Other names: Permit, Snub Nosed Dart, Oyster Cracker, Swallowtail

Habitat

The Permit is a pelagic fish found in Northern Australian waters from Hervey Bay on the east coast to Exmouth on the west coast. They are never prolific but are more common in Northern Tropical waters. They inhabit flats areas inshore, offshore and in river estuaries in tropical waters. Permit are generally schooling fish but can be found in small groups or singles as well.

Size

Indo Pacific Permit may grow in excess of 65cm and 9kg in weight but its American cousin has been caught in excess of 20kg. Fly fishers can expect to catch them in much smaller 1 to 8kg sizes.

Feeding

Indo Pacific Permit or Snub Nosed Dart will feed on smaller prawns, crabs and other crustaceans.

Seasons

There are no restricted seasons for Permit and they are most likely caught in warmer waters between August and December with September to November being the best months in Australia.

Description

The Permit has a large bulbous forehead, a small mouth and a narrow body for its size when viewed from head on. It has elongated sickle shaped dorsal and anal fins. It is silver in colour and often paler below with yellow colouration around the underside fins.

How to catch them

Permit are generally found on flats areas in tropical waters. At low tide they can be found in gutters on these flats. Good polaroiding skills are required to catch "the flash" of the Permit underwater. This flash is often confused with that of smaller fish such as mullet and small queenfish.

The best conditions for fly fishing Permit are when low tide is in the middle of the day and under a blue sky. At the start of the flood tide the fish will feed and at times it can become a feeding frenzy! Good opportunities also abound in the last part of the falling tide around the gutters. Permit sometimes follow Shovel Nose Sharks and Sting Rays so watch behind them.

The flies must imitate the Permit’s diet of crabs and prawns and they must sit on the bottom so they tend to be bulky, heavy and not very aerodynamic.

For the average fly fisherman the hardest part of the exercise will be not retrieving or stripping immediately.

Let the fly sit on the bottom... just as a crab does! Permit are caught by wading in shallow tropical waters so beware nasties such as Jellyfish. Make sure you are well covered.

Hot Spots

The eastern shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland. Hinchinbrook Island in North Queensland

Equipment

Permit fly fishing gear should include the following;

• 9/10 weight saltwater rod
• Appropriate reel with at least 200m of 15-20kg backing. Braid is best.
• Flyline- Floating line with clear sink tip of 3 to 4 m
• Leaders-3 m tapered
• Tippet- fluorocarbon of 1m and 4 to 6kg

Popular Flies

• Crab patterns
• Prawn Patterns