After more than a decade chasing one of saltwater fishing’s most elusive species, Ken Watkins has done the impossible. In the summer of 2025, Watkins officially broke the world record for the most permit caught on a fly rod, landing his 529th fish in the waters around Ambergris Caye, Belize. In total, Watkins has caught 1,213 permit, a feat few anglers could ever dream of. The achievement surpasses the lifetime records of legendary fly anglers Del Brown (513) and Mike Ward (514), marking a new milestone in the sport. What began as a personal quest has evolved into something much larger, a story of dedication, partnership, and a deep love for Belize’s fragile marine ecosystems.
A Decade of Permits on the Flats
Watkins’ record is the result of hundreds of days on the water, a partnership spanning over ten years with Captain Darrel Smith of Fly With Me Too Fishing Charters, and the unwavering support of his wife, Chris Watkins. Born from a passion discovered decades earlier at Florida Keys Outfitters Fly Fishing School, Watkins spent years refining his craft in the Florida Keys before discovering Belize in 2013.
That first trip changed everything. He caught his first Belizean permit under Captain Smith’s guidance and fell in love with the people, culture, and pristine flats around Ambergris Caye. By 2018, he and Chris had purchased a condo at The Phoenix Resort in San Pedro, turning the island into their second home.
Equipped with Temple Fork Outfitters rods and Tibor reels, Watkins honed his precision, learning to present his flies in heavy winds and shallow waters with near-perfect accuracy. His patience, persistence, and understanding of the species turned what was once a challenge into an obsession.
From Record-Breaking to Reef Protection
But for Watkins, the journey became more than just about the numbers. As he spent countless hours fishing Belize’s lagoon and ocean flats, he witnessed firsthand the growing threats to the country’s sensitive grass beds and rookery islands, development pressures that endanger the same habitats supporting bonefish, permit, and tarpon.
Now a legacy member of the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Watkins uses his platform to advocate for better management and protection of Belize’s coastal ecosystems. His record, he hopes, will bring attention not just to his achievement, but to the need for conservation of the waters that made it possible.
A Legacy Beyond the Record
Looking back, Watkins says his success was built on teamwork, passion, and love. “Fly fishing is a challenge,” he often says, “but fly fishing for permit is a greater challenge.” It’s a challenge he’s met, and conquered, right here in Belize, where his story now joins the legend of the flats themselves.
