Cua Merkin

The weighted body on this crab pattern makes it sink fast and sit right on the bottom where the permit are tailing. Casting it in wind takes some practice, but the hookup on my first flat was worth the effort.

Swung this into a tight mangrove edge on the last of an outgoing tide and the take was so abrupt I nearly dropped the rod. The crab’s legs kick with just the right action in the current, and it holds up surprisingly well after a few solid hookups on the flats.

Tied this on during a windy afternoon on the flats and the way it tracks along the bottom is spot-on for skittish permit. The claws and legs have just enough movement in the water to trigger a strike when they're tailing. Definitely earned a permanent spot in my box.