May 27, 2101 - Permit Fishing - FL Keys

For years, I've had an itch to catch a permit. We tried two years ago, while we were in the keys, but didn't even get to cast to one.

So, we decided to dedicate the day to getting one...

The day started out with Bob poling us on a big flat, way on the outside keys out of Cudjoe. Very little activity, but we did finally spook a couple of fish. We made our way to an edge between the flat and a channel. 2 ft of water on our right, 8 ft of water on our left. There were LOTS of tarpon cruising and rolling. It was tough, but I tried to stay focused on finding a permit. Debbi tossed a crab to a small tarpon (~30 lbs) and got it to the boat.

After hours of searching, and making a VERY long run through the keys to a flat up north of Marathon...we finally found a few. This flat was COVERED with Cuda's. If I wasn't so dead-set on a permit, we could have had a blast with the Cuda's. I threw to one cuda, hooked him up and gave the rod to Debbi. While she was reeling it in, sharks swarmed in and a 6-7 ft lemon tackled the cuda in about a foot of water....woo wee, that was cool! (Not so much for the cuda).

Bob literally said..."ok guys, this is our last drift". And there they were, 2 permit coming right towards us. Bob said "make it count!". I tossed the crab, one permit moved off to the right...but, where did the other one go???? Wait, I think...yea, he ate it...FISH ON!

Permit fishing - Florida Keys - May 27, 2010 from Brett Dunn on Vimeo.