July 14-17, 2024
Sugarloaf Key, FL
Stalking Permit Since 2001
The Del Brown Permit Tournament is the original permit fly fishing tournament in the Keys and the longest running tournament of it’s kind in the world. The tournament memorializes the late Del Brown who caught 513 permit on a fly rod in his lifetime. The first Del Brown Permit Tournament was in 2001 in Key West. The tournament has been held annually ever since.
2024 Del Brown Dates
July 14-17, 2024
Sugarloaf Key, FL
2022 Tournament Results
Congrats to all our winners and so many thanks to everyone who came out to fish! The final results are: 19 permit released and one bonefish over the three day event. Seventeen boats participated this year. Grand champions Mike Ward and Capt Brandon Cyr with 900 points and 6 fish, second place went to Robert Dougherty and Capt. Nick LaBadie with 600 points and 4 fish, third place went to Clint Packo and Capt Simon Becker with three permit and 450 points. Third place went to a tie breaker by total inches. The largest permit was awarded to Robert Dougherty and Capt Nick LaBadie with a fish measuring 30.25” to the fork. The bonefish release category was won by Tom del Bosque and Capt Scott Irvine.
Grand Champions
Mike Ward, Spokane, WA
Capt. Brandon Cyr, Big Pine Key, FL
6 Permit Released – 900 points total
First Runner-Up
Robert Dougherty of Dallas, TX
Capt. Nick LaBadie of Key West, FL
4 Permit Released – 600 points total – Largest permit – 30.25″
Runner-Up
Clint Packo of Littleton, CO
Capt. Simon Becker of Cudjoe Key, FL
3 Permit Released – 450 points total
Largest Permit
Robert Dougherty of Dallas, TX
Capt. Nick LaBadie of Key West, FL
30.25″ to the fork
Most Bonefish Releases
Tom del Bosque of Boca Raton, FL
Capt. Scott Irvine of Key West, FL
Congrats to all the winners of the 2023 IGFA Permit Invitational! Grand Champions Wes Smith and Capt Ian Slater, 70 points and the largest permit. Second place went to Alejandro Vega “Sand Flea” and Capt. Shawn McKay with 62 points. Third place was awarded to Drue Eyeman and Capt. Jeff Holland with 58 points. @theigfa #permitonfly #permitonfly #flyfishing #permitjunkie #igfapermitinvitational
Congrats to all the winners of the 2023 IGFA Permit Invitational! Grand Champions Wes Smith and Capt Ian Slater, 70 points and the largest permit. Second place went to Alejandro Vega “Sand Flea” and Capt. Shawn McKay with 62 points. Third place was awarded to Drue Eyeman and Capt. Jeff Holland with 58 points. @theigfa #permitonfly #permitonfly #flyfishing #permitjunkie #igfapermitinvitational
The 2023 Del Brown Invitational is a wrap! Very warm weather made this tournament extra tough but several teams prevailed. A total of 12 permit were released over the 3-day event. The field consisted of 22 anglers and guides.
Grand Champions - Evan Carruthers & Capt. Will Benson - 4 permit, 500 points
First Runner-Up - Kat Vallilee and Capt. Doug Kilpatrick - 3 permit, 400 points
Runner-Up - Mike Ward & Capt. Brandon Cyr - 2 permit, 300 points
Largest Fish - Mike Ward & Capt. Brandon Cyr - 71 cm / 27.95"
Most Bonefish Releases - Miree Lee and Capt. Zach Stells - 400 points
Thanks to all the anglers and guides for coming out and competing. It was a tougher year this year! #delbrownpermittournament #permitonfly #permitfishing #floridaflyfishing #keepemwet
The 2023 Del Brown Invitational is a wrap! Very warm weather made this tournament extra tough but several teams prevailed. A total of 12 permit were released over the 3-day event. The field consisted of 22 anglers and guides.
Grand Champions - Evan Carruthers & Capt. Will Benson - 4 permit, 500 points
First Runner-Up - Kat Vallilee and Capt. Doug Kilpatrick - 3 permit, 400 points
Runner-Up - Mike Ward & Capt. Brandon Cyr - 2 permit, 300 points
Largest Fish - Mike Ward & Capt. Brandon Cyr - 71 cm / 27.95"
Most Bonefish Releases - Miree Lee and Capt. Zach Stells - 400 points
Thanks to all the anglers and guides for coming out and competing. It was a tougher year this year! #delbrownpermittournament #permitonfly #permitfishing #floridaflyfishing #keepemwet
Thank you to one of our newest sponsors, The W Sauce! Try them all, trust me! #wsauce #breakfastsauce #fishingtournament #flyfishingtournament
Thank you to one of our newest sponsors, The W Sauce! Try them all, trust me! #wsauce #breakfastsauce #fishingtournament #flyfishingtournament
Final day of the 2023 Del Brown! A little stormy out there! Stay safe! #permitfishing #delbrown #crabfly #sugarloafkey #floridakeysfishing @southoftheseven
Final day of the 2023 Del Brown! A little stormy out there! Stay safe! #permitfishing #delbrown #crabfly #sugarloafkey #floridakeysfishing @southoftheseven
Bajio has been a supporter of the Del Brown for several years! They are a great company and are ever-providing new styles of sunglasses! Check them out @bajiosunglasses #bajiosunglasses #permitonfly #fresheyesforarichlife #sunglasses #Polarizedsunglass #delbrownpermittournament
Bajio has been a supporter of the Del Brown for several years! They are a great company and are ever-providing new styles of sunglasses! Check them out @bajiosunglasses #bajiosunglasses #permitonfly #fresheyesforarichlife #sunglasses #Polarizedsunglass #delbrownpermittournament
Day 2 of the 2023 Del Brown… three permit released today. One by Kat Vallilee (64cm) fishing with Capt Doug Kilpatrick - 150 points. Evan Carruthers released two permit (43cm, 48cm)with Capt. Will Benson for a total of 250 points. Well done in cloudy and spotty storm conditions! One more day! #flyfish4permit #permitonfly #permitfishing #delbrownpermittournament
Day 2 of the 2023 Del Brown… three permit released today. One by Kat Vallilee (64cm) fishing with Capt Doug Kilpatrick - 150 points. Evan Carruthers released two permit (43cm, 48cm)with Capt. Will Benson for a total of 250 points. Well done in cloudy and spotty storm conditions! One more day! #flyfish4permit #permitonfly #permitfishing #delbrownpermittournament
The Del Brown Permit Tournament proudly supports Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and their efforts to help sustain our fishery #keepemwet #permitfishing #bonefishtarpontrust
The Del Brown Permit Tournament proudly supports Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and their efforts to help sustain our fishery #keepemwet #permitfishing #bonefishtarpontrust
Such a huge thanks to Patagonia for providing some super comfortable shirts including the Cap Cool Daily Patagonia and to Jorge Martinez for "The Mad Looker" art for our t-shirts. Anyone who permit fishes with a fly knows how true this is... #permitonfly #merkinfly #jorgemartinezart @jmartinez_art
Such a huge thanks to Patagonia for providing some super comfortable shirts including the Cap Cool Daily Patagonia and to Jorge Martinez for "The Mad Looker" art for our t-shirts. Anyone who permit fishes with a fly knows how true this is... #permitonfly #merkinfly #jorgemartinezart @jmartinez_art
Del Brown 2023 – JULY 16-19
The 2023 Del Brown Permit Tournament will be held July 16th through 19th in Sugarloaf Key.
July 16th
Kick-off Dinner
South of the Seven Restaurant – Sugarloaf Key
5:30PM
July 17th
Fishing Day
Depart Sugarloaf at 7:30AM – Lines out at 3:30PM
Scoring until 4:30PM at South of the Seven Restaurant
July 18th
Fishing Day
Depart Sugarloaf at 7:30AM – Lines out at 3:30PM
Scoring until 4:30PM at South of the Seven Restaurant
July 19th
Fishing Day
Depart Sugarloaf at 7:30AM – Lines out at 3:30PM
Scoring until 4:30PM at South of the Seven Restaurant
Awards immediately following at 5PM
Sugarloaf Marina will be open early for use of the ramp, ice, drinks and snacks.
Breakfast to go will be available and lunch. Drinks and food after fishing at South of the Seven.
Many thanks to all the supporters of the Del Brown, both past and present. We appreciate your generosity greatly!
John Kobald
Kobald Art
About Del Brown
The Del Brown Permit Tournament is dedicated to the man who made permit fishing with a fly rod famous, the late Del Brown. Brown caught 513 permit on a fly rod in his lifetime. Brown tied a fly called the “Merkin” that was a close enough representation of a crab that permit rushed to eat it. Today there are many styles of the Merkin fly, most of them are a representation of Brown’s crab. The Del Brown Permit Tournament was established in 2001 and continues to honor the late Del Brown with this annual event in July. The Del Brown makes a contribution to Bonefish Tarpon Trust annually to the Jon Ain Memorial Fund for continued permit research.
