Permit have a iridescent blue to grayish back, with a yellowish belly, and brilliant silver on the sides. They are deeper bodied than Florida pompano, appearing almost round. Anal and dorsal fin lobes are longer than the Florida pompano and shorter than the palometa. May show an orange tint on the pelvic fins and the front lobe of the anal fin. Smaller fish have teeth on the tongue. No scutes. 17 to 21 soft dorsal rays; 16 to 19 soft anal rays. Many permit have a dark, circular black area on the sides behind the base of the pectoral fin or a dusky midbody blotch.