The Original Permit Tournament
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.
2023 Del Brown Dates
July 16 – 19, 2023
Sugarloaf Key, FL
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
Grand Champion @katv22 you are a rock star! #girlsrule @marchmerkin
Good morning from Key West! Good luck to all the anglers and guides fishing the IGFA Permit Invitational Tournament! Check out @igfa_official for results for Day 2 later today! #permit #permitonfly #flatcalm #sunrise #keywestsunrise #permitfishing #crabflies
Good morning from Key West! Good luck to all the anglers and guides fishing the IGFA Permit Invitational Tournament! Check out @igfa_official for results for Day 2 later today! #permit #permitonfly #flatcalm #sunrise #keywestsunrise #permitfishing #crabflies
Thanks again to Papa’s Pilar for their support of the Del Brown! They provided these authentic rum barrel awards to our Grand Champions Mike Ward and Capt. Brandon Cyr @papaspilar #rum #pilarrum #papaspilar #flyfishing #delbrown #keywestrumdistillery
Thanks again to Papa’s Pilar for their support of the Del Brown! They provided these authentic rum barrel awards to our Grand Champions Mike Ward and Capt. Brandon Cyr @papaspilar #rum #pilarrum #papaspilar #flyfishing #delbrown #keywestrumdistillery
One of our oldest sponsors and great supporters of the Del Brown and Cuda Bowl Key West ! Awesome food and cocktails and super cool T-shirt’s and more! Square Grouper Bar and Grill My New Joint
One of our oldest sponsors and great supporters of the Del Brown and Cuda Bowl Key West ! Awesome food and cocktails and super cool T-shirt’s and more! Square Grouper Bar and Grill My New Joint
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. #permitonfly #permitfishing #delbrown #permittournament #flyfishing #flyfish #skifflife #flatsfishing
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. #permitonfly #permitfishing #delbrown #permittournament #flyfishing #flyfish #skifflife #flatsfishing
Many thanks to @fishewear for the amazing permit gear for our lady anglers. Check them out! #fishewear #ladyangler #girlsrule @katv22 @mireelovesfishinglee
Many thanks to @fishewear for the amazing permit gear for our lady anglers. Check them out! #fishewear #ladyangler #girlsrule @katv22 @mireelovesfishinglee
Tonight we have our awards immediately following the end of scoring and we will be auctioning off these beautifully sculpted Florida mahogany sculptures. These are done by local flats & fly fishing guide Rob Kramarz. They are one of a kind! #fishart #fishsculpture #woodworking #flyfishing #permitonfly #delbrown
Tonight we have our awards immediately following the end of scoring and we will be auctioning off these beautifully sculpted Florida mahogany sculptures. These are done by local flats & fly fishing guide Rob Kramarz. They are one of a kind! #fishart #fishsculpture #woodworking #flyfishing #permitonfly #delbrown
Del Brown 2022 – JULY 10 – 13
The 2022 Del Brown Permit Tournament will be held July 10th through 21st in Sugarloaf Key. The tournament for 2021 is full but please email us if you wish to be put on the waiting list for future events.
July 10th
Kick-off Dinner
South of the Seven Restaurant – Sugarloaf Key
5:30PM
July 11th
Fishing Day
Depart Sugarloaf at 7:30AM – Lines out at 3:30PM
Scoring until 4:30PM at South of the Seven Restaurant
July 12th
Fishing Day
Depart Sugarloaf at 7:30AM – Lines out at 3:30PM
Scoring until 4:30PM at South of the Seven Restaurant
July 13th
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.
