You can usually estimate the time in April when the permit vacate the flats and head for deeper water to spawn. By late April it is apparent that the permit we’ll see on the flats are just juveniles topping a weight of 12 pounds at most.

Key West has experienced a rush of feeding permit this week. While tarpon fishing has been unusually slow, many guides have decided to cut their losses and go permit fishing west of Key West for a chance of pace. For many of them it has paid off. Several reports of permit ranging from 15- to 20- pounds were caught this week on live crabs and flies.

Offshore fishing has continuted to be productive. Larger dolphin are fluctuating in and out of the area, there are a few tuna on the Atlantic side and even some reports of a small marlin.