UTERPermit fishing in The Treasure Coast
In The Treasure Coast, permit peak April–August and are around year-round, spawning in May–June, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Spawning on the Jupiter wrecks around the full moon.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Permit in The Treasure Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAroundOn the Jupiter and Palm Beach wrecks year-round.
- FebruaryAround
- MarchArrivingFish on the wrecks and in the surf trough on the sand fleas.
- AprilPeakSnook and tarpon at the inlets; kings on the reef. Inlet snook on the outgoing, tarpon in the inlets and along the beach, kings on the reef edge. Trout on the lagoon flats at dawn.
- MaySpawningSpawning on the Jupiter wrecks around the full moon.
- JuneSpawningStill spawning; beach permit in the trough at the Jupiter beaches eating sand fleas.
- JulyPeakBeach and wreck fish — sand flea or a small crab.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish permit near Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart
The inlets and the Intracoastal behind them, the southern Indian River Lagoon's grass flats and spoil islands, the St. Lucie and Loxahatchee rivers, the beaches, and a reef line that comes within a mile of the sand from Jupiter south.
Fish Scouter charts 442 artificial reef, 264 wreck, 260 grass flat spots in the Palm Beach & the Treasure Coast map area — the kinds permit hold on.
What to use for permit
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–3/0
- Jig head3/8–1/2 oz
- Braid15–20 lb
Feeds in 70–90°F water, best at 74–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch permit in The Treasure Coast?
Peak season is April–August, with fish spawning in May–June (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Permit are here year-round. May: Spawning on the Jupiter wrecks around the full moon.
Where do permit hold in The Treasure Coast?
Look on grass flat, wreck, artificial reef, channel edge — around Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian.
What is the best bait for permit in The Treasure Coast?
Live bait: blue crabs, live shrimp. Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–3/0, jig head 3/8–1/2 oz, braid 15–20 lb.
What are the rules for permit in The Treasure Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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