THE LONGEST DROUGHT

The Permit obsession is something that is just not possible to explain. My obsession with Permit started very early in my guiding career, actually it was my first day on the flats when I saw my first Permit, casted at my first permit, hooked and landed my first Permit. This is just not the way it is supposed to happen. More often the stories goes as follows, where you have pursued this fish for years but without any success. That same week I managed to land another Permit, that is two Permit in a week, a very rare occurrence. It couldn’t have been skill as it was my first day shadow guiding on the flats, right? It’s been six years since I got my first Permit and the first question I always ask the Permit when we finally get one to hand is “Why?”

Unlike bonefish, GT’s, Trout, you name it, you will always remember every single Permit story as if it had happened yesterday. You appreciate every single one that you encounter. Most cases you hate them, but then you find a way to convince yourself you actually love them. It’s a strange game. Since that day I had the privilege of landing my first Permit, I was hooked, I new this was a truly special fish. 

The Permit addiction is a real thing and many fly-fisherman that has casted at a permit suffer from it. It has been known to ruin relationships, empty out wallets and pushed some people to even consider selling all their fly-fishing equipment. Who would have ever thought that you could actually get nervous while fishing? Well, some of my most stressful experiences involved Permit. It usually doesn’t happen quickly and takes many years before really appreciating this fish.

I had a pretty successful (Relative Term) couple of years guiding for these stubborn fish in the Seychelles where you find the beautiful Indo pacific Permit. They are exactly the same as the Atlantic permit but just slightly smaller in size, but just as full of shit, ignorant and stubborn as it’s cousin.

Anyway, I have been warned over the years speaking to many Permit fishermen about “the drought”. I never thought this was a real thing until it happened to me. It was in 2014 when I had one exceptional day landing a double Permit on Astove atoll. I must have used up all my luck, or Karma was mad at me, but something was off. Since that day in 2014 I have casted at many, using many flies, in many different areas. I’ve had them turn on their sides to investigate my fly; I had them follow my fly to the boat, name it it happened! They ignored me full stop. Even through all this punishment there was nothing I’d enjoyed more than to go hunt them. It reminds me a lot about stalking with a bow and arrow, the hunt and stalk is where the real fun is at, getting to finally draw on an animal is a massive bonus, well Permit fishing is exactly that to me! 

Well boys and girls, I could not be more excited that the drought is finally over. It finally happened. I managed to get an eat from that fish I respect so much. 

We had two hours before our next group of guests would arrive at the Lodge (Abaco Lodge) and the weather was just right. We decided to go try out a spot that Travis Sands (guide) identified a while back. We started polling around and about 10 minutes in, Travis spotted a ray in the distance. As we started polling in that direction we both saw it the same time. “He’s got friends”, said Travis. I could just see the black V of two Permit tails on the back of the ray. My fly of choice was a swimming crab that Ian Davis actually introduced to me when he landed a beautiful 40+lb permit earlier in the season.

Travis stopped the boat a good distance away to not spook the fish and I fired a long cast in that direction. First cast landing about 5 feet short. Knees shaking, I stripped back and launched another one, this time the leader did what it was supposed to and launched the fly about 5 feet from the two Permit. First strip the fish was on the fly, he followed, and followed and then finally, FINALLY it happened! I got a hookup!

After a 20 minute fight, Travis managed to get a hand on the tail and we just went on like monkeys, screaming, slapping the water just enjoying that moment. My girlfriend was there to experience everything and it was very funny to hear her side of the story when she tells it. How the atmosphere suddenly change from joking around to a very intense scenario. How Travis made his way down the poling platform as I stripped, while stopping Lindi’s blood circulation in her arm. How she tried to keep us calm with very little success. It felt like forever, but in reality was not that long of a stripping session at all!

It might probably take another 1000 casts before another hookup, but in all reality, I will have fun making each and every one of them!