help with Cobia

[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.

[Blue_Runner]

Good info. I can get all the greenbacks I want with a sabiki rig where I fish. Grab some for chum, put some in the livewell and go find some structure. It is time. 113 lbs, what a slob.

[cterrebonne]

Originally Posted by Blue_Runner

Good info. I can get all the greenbacks I want with a sabiki rig where I fish. Grab some for chum, put some in the livewell and go find some structure. It is time. 113 lbs, what a slob.

yeah i thought the 70lber we caught was pretty big.

[bradford]

Fella I know and his buddies caught 6 of them on fresh water eels at the Betsy Ross this past weekend.

[fishingwithblue]

http://www.islandpacket.com/news/loc...ry/856849.html

[Blue_Runner]

Wow look at those blue crabs!! That is awesome!

[whatknot]

Here's my technique.

After seeing countless live eels and menhaden thrown at surface cruising cobia, (bouncing around with 30 other boats) I tied on a 3oz. spro jig.
After a lot of trial and error, I discovered the trick is to pitch the jig traditionally off to the side of the cobia. When you know they are aware of the bait, drop it into free spool.
You lose site of the 3oz jig cause it drops, but the cobia follows it because prey would try to flee instead of burning right by their noses. Let it drop slowly about 10-20 feet (your line should still be at an angle) then engage the spool and bring the jig up close to the boat with short aggravating action. By this time they are so focused on the jig, that they don't realize they are right under the boat. You'll see them swallow it, FISH ON!

My rig was fishing sort of light tackle with a Shimano Calcutta 400 and Shimano Teramar 7ft Medium Heavy 15-25 lbs rod.
30 lbs braid main line to a spider hitch with a bristol knot making the connection to 5' of 60 lbs fluorocarbon leader.
A 3 Oz. Green and white Spro jig has the battlescars.....

I will say after 4 fish the rod tip was starting to look unhappy.

Thanks,
Tal
www.talwillis.com

[RABBITFISH]

Sorry I'm late with my reply, but I am catching up on my reading. Do you have hardhead catfish in your area? I was once shown by a commercial old timer, he caught hard head catfish, clipped the spines off and put a sharp hook in the back behind the dorsal and let them swim away down in the water. When I tried it, (I'll try anything) I caught about a dozen, put them in my livewell, ( I hope nobody see me) and went out to give it a shot......Set out four lines with hardhead catfish and let them drift out, within 10 minutes, all four lines were hooked up with cobia....big ones, 20 to 30 lbs averge, I couldn't believe it.... and while reeling them in, one came off the hook, as we reeled it in the cobia was following the catfish trying to eat him again... of course we didn't want to let him feel left out so we let him have it........Four at once!! Instant limits..........I'm now a believer..


Tommy