Species guide · Alabama
Permit fishing in Alabama
Trachinotus falcatus, an inshore species also called palometa and big pompano. Listed for the Eastern Gulf region. Shoulder season, about 2 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in North Mobile Bay at 64, one of 4 Alabama bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Eastern Gulf
Shoulder season, about 2 more weeks- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Peak season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Off season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: Apr to Jun. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Sep.
Research notes, Eastern Gulf region
FWC reports most recreational permit landings come from the Gulf coast, mainly schools on artificial reefs and wrecks off southwest Florida and Tampa Bay in spring and summer, plus Boca Grande Pass. Flats permit are uncommon north of Cape Romano.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 4
Alabama bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's permit score this hour.
Best window today 7-9 PM (64) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 11 AM (68) · 33 named spots
Best window today 7-9 PM (61) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 11 AM (68) · 21 named spots
Best window today 7-9 PM (57) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 11 AM (66) · 20 named spots
Best window today 7-9 PM (58) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 11 AM (68) · 53 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 70°F to 92°F, best between 75°F and 85°F.
- Water depth
- 1 to 120 ft of water.
- Structure
- Flat, wreck, reef, channel and grass, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and outgoing tide, with moderate current.On flats, permit tail along edges and channel banks on a moving tide, often the flood. On wrecks and reefs they school up current of the structure, so moderate current that keeps a crab drifting past them works best.
- Light
- Little tied to dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Prefers steady pressure.
- Wind and sea limits
- 15 kt of wind and 2 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Permit cruise flat edges and channels in 2 to 6 feet of water in the Keys and Biscayne Bay, and school over wrecks and reefs in 30 to 120 feet, especially during the spring spawn. A live or artificial crab is the standard bait, cast ahead of a tailing fish on the flats or dropped to a school on a wreck. They spook easily in shallow water, so good light and a long, quiet cast are needed.
- Methods
- sight casting, fly fishing, wreck fishing, live bait drifting
- Lures
- crab fly (Merkin, Raghead), bucktail jig, artificial crab
- Bait
- live blue crab, pass crab, shrimp, sand flea
Regulations
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division. Synced with ADCNR Marine Resources Sep 16, 2026.
No reviewed permit rule for Alabama is on file yet. Check with ADCNR Marine Resources before you keep one.