The one that got away adage might have been written just for catching a permit on a fly. Bob Cosgriff won’t be uttering those words this time regarding the catch-of-a-lifetime permit he caught off Acklins in the Bahamas.
Anglers Bob Cosgriff and Barry Kanavy, a guide himself located in Montauk, New York, decided to flee the winter weather and visit Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn for some of its famed bonefishing spots. Evan Peterson of Angler Adventures suggested the two anglers to team up with guide Garon Williamson.
Cosgriff used a Helios2, 9-weight with Nautilus NV reel, Rio 9-weight permit line connected to a Rio 20-pound leader, ending with a tan Kung Fu crab-sized four.
Bob Cosgriff wrote up his personal account:
How big was the permit? We estimated 60-pounds. Other veteran guides, after seeing the pictures say, 60-70-pounds – others less. Is it a record? We will leave that to others to decide. We quickly measured the length against the rod – 45 inches.”
It wasn’t about being in the records books for the crew. It was about the experience.
All we know is that on February 24, 2015 something special took place out there. Garon summed it up best when he said, ‘We will fish the rest of our lives and never catch a fish like that again.’ Barry and I quietly nodded our heads as we slowly motored back to the lodge. We were done for the day. Ultimately, it wasn’t about breaking or claiming records. The best part was watching the fish swim away.”
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