Big moons, king tides and happy fish. The recent full moon has brought a nice push of permit into the backcountry. Cooler weather has made chasing these fish all day more pleasant as well.
Permit fishing has been getting better in the Upper Keys this month. We’re seeing fish in larger schools and sizes moving inches under the surface. Catching fish on live crabs, sight fishing them as they push a wake or tail. Large crab fly imitations have been working as well.
Recent king tides open up new flats all over Florida Bay, which are only accessible during these high waters. Snook, redfish and tarpon all take advantage and hunt these waters as well. Shrimp fly patterns and a quick cast have tricked snook and redfish. Tarpon have been loving the trusty black and purple.
FISH FACT
A popular sport fish, permit is often confused with a smaller look-alike, the Florida pompano. Permit commonly weigh 40 pounds and may reach 50 pounds. The fish may show orange or golden tints around the breast and anal fin.
FISH TIP
Anglers cast live crabs to schools of permit hoping to catch one of these line-stripping fish, which also take shrimp, clams and occasionally small fish.
