Permit ... Permit ... Permit. Need I say more about
the targeted species this month. Top of all the flats
anglers lists will be the infamous Permit. He`s the stuff
that many a fishing story will be told come this fall.
While trading stories and photo`s at the famous
Ocean Reef Club`s "Grand Slam Outfitters" one of
my fellow guides and I only talked about Permit. We
have been fishing the "Stiltsville" flats, they have been
producing at least two, and sometimes three shots a day
at nice Permit in the upper twenties and into the thirties.
Fishing from the stilts down to the tip of The Ragged
Key`s has been my first choice. Switching off, as not to
pressure any one area too much, we will fish the
outside of Elliot Key one day, do the inside of Key Largo another.
Sometimes I`ll run all the way down to Garden Cove on Key Largo.
This is also a great area for the wily permit. This area
has been very active on the edges of the flat in two to four
feet of water on a moving tide.
The preferred meals of the Permit have been, of course, the trusty
crab, and a close second, a live lined, live shrimp. Spinning
for a mid-thirty pound Permit is quite a challenging adventure when he
heads for Bimini and does a figure eight around every sea fan in the
way. Not to mention the light line needed to entice a strike
from one of these game fish making it that much more interesting.
The morning`s are always spent looking for Mr. Bonefish, even in the
summer.The first few hours are always spent looking for
these guy`s. All the normal haunts of fall are active during
the summer.
Flats that have deeper water close are favored, to provide a retreat
and a dip in cooler water. Most of the really big bonefish are gone or unapproachable this time of year. They don`t like the water
temperatures or the calm mornings of the summer. There are plenty of
average bones that keep our interest though. Of course our average
bone here is a trophy bone everywhere else.
Let me talk about the gear for catching bonefish. First, light line ...
6lb. test, and re-spool often. I have been using this new P-Line.
This line is coated with fluorocarbon, and has no memory at all.
Second, long, accurate casting, which means a long rod ..6 to 7 feet in
length with a medium action. I find a G.Loomis model SJR 842, 7` GL3
medium action just right. I can cast a # 6 hook imbedded in a
shrimp at least 40 feet. Third, a reel with a smooth drag system. Here
is another place to not hold back with the cash. A Shimano Aero
Stratic, or at least a Spirex, or a reel of that caliber is a must.
A good knot holding is the next thing you must have. Have you ever lost
a fish, brought in your line and found that curly-cue on
the end? That`s a knot that didn`t hold. The knots I use most
are a improved cinch on all my direct ties, and a surgeon`s
loop when I want more action from my baits.
A shrimp-tipped bucktail jig in 1/8th oz. is a good bet for bones or
permit. Ron Sprague from Tampa, with his nice bonefish will attest
to that. Next month I`ll have a big permit shot for yawl, OK?
Well, tight lines and quick releases ...... see you next month.
Capt. Dave Sutton Sent
email comments to me, Capt. Dave.
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