help with Cobia

spareparts · #1 05-31-2009, 07:25 PM

We saw them, they followed the bait, we threw everything in the tackle box at them, but they never took a bite. We were using live menhaden today, there were at least 8 of them(cobia), the shortest was at least 30", the biggest was at least 48". My buddy found them yesterday and tried everything he had, we thought live bait would be the ticket. The only bite we had was an amberjack(20 +) that hit the only croaker we had. Weve heard all about the sand eels, but there are none around here. Any one have any ideas?

THEFERMANATOR · #2 05-31-2009, 07:30 PM

I've heard that a large rubber eal works when nothing else does.

spareparts · #3 05-31-2009, 08:30 PM

they tried one yesterday, i wasn't with them, so I don't know how hard they worked at it, any one got any other ideas?

Skools Out · #4 05-31-2009, 08:52 PM

cobia love live fiddler Crabs you know the little guys you find on the inlets islands and in the marsh grass. you have to watch the sheeps heads thought as they love them too. they like live shrimp but love the little crabs

phatdaddy · #5 05-31-2009, 08:52 PM

around here, they use a large bucktail jig. go to google images and type in cobia jig. to sweeten it, put a whole squid(dead) on the hook , or a large plastic grub with a curly tail. i've also heard that when you get their attention, reel it and try to keep it away from them. it makes em mad and they attack it harder.

fishingwithblue · #6 06-01-2009, 08:55 AM

Live line or float a live blue crab.... South Carolina just had its cobia record broken with a 92 pounder. It had 11 large blue crabs in its belly. I always carry one or two if the jigs dont work......tarpon will kill a live blue crab too.

Blue_Runner · #7 06-01-2009, 09:33 AM

I've heard similar frustrations but never witnessed many cobia beside the boat. I heard the faster you reel the better because they react to the bait trying to "get away" and it supposedly drives em nuts. But like I said I can't offer any advice from experience.

Like Phat said bucktail jigs similar to the striper jigs are what a lot of people use.

Blue_Runner · #8 06-01-2009, 09:53 AM

p.s. they can apparently hit a bait that is running pretty fast becuase I've heard of people getting them trolling. Last memorial day my buddy caught one while trolling dolphin about 36". I know they are fast because I've seen them come to the boat and take off like a rocket!

cterrebonne · #9 06-01-2009, 10:08 AM

the most consistent way i have caught them was with a live croaker free lined ona 20-25 lb fluro leader with a black j hook. Basically the same way we go after mangrove snapper. A heafty spinning outfit does the job great.

tsubaki · #10 06-01-2009, 05:56 PM

I have not ever landed, fished for them, hooked or even knowingly been in the presence of one of them! They are on the top of the list of wanting to put one in the boat!
I've got a bunch of armchair quarterback material on them.
They are finicky, love live bait, will hit even a piece of marsh grass.
Favorite eats (all live), Eel, Mullet, Blue Crab, Prawn, live fish.