They will move into channels and occasionally to the very shallow flats in the Biscayne Bay and Florida Keys areas. Permit like slack water or an incoming tide for feeding. They also tend to stay out of strong current. When hooked, a permit makes a series of long runs. It rests between the runs by turning its flat body sideways for resistance making it hard to reel in.
Battles are usually long and tiring.
While permit can be caught in nearly all Florida salt water areas, the best are Biscayne Bay and the Keys. Biscayne Bay May and June, any of the small keys and channels. The assorted shoals between Key Biscayne and Soldier Key are particularly good, and Government Cut can be productive at times. The permit capital of the world. They can be caught year-round, but the best fishing is in spring and early summer.