The Top 13 Permit Flies for Regions Around the World

If you have ever fly fished for permit, you are well aware of their finicky if not infuriating nature. Unpredictable, ultra-picky, and borderline paranoid, permit fishing brings us the highest highs and the lowest lows, driving many anglers mad with love, hate, and everything in between.

This article will look at 13 of the world's most popular, reliable permit flies for use around the world and regional considerations for planning your fly box.

Choosing the Right Permit Fly

Permit have earned a reputation as one of the most frustrating—and rewarding—fish in all of fly fishing. While anglers often spend countless hours searching for the "perfect" permit fly, experienced guides know success depends just as much on fly weight/sink rate, bottom composition, and presentation as it does the pattern itself.

Different permit fisheries demand different approaches. Southern Belize often calls for weighted crab flies that quickly reach tailing fish before they move off the flat. The Bahamas frequently rewards lighter presentations over white sand, while the Yucatán and Cuba may require both crab and shrimp patterns depending on fish behavior. In destinations such as the Seychelles, permit regularly feed across coral rubble and mixed-bottom habitats, so having weed guards is highly recommended.

The flies below have earned their reputations around the world, but the most successful anglers don't carry just one of each. Instead, they bring proven patterns in multiple colors, sizes, and weights so they can adapt to changing water depth, bottom type, and fish behavior throughout the day.

Crab Fly or Shrimp Fly?

One of the biggest questions permit anglers face is deciding between a crab and a shrimp pattern. The truth is permit eat both, and each excels under different circumstances.

Crab Flies

Crab flies are generally the first choice when fish are actively tailing and feeding on the bottom. Because crabs naturally move very little, these flies should be fished with painfully slow, long strips, short bumps, or simply allowed to sit motionless. Many permit eats occur while the fly isn't moving at all. The key is to maintain tension with the fly and not allow slack to develop in your line due to currents or boat movement.

Shrimp Flies

Shrimp patterns excel when permit are cruising or feeding higher in the water column. Unlike crab flies, shrimp are almost always retrieved, allowing anglers to maintain constant line tension. That tension often makes subtle permit eats much easier to detect before the fish spits the fly.

Permit Fly Weight Guide

More often than not, permit refuse a fly because it never reaches their feeding zone—not because the pattern itself is wrong. Carrying proven crab and shrimp patterns in multiple weights is far more important than carrying dozens of different fly designs tied exactly the same.

1. Raghead Crab

The Raghead Crab is a time-tested permit fly that has earned its place as a staple in saltwater fly boxes across the Caribbean and beyond. Designed to imitate small crabs found on turtle grass flats and sandy bottoms, its wide, soft body and splayed rubber legs create a realistic, lifelike profile that moves naturally in the water. Equally effective for permit, bonefish, and even triggerfish, the Raghead Crab remains a favorite among guides for its simplicity, durability, and consistent ability to get eats. Strip it slow and hold on.

Traditionally tied with glued sections of synthetic yarn to form the body, the Raghead has seen countless variations over the years. When at rest or slowly stripped, those splayed legs fan out at the rear to mimic a crab's claws raised in a defensive posture — a key trigger for wary permit. Variants like Doug McKnight's ER Crab (Easy Raghead) use furry foam for a faster, cleaner tie, while other popular materials include McFly Foam, EP crab bodies, crab coins, and even trimmed scraps of craft fur. However you choose to tie or buy it, the Raghead Crab is a proven producer and one fly you never want to leave behind.

2. Alphlexo

Designed by Signature Umpqua Tyer Alec Gerbec during his time on Alphonse, the Alphlexo has quickly become a permit and triggerfish staple, as well as a killer pattern for big bonefish. The profile of the fly is perhaps the most realistic of any crab currently on the market, and continues to catch permit well beyond its origin point in the Seychelles.

The body is comprised of body tubing tied in at both ends, a product originally intended for use in large baitfish patterns for predatory fish such as pike or musky. The result is a durable, realistic body profile that is also hollow and incredibly light — which means it settles slowly through the water column and holds in the strike zone longer than a heavier tie. Work it with short, deliberate strips and let it pause between movements; that hang time is often what turns a following permit into a committed eat. The alphlexo comes in a ton of different varieties, and you should opt for whatever color closely matches the bottom of the intended fishery.

+ Waypoints Podcast: WIL FLACK: Feeding Permit – Tips and Techniques for Chasing the Black-Tailed Devil

3. Spawning Shrimp

A saltwater staple for bonefish, permit, and any species that eats shrimp. The use of shrimp versus a crab fly when targeting permit is going to vary, but they do have one big advantage. When fishing a crab, the fly is generally stripped very slow, ticked across the bottom, or in some cases, left alone entirely. This means that if there is any slack in your line, you may never even feel a permit eat your crab fly before it spits the hook.

With a shrimp pattern, you are often stripping the fly, allowing you to maintain good tension and making it much easier to know the moment a fish has committed — a real advantage when you're fishing to a single cruising permit and won't get a second read on the take.

The orange casing at the tail of the fly acts as a trigger point for hungry fish as it resembles the egg sac of a spawning shrimp. The fly comes in a number of colors, from white to olive, and is one of the best "crossover" flies when targeting bonefish, permit, or triggerfish on the same flats.

4. Avalon

The Avalon was created specifically for permit within Cuba, but it has proven to be a great pattern throughout the Caribbean. However, if you are heading to Cuba, it is very likely going to be one of the first flies your guide asks you to tie on for both permit and bonefish.

When stripped, the splayed pieces of rabbit strips on the Avalon undulate in the water, and the strips of pearl diamond braid ensure the fly gets noticed. The fly is generally quite heavy, but is well-balanced through the use of a keel.

The keel is a piece of monofilament tied in from the bend of the hook up to the eye, threaded with stainless steel beads. The result is a fly that does not spin when stripped, perhaps the single greatest giveaway to a curious permit that a fly is not worth committing to.

The Avalon comes in two weights, and we suggest having a couple of each for targeting fish on calm, shallow flats as well as deeper water for cruising fish.

5. EP Crab

Enrico Puglisi's EP Crab is a popular permit fly, and for good reason. The body of the pattern consists of synthetic EP fibers, that are durable and shed water well. The fibers are layered, making for a realistic mottled appearance in the water similar to a crab's camouflaged carapace. The back of the fly, or the "mouth," consists of marabou for good, natural movement and krystal flash for "feelers."

This style of crab was popularized by Del Brown's merkin, where a synthetic material is layered down the shank with x-wraps and then trimmed to shape. Fish it the same way you'd fish any merkin-style crab: short strips followed by a long pause, letting the marabou breathe and the fly settle before you move it again — that pause is frequently when the eat happens. This is an important pattern to have for travel to the Yucatan, especially with the use of the chartreuse thread which most Mexican guides prefer for their permit flies.

6. Strong Arm Merkin

The Strong Arm Merkin is a Dave Skok pattern designed in the Florida Keys. The pattern was a revolutionary pattern in the region and has since been delivering permit to hand all over the world.

The Strong Arm's defining feature is the chenille claw extending from the back end of the body. The claw, or strong arm, serves multiple purposes. Firstly and most obviously, the claw is a realistic representation of a crab in a defensive posture hoping to deter a predator or latch on to a fish lip that comes too close.

Secondly, and potentially more importantly, the claw acts as a keel for the fly--keeping it more balanced in the water column as it falls. Fish it the way you would any crab in skinny water: a few short strips to get a permit's attention, then let it sit. Most eats come on the pause, not the strip. The result is a fly that moves and looks very realistic, routinely fooling many a permit in the Keys and well beyond.

7. Flats Crab/Bauer Crab

If you're heading to Belize, this fly should be in your box. Originally developed by the lauded Will Bauer for the flats of Southern Belize, this fly is responsible for hundreds of permit to hand.

The Flats Crab is generally tied with Mcfly Foam, a synthetic material used for egg patterns for trout fishing. The decision to use Mcfly Foam was a smart one, as the material is known for quickly absorbing water and ensuring the crab pattern sinks. As much of the fishing in Southern Belize is done for actively feeding, tailing permit, a fly that can land softly but sink fast is paramount to success.

Another notable feature of the Flats Crab is its realistic profile, with its large rubber legs and crab eyes positioned to imitate how crabs actually move: side to side. For fly tyers, the original Bauer legs are hard to come by, but any large rubber leg material makes a fine substitute.

+ View the Southern Belize Equipment List

8. Mantis Shrimp

Similar to the Spawning Shrimp, the Mantis is a great crossover pattern between bonefish and permit. The Mantis Shrimp catches bonefish everywhere it goes, and is going to be one of your guide's first choices when selecting a shrimp fly. On the water, work it with quick, short strips to imitate a shrimp darting for cover — that fleeing, panicked profile is often exactly what triggers a following permit to commit rather than shy away.

For fly tyers, the original Mantis Shrimp is a resourceful pattern with very little waste. When tying, use your fingers or a comb to tease out the shorter fibers at the base of the craft fur. Use the longer fibers for the "head" of the shrimp (tied at the back) and the shorter fibers to use in a dubbing loop for the body. The result is a slender but realistic looking shrimp profile. If preferred, you could always utilize a premade dubbing brush to build the body to get creative or for ease of tying.

9. Del Brown's Merkin Crab

Del Brown caught over FIVE hundred permit on fly throughout his lifetime, a feat that truly boggles the mind. His signature crab pattern may appear to be simple when compared to some modern patterns, but it was a revolutionary pattern when he first designed it decades ago and still catches permit today.

There are a couple signature elements of Del's Crab. First, the use of a chartreuse thread, an element that has become common across a number of permit flies. Secondly, the fly's rubber legs are marked with a red marker at the tips, capable of capturing a permit's attention without overdoing it. But its real staying power comes down to how it enters the water: a slow, natural sink without a splash or a spooky plop. In the clear, skinny water permit favor, that gentle presentation is often the difference between a refusal and an eat — which is as true today as it was when Del was still setting records with it.

10. Danger Muffin

Doug McKnight has tied a number of staple saltwater fly patterns, including the Crimp, Da Tingum, and the Homeslice.

Add the Danger Muffin to the list, as it has taken the permit fishing community by storm. The Danger Muffin's body is super innovative, using a combination of deer hair and rabbit fur. The result is a lifelike, mottled body that closely resembles the carapace of a well-camouflaged crab. 

The Danger Muffin uses a combination of chenille and synthetic crab claws to complete an incredibly realistic looking fly--especially when wet. Similar to the Flats Crab, the fly is best fished with long, slow strips and stops to imitate a crab crawling along the bottom searching for shelter. If you're heading to The Bahamas, Yucatan, or Belize, this should be a part of your arsenal.

11. Fleeing Crab

Cathy Beck's Fleeing Crab is another tried and true pattern that has been around for quite a while. It's a fairly straightforward pattern to tie: a pinch of brown and tan marabou near the bend of the hook offers plenty of natural movement.

The body of the Fleeing Crab uses synthetic EP Fibers in the merkin-style to create the body, paired with orange-tipped rubber legs. Similar to the original Merkin fly, the small bit of orange at the tips of the legs acts as an attractor. It's also light enough to land softly on skinny, spooky water — a real advantage on tailing fish, where a heavier fly slapping down can put them down before you ever get a shot. Carrying on tradition, the Fleeing Crab is generally tied with chartreuse thread.

12. Squimp

The Squimp has single-handedly landed hundreds of permit and bonefish in destinations like Ascension Bay. The Squimp is traditionally tied with yellow lead eyes, but works great with beadchain eyes in shallow water situations. A unique attribute, the eyes on the fly are tied closer to the bend of the hook as opposed to next to the hook eye, which serves to keel the fly and keep it level in the water column.

The Squimp is tied with a craft fur tail and wing, with chenille wrapped down the shank. When wet, the Squimp has a slim profile, but the fly's rubber legs are tied in on the side rather than underneath, which is unusual — and it's exactly what gives the fly its distinct kick and wiggle compared to a standard merkin-style crab. On pressured fish that have seen every typical pattern in the book, that different action can be the deciding factor.

13. Pato's Crab

While Pato's Crab may resemble a Raghead variant at first glance, seasoned guides in the Yucatán and Belize recognize key differences that set it apart. Originally tied by a local guide in the Ascension Bay area, this pattern quickly earned a spot as a go-to fly among permit guides throughout the region. The most distinguishing feature is the use of brightly colored lead eyes—typically yellow—which not only add weight for a quicker sink rate but also serve as a visual trigger for cruising or tailing fish.

Pato's Crab is especially popular among Yucatán guides, though its effectiveness extends to permit fisheries around the world. Variations with red, orange, or pink eyes are common, but yellow remains the top choice. Be sure to strip it slowly—too fast and the fly may spin, tipping off wary fish that something isn't right.

Wherever you are headed to chase permit, the Yellow Dog fly shop has hand-picked fly assortments to ensure you arrive ready on the morning of day one.

Recommended Gear Guides:

• Yucatan
• Bahamas
• Belize
• Seychelles

Related Articles:

• The Top Bonefish Flies for Destinations Around the World
• 8 Destinations for the Serious Permit Angler
• Top 5 Spots for Your First Permit
• The 16 Rules of How to Feed Permit
• 7 Tips for Fly Fishing for Permit
• Saltwater Fly Fishing Leader & Tippet Guide
• Watch: Fly Fishing for Permit | Seychelles Fishing Tactics