Yes, you can eat permit fish. The permit is not a well-understood foodfish because it has so little edible flesh. In fact, it would be more accurately described as slenderized tuna than as a true member of the snapper family to which most people ascribe it. All true snappers have two things in common: their meat is rich and therefore tasty, and they have a dark lateral bloodline that makes it clear where the body ends and the tail begins. This line is visible in permit fish too, but because their bodies are so slender, this line is much harder to see. These fish have only 20% edible flesh compared to other snappers.

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A permit is just one of three species in the same scientific family, but it is the only permit sold commercially. The other two species are Pompano and Jacks. Neither of these species is seen on menus or in fish markets because they are too small to be popular for foodfish. Even though their size makes them unappealing, they are both quite tasty to eat.

The permit fish is found in warm, tropical waters of Europe, Africa, and Asia. It can be found living near the bottom of open oceans as well as close to shore in shallow lagoons. They are solitary predators who feed on small fish, crabs, and mollusks. Permits were once considered a seasonal foodfish, but they are now available year-round.

In conclusion, you can eat permit fish because they lack the dark lateral bloodline and rich taste that make true snappers popular for food. They are appealing as a cheap alternative to other, well-liked fish, but you won’t find them in high-end restaurants or sold by name; they mainly serve as an inexpensive substitute for snapper and grouper. Enjoy!

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