Went out of Boca Grande today

[THEFERMANATOR]

I'm down at the inlaws for the Easter weekend, and decided to bring the new skiff with me. I haven't had time to cut the bow rail yet to mount my trolling motor, but I decided to try the flats some today anyways. The water was SHALLOW to say the least back in turtle bay, but I did manage to get back there with some creative engenuity(trimmed the engine up, put it in gear at idle, and stood on the bow using my push pole to steer the boat). I must have seen 50 snook in the back creeks, but not a 1 would take a plug. I didn't feel to bad when I seen the guys using live bait couldn't get any to bite either. I did manage to boat 1 17 inch speckled trout, but the rod tip on my casting pole broke, and I only had 1 casting pole with me today. So I switched over to a DOA deadly combo on my small spinning reel, and managed 1 more trout before I left out(the tide was high, and turning, so I took my cue to get out while it was high enough to get out on plane).

Headed out of Boca Grande Pass and seen peopel hooking up with some kings, so I dropped out the spoons and trolled. Trolled the pass for close to an hour, and all I managed to get was some grass. Pulled in my lines, and head north off Boca to do some trolling out in deeper water. Trolled for about an hour, and had had enough of the heat. Reeled in my heavier spinning reel, then as I was reeling in my light spinning reel it took off SCREAMING! Thought I had hooked with a kingfish, then things changed. The fish dove down deep, and just stayed there. After 20 minutes I get a glimpse of it, and I gots me a keeper cobia on the line. Bear in mind I was only setup for catching inshore fish, and maybe some spanish macks, so no gaff in sight, and I'm hooked up on a 4000 size PENN spinnign reel spooled up with 12 pound test. 45 minutes of chasing him and cutting him off from the crab bouys later, I got him up alongside the boat, manned up, and grabbed him by his tail. Let me tell you a cobia even after a 45 minute fight does not like to be grabbed by his tail. Dropped the rod, grabbed him with both hands, and flung him in the boat.

All and all not a bad day. Boated a 17 and 18 inch speckled trout, a 39" cobia, and a 19 inch spanish mack.

[RWilson2526]

Sounds like a great day. We are renting a house on little Gasparilla this summer
Which is the north side of the Pass (which you probably already know). How far are you a nd Ridge Runner from there?

[phatdaddy]

WOW, Great day, i don't even like gaffing a cobia, can't imagine tail grabbing one. looks like the boat definately has some good fishing mojo.

enjoy some fresh fish

[THEFERMANATOR]

Were about 2 hours north of Boca Grande. I was down visiting inlaws, so it gives me an opportunity to go out of there. Was hoping for a king because I saw others hooking up around me, but I'll take what I got. And grabbing him by his tail was not my 1st idea, but after a few failed attempts of trying to tail rope him, I manned up and grabbed him. It took almost 20 minutes at the boat keeping him at the surface before he was wore down enough I could hang on. The 1st time I grabbed him, lets just say it was a rocket shooting down to the bottom. You can bet I will have a gaff under the bow of the boat from now on.

[charlie_the_tuna]

man, them cobes are uglier than sh!t. how they eat, any good?? good as grouper?? dolphin? snapper?

[scook]

Nice work - that's some "real man" fishin'.

[THEFERMANATOR]

They are an ugly son of a gun, looks like a big remora. They are quite tasty though. a VERY white thick fleshed fish. This size is quite good cooked most anyway you can think of. Once they get up over about 70-80 pounds though they do get real oily and are best smoked. y dad caught one YEARS back that was almost a state record weighing almost 114 pounds. That one got smoked as it was VERY oily.

[bradford]

Great report Ferm. I agree with Phat, that's some good mojo for the new skiff. Friend of mine is a striker on a head boat and hates gaffing the cobias. You're the man grabbing him by the tail.

https://youtu.be/mY4QCIa3dVQ

[bigshrimpin]

Ferm - Congrats on the catching. My grandmother used to have a clothing shop on Boca Grande from 1972 - 1994? Fishing is great down there . . . I think Cobia are pretty unusual in the pass.

[SkunkBoat]

Yep , they are about as insane as a bull dolphin when they get loose on the deck.
Nice GRAB!!!!