TACTICS
You cast to a PERMIT exactly as discussed in the precious section on BONEFISH except you want to land 2 or 3 feet in front of the fish and you don't twitch the fly when it settles; you wait for a strike.    
 
Allow your fly to drop to the bottom while keeping your line taunt. You must be ready because a PERMIT can quickly pick up a fly and just as quickly blow it out of their mouth.  If the PERMIT circles your fly be ready for a strike.  
 
If your presentation is ignored, initiate a gentle movement with your stripping hand; no strong strips.  If still ignored, give enough life to  the fly to convince the fish that this is a live crab.  If still ignored wait until the fish is well past before picking up and again casting. 

As with Bones, when the PERMIT strikes, simply strip-strike with your line hand and let the fish run. Resistance from running line and the bend in your rod will provide you with enough additional drag.  Setting the hook will likely be by your line hand and into a near concrete hard mouth, carefully and quickly get your slack line back on reel.  
 

IF YOU'RE FISHING FOR PERMIT,
 BEST TO BE IN THE COMPANY OF AN EXPERIENCED GUIDE
 

The best PERMIT action is when the water temperature is between 72-75 F though PERMIT are active in waters 68 to 85 F.  Spring tides are better than Neap tides and the best flats are dry at low tide and well watered at high tide. If you are seeking a trophy PERMIT on the flats then Key West, Florida offers the best chance.

Rays which often have a detectable wake are sometimes followed by PERMIT in hopes of finding a stirred up meal.

WEIGHTED EYES GIVE THE MERKIN 
A NATURAL LOOKING CRAB DIVE.
 

 
When the MERKIN is tied with metallic eyes the weight (usually 1/36 or 1/24 ounce eyes) is distributed at one end of the fly.  The results is a fly that , after hitting the water, tilts and dives for the bottom at an angle, just as a swimming crab would do.  The weight of the eyes would be determined by the desired sink rate and the depth of the water you are in.

TACKLE FOR PERMIT

There is nothing complicated about selecting tackle for fishing PERMIT.  Most prefer a weight forward floating line.  The most popular line is a saltwater taper on a size 9 or 10 line.  Use a 9 foot rod that matches  your line.  Leaders are between 9 and 11 feet long.  Most use a 15 pound tippet with a 40 to 50 pound butt section since you will be casting heavy flies.  

Your reel should contain a minimum of 150 feet of backing plus fly line.  Few PERMIT make long runs.  They are more likely to run and then circle expending most of their energy within 50 years of you.  This is a powerful fish so your skill and patients must be directed toward protecting your tippet.

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