Favorite food of the Permit consists of several kinds of crabs, shrimp, mollusks and baitfish. Much like the bonefish, Permit use plates in their mouths and throats to crush their victims. They also becoming slightly more solitary as they grow older and bigger. Juvenile permit are mainly planktivorous eaters, larger juveniles will eat small clams, crabs and shrimp. Adult Permit eat clams, adult crabs, shrimp, bait fish, and even sea urchins. Most fly patterns represent crabs when fishing to Permit and are weighted in the front, in order to give the appearance of retreating crab heading for the bottom.

For PermitPermit are around the South Florida and the Keys all year, but best in the spring and fall. Moderate to windy days are much better for consistently hooking permit, they are less wary and don’t always require that perfect presentation. Permit are durable fish and can tolerate temperature swings but appear to be more available in the spring and fall during a warm up after a passing cold front.