Permit Porn - 500th Permit Update

The Palometa Club has launched a blog to provide updates on their countdown to the club's 500th permit. The fish above is number 490, note the Twintail lid. Number 500 could come this week.

March Slab of the Month Entry: Florida Keys Permit

Good friend (and even better guide) Garrett Munson did everything BUT  Munson this nice permit.

He was put on this trash can lid by fellow guide bud Kevin Guerin.

Call to Action - Protect Florida Permit

Pemit on the Flats by Mike Savlen

Jonathan Ain who runs the March Merkin Permit Tournament sent us this call to action from Capt. John O'Hearn.

Concerned anglers,
 
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is currently planning to rework the laws governing permit (Trachinotus falcatus).  Many of you might be unaware that permit are still fished commercially in the state of Florida. While the limit for mature permit (over 20") is only two per day, the is NO harvest limits for fish under 20". Equally alarming, permit are still pursued with spearfishing tackle in federal water (just offshore).  Since there are no federal laws concerning the harvest of permit, it is literally open season out there. 
 
This is a great chance to protect the future of this species forever.  The Key West and Lower Keys Fishing Guides Association supports the following law changes.  We want the FWC to list permit as a gamefish, thus ending all commercial sale of the species.  We also support mandating the permit fishery as catch and release only, with some provision (a stamp or tag system) for the harvest of one fish per day for those pursuing world records. Lastly, we want to see state regulations extended into federal waters to ensure the success of these law changes.
 
A few minutes or your time could help protect these fish. Any comment in support of these law changes will go a long way. Seriously, public comment plays a very large role in the decision making/law making process.  Please, cut&paste and email the comment below to marine@myfwc.com  or for those preferring more old fashioned methods, download/print and mail/fax the attachment to:
 
Division of Marine Fisheries Management
2590 Executive Ctr Circle E  #201
Tallahassee, FL  32301
fax:  850 487-4847

Thank you very much for your time and please forward this to anyone you feel might be concerned,
 
Capt John O'Hearn
President
Key West & Lower Keys Fishing Guides Assc
jpohearn@hotmail.com
 
Cut and paste, write your name, enter "permit law changes" in the subject box.
 
FWC Commissioners,

In light of the proposed law changes for Permit (Trachinotus falcatus), I would like to voice my opinion.  I support listing Permit as a gamefish, thus ending all commercial sale of the species.
 
I support the creation of a catch and release fishery for the species, with some provision (stamp or tag) for possessing one a day. 
 
Lastly, I support the extension of State regulations into federal water to insure complete protection of the species.  Thank you for your time.

 Sincerely,
 
 Your Name Here

Sept Slab of the Month Entry: Trachinotus falcatus

Dave Teper of WorldANGLING fame logs some quality time on the other side of the lens. Dave stalked this fish for a couple of days before getting his shot.  It was shot he didn't waste.

Heavy Metal

I was turned on to the fish sculptures of Jose Daniel Rojales while visting Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters in San Francisco. This permit sculpture is on display in the store along with a bonefish and dorado. LINK

July Slab of the Month Entry: Mexican Permit

There's something about the Dutch and the Chum - it's an equation lately that equals big phucking fish.  The Netherlands pumps out some fishy sonsabitches.

Here's a Mexican permit taken on the flats from Maarten Bruinenberg - job well done.