Written by: Jeremy Kehrein, Orvis Travel Sporting Travel Program Manager

Bob Cosgriff is all smiles after landing this incredible permit.
Photos courtesy Bob Cosgriff
Frequent Orvis Travel customer Bob Cosgriff was on the outer islands of the Bahamas looking for large bonefish and found this fish of a lifetime. Bob says they had tough weather the whole trip and eventually gave up on the bonefish and decided to fish for barracuda. Bob’s guide spotted a smaller permit and couldn’t get it interested. Then this one showed up and was obviously very hungry. He says that the permit ate a size 4 Kung Fu Crab, and he fought it for 45 minutes on his Helios before bringing it to hand. He also caught some nice ‘cudas on the trip, as evidenced by the photos below.


Nice fish and nice job.
Reminds me of the permit I caught on my TnT 9wt saltwater Travel Rod in Eleuthra on 1/3/2000.
Wading alone near the airport I caught a few bonefish and then I saw THE TAIL about 90 yds away.
I quickly changed to a crab fly and tossed it in front of The Tail that was now 10 yds away.Fought it for about 40 minutes on an 8# test tippet.Almost had a heart attack form the excitement.Yup.fish of a lifetime and a great way to start the New Millenium
Permit are one of the craziest looking fish on the flats. Their mouths don’t remind me of the typical saltwater predator.