help with Cobia

[phatdaddy]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I've caught a few of em myself, and they are a FUN FIGHT! Just when you think he's wooped, he takes off again, and again, and again. The most consisyent method I have used has been while fishing structure. Cast out a live green back or herring upstream of a structure and let a swift tide carry it into the structure, most of the time they will nail it going into the current and haul A$$ into the current for there first run. Also be careful bringing them into the boat while there still green, they are one STRONG fish and can hurt you if your not careful. The biggest one I ever caught was about 90 pounds while fishing a wreck in 115 feet of water for grouper. Right at sunset he ate a whole sardine just as we were getting ready to pull the anchor. My dad caught one before that weighed in roughly 113 pounds which was 2 pounds shy of the florida record at that time. He also caught that one fishing on the bottom with a whole sardine for grouper, but was in 45 feet.

In TAMPA BAY they frequently come in there in the 30-75 pound range and hang around the channel markers when the green backs and herring are in.