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".
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:
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.
And here's the bait of choice that all fish were caught on;
If you made it this far, thanks for reading!! Great day at St. Marks!
