Started drifting for trout out in front of Palm Island in about four feet of water. Started throwing a Mirrolure top pup, with no luck. Switched over to rootbeer and chartreuse jig and immediately started picking up trout.
Then it happened: The moment a lot of you on this board have been waiting for: A ray went underneath the bow of my jon. I looked down and was astonished to see a COBIA swimming right on top of it. This was literally underneath my feet in four feet of water. I dropped my jig straight down and it turned, but didn't take the jig. A few more pitches and the same results. The ray got about 15 yards from me, and I know my chance was slipping away. I could still see the ray and cobia well, but with no trolling motor, I knew the window was closing. I placed one more perfect cast right out in front of the ray, let it sink, twitched it, and WHACK!! followed by "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ" the drag starts screaming! I fight the fish for about 15 minutes and finally get him close to the boat. I was worried that he may still be green, but I wasn't gonna lose him at the boat, so in a swift moment I put him in the net with one hand while the other was still on the rod. The cobia starts thrashing, so I drop my rod in the boat and fight the net with two hands over the side. I sat back, heart pounding, still not believing that my first cobia was laying at my feet. I saw another boat near me and knew I needed a proper picture, as I was alone and wouldn't be able to get a good photo. They were willing to help and happy for me! We measured the cobia at 30".
![Image](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag37/jslorenz3/photo4_zps673e166a.jpg)
Once I regained composure, I got back to my original gameplan and hit the creeks behind Palm Island in search of reds. I found two reds that I sight casted to and were willing to play. Two reds in two casts! They were both barely keepers, but I released them.
Here's one:
![Image](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag37/jslorenz3/photo3_zps028a5bb7.jpg)
I'm thinking, "Wow, this has to be some type of inshore slam: trout, cobia, and redfish". I'll go ahead and say it was, even if I just made it up.
Saw some Spanish follow me in, but none caught. All fish were released healthy. It was a "career day" for me since I've been at FSU.
Made it back to the ramp and loaded the ole jon up.
![Image](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag37/jslorenz3/photo1_zps305b0d52.jpg)
And here's the bait of choice that all fish were caught on;
![Image](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag37/jslorenz3/photo2_zps8b41c433.jpg)
If you made it this far, thanks for reading!! Great day at St. Marks!