots. The prime spots are: Cuba, Belize, Mexico, Oman, Venezuela, Australia, Seychelles, The Bahamas.
To discuss permit fishing ideas, please contact Olly Thompson or Peter McLeod or call the office on +44 1980 847389.
About the author: Olly Thompson