How do you fish for Cobia ? - The Hull Truth

ccboatguy · 03-09-2010, 10:31 AM

I am going down to Big Pine key for 2 weeks in April, and wanted to do some Cobia fishing. I have never fished for Cobia before, so any info would be good. Do you just drive around untill you spot fish, or hang out in a general area and wait for them to show up? Would I have better luck on the gulf side or atlantic side? Do I have to find a wreck or reef? Deep or shallow? Pilchards, pins or artificials? I know these are alot of questions, but I am just trying to up the odds a little.

tommyr904 · 03-09-2010, 05:57 PM

I fish a wreck and live line pinfish on spinners,I keep 2 or 3 rods out always when the cobs are around

Schmaltz~Herring · 03-09-2010, 06:16 PM

Look for rays!

buddy29766 · 03-10-2010, 02:28 PM

Cobia are generally found following turtles rays and on structure like channel markers and towers. Out on the reef some times they cruise around on the color change . They love to follow big hooked fish (like sharks & jewfish) to the boat so always have a pitch bait ready when wreck fishing out back. Use a live bait but they will hit a plug or jig w/tail .

slickster · 03-10-2010, 08:18 PM

In april the cobia ought to be along cape canaveral on the rays

JB03 · 03-11-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickster

In april the cobia ought to be along cape canaveral on the rays

They are working their way north. Caught this pig along with many others on rays with bucktails Monday off Stuart.

slickster · 03-11-2010, 04:11 PM

That's a COW!....I will be following their progress very carefully....how deep/offshore were you?....

JB03 · 03-12-2010, 05:31 AM

3 miles 40-60ft

slickster · 03-12-2010, 11:24 AM

Thanks...I'll be looking for them.....

Schmaltz~Herring · 03-12-2010, 01:23 PM

My sons was actually as big as that BIG ONE, we just used a camera with a teenie LENSE so it didn't look too big!

p.s NICE catch!

ccboatguy · 03-12-2010, 01:26 PM

Thanks for all the great info guy's. Given a choice, would you start on the gulf side or the Atlantic side?

fish factory · 03-12-2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmaltz~Herring

Look for rays!

That cobia legal ?

Schmaltz~Herring · 03-12-2010, 05:46 PM

And them some!

GRilled it but didn't taste that great??

fish factory · 03-12-2010, 06:45 PM

Ours have to be 33" fl.

We catch cobia while livebaiting for kings. Cobia are curious and will follow yer bait. I would take live, dead, and artificials. Sometimes they will pass up a ballyhoo and hit an artificial presented.

Take a good gaff. Make sure cobia is worn out before boating....they will tear up a boat if green. Do not try to free gaff, the're wild.

triumphrick · 03-12-2010, 07:08 PM

Caught this nice 32# using a live pinfish...the cob arrived with a 40' WHALE SHARK!!

dogonenuts · 03-14-2010, 08:35 AM

channel markers, on reefs and in the grass flats in the GOM. Pinfish have been my bait every time except for an occasional bight on a Gulp while trout fishing. I have just had them swim up to the boat and occasionally seen them following a big ray.

The easiest way has been while trout fishing after it warms up a bit, to freeline a pinfish out the back of the boat and forget about it. Have some pretty stout tackle because even a small keeper is going to give your inshore stuff a run for its money and take a long time to bring to the gaff. Did I say gaff? Better have a gaff or a net you don't want to use much more.

Also, as on hinted above, if they are more than about 24" make SURE the fish is worn out before gaffing him and plan to take him straight from the sea to the cooler and slam the ld on. If not they will beat up everything and everybody in the boat. Take the hook out after the ice has completely subdued him.

Good luck