How to Catch Permit in Florida
The short answer
Permit in Florida hold on grass flats, nearshore reefs. They peak Mar–Jun and Oct. Start with live crab: A silver-dollar crab landed soft, 4–6 ft ahead — let it fall naturally, do nothing. Best on flooding water onto the flats; they tail like reds but spook like ghosts. Good sight-fishing light — mid-morning to afternoon.
When Permit bite in Florida
Spring flats season is prime; wrecks hold them summer
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
around | around | peak | peak | peak | peak | around | around | around | peak | around | around |
What to throw for Permit
Best first. The retrieve matters more than the lure, so each one says how to work it.
- Live crab — A silver-dollar crab landed soft, 4–6 ft ahead — let it fall naturally, do nothing.
- Small jig — Crab-imitation skimmer crawled with painful patience.
- Fly — Crab pattern dropped in the window and left alone — the eat is a decision, not a reaction.
Where to find them
Look for grass flats, nearshore reefs.
The hardest fish on the flats: eyes like binoculars and no forgiveness for a sloppy cast. The crab does the work — place it, leave it, and watch for the tail to tip down. Heartbreak is part of the sport.
Tide and timing
Flooding water onto the flats; they tail like reds but spook like ghosts
Good sight-fishing light — mid-morning to afternoon
Tackle
7'6" medium spinning · 4000 reel · 20 lb braid · 20 lb fluoro leader
Check the regulations
Size and bag limits change by state and by season, and they change more often than any article gets updated. Check your state agency before you keep anything.
Sounder links the right state agency for wherever you drop a pin, and flags a fish that’s out of slot as you log it.