CrustaceanadvancedFlorida Keys & South Florida
Mantis Shrimp
$9.95
Available Sizes#2 - #6
Color Variations
Olive/TanRoot BeerBrown/Orange
The real mantis shrimp can punch with the force of a bullet. This imitation cannot, but it does hit permit in their decision-making center with similar effectiveness. The EP fiber body undulates in the current like something alive and slightly annoyed, which is a fair description of an actual mantis shrimp. Fish it on the turtle grass flats and wait for a permit to pretend it is not interested before eating it anyway.
Quick Facts
TypeCrustacean
Difficultyadvanced
SeasonsSpring, Summer, Fall
Target SpeciesPermit, Bonefish
Sizes#2 - #6
Best LocationsMarquesas Keys, FL; Content Keys, FL; Key West Flats, FL
Where to Fish It
Marquesas Keys
FL · Flats
Content Keys
FL · Flats
Key West Flats
FL · Flats
Map unavailable. Locations for Mantis Shrimp: Marquesas Keys, FL; Content Keys, FL; Key West Flats, FL
Related Reading
region guide
Florida Keys: Chasing the Flats Grand Slam
The Florida Keys Grand Slam — bonefish, permit, and tarpon on the fly in a single day — is saltwater fly fishing's ultimate test. It demands mastery of three different species, three different presentations, and an almost unreasonable amount of luck. Here's how to stack the odds in your favor.
species science
The Grey Ghost: Bonefish Biology and Behavior
Bonefish appear as shadows on the flat, eat with the subtlety of a vacuum cleaner, and run like they've been personally offended by your hook. Their biology — from tidal feeding patterns to crushing pharyngeal plates — explains every frustrating refusal and every screaming run.
species science
The Holy Grail: Why Permit Are the Ultimate Challenge
Permit are the most selective, most maddening, and most rewarding fish in saltwater fly fishing. They eat crabs, they refuse crabs, and the difference between those two outcomes is a mystery that has consumed anglers for decades. Here's what science and experience have taught us.
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