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sweet permit Jeff.  You definitely da man down south!

Rey

Wow---what a permit; aka pompano on steroids!!

hi Oscar!

I'd say in general the best time on the Boca beach area is Spring to early Summer.  It seems Sebastian area is hot with them during July as there have been some big ones caught there this year.

I've kept all the permit I've caught so far and eaten them... but going forward, if I still have permit in the freezer I think I will let them go if over 30# just because it's a big job to filet them, and so they can breed or be caught again.

I tried cooking them like a filet, but the thick skin just curls up big time in the pan.  So, I cut all the skin/bones off and make "permit fingers"... 3/4" - 1" thck fingers about 4-6" long... then I get them wet with olive oil and lay them all flat on a plate, sprinkle them with Adobo (Latin seasoning with salt), fresh cracked pepper, and a bit of cayenne pepper; then I put a plate on top of that plate and flip them over, again I put Adobo & pepper on (but no more cayenne).  Then I roll them in fine corn meal and pan fry them.    Eat them with spicy guacamole, cole slaw, and usually some corn & black bean salad (good easy recipe I could post if anyone's interested).

:-)