Permit are considered among the most difficult fish to catch on a fly, and the permit’s Latin name, Trachinotus falcatus, identifies the species as a real warrior. Trachinotus is a fusion of Greek words that mean “rough back,” while falcatus is a Latin adjective that translates roughly to “armed with scythes.” When these fish are on flats or in the surf, their distinctive black fins often stick out of the water, and sharp-eyed anglers know to look for “tailing” permit feeding in the shallows. But just because you’ve found the fish doesn’t mean they’ll actually eat your fly.
