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Been fishin these waters over 3 decades but never had a decent boat until a couple of years ago,so I had to fish for what every ride I could muster up wanted.Now I fish for whatever I want COBIA!!! Caught a couple last year out of shear luck. Both were with pinners freelined out the back. Question is what kind of tactics are best as in ;line, hooks, bait chum or not,artificials,method. I know its alot to ask, but, any help will be greatly prociated, as I am a novice to this species and want more,more moooorree!

Arrange a chum trip with Mr. Tom Keels

Chalk wrote:Arrange a chum trip with Mr. Tom Keels

Thanks chalk ,but been bummin rides too long already,plus every time I go my two sons go ,or play hell with the Mrs

Have one each of these: MH spinning rod(offshore Med. Heavy, not inshore MH) with 30# main and 50-60 floro leader tied to a circle hook sized acccording to the size of your bait. Keep a live pin,eel or what ever you think is the secret bait on at all times and in the well. Have two or three of the same rod/reel/line as above but with your favorite flavor lead head jig/grub tail combo. Get up as high as you can on your boat. thats just what I would do

I have heard before that crab is a favorite of Cobia, may want to have some of those too

What reel do you recommend BH?

I do NOT recommend circle hooks for cobia. You are much better off with a khale style hook.

Tom Keels wrote:I do NOT recommend circle hooks for cobia. You are much better off with a khale style hook.

And the reason is......

birddog wrote:What reel do you recommend BH?

the one you have with the best drag

Barhopr wrote:

Tom Keels wrote:I do NOT recommend circle hooks for cobia. You are much better off with a khale style hook.

And the reason is......

Because the way a cobia's mouth is designed and the way he eats. Trust me, I have had many a heartbreak with a circle hook and cobia to know better. If you must use a circle, use a more open style like an octopus circle.

Barhopr wrote:

birddog wrote:What reel do you recommend BH?

the one you have with the best drag

Actually the reels I have are Penn 7500SS and 9500SS. There may be better ones I don't know, it's all I've ever had. I've had these for 10 years. these reels have worn out several rods. Also have two calcutta 600's that pull double duty for snapper and cobia. I just can't cast as far/acurate with them.

Tom Stephens was recommending a 4/0 Owner Aki for a j-hook when pitching to cobes. I don't know squat about it though. Might go chum up some structure and pitch some pins out there... but not sure.

Up here i'll usually carry a few live eels (which i've seen multiple times in my young life a cobe swim right passed a couple frisky pinfish to dive bomb) and try to be the 1st one to #1 off AGP, WR1, & K tower on the way out. Any open water markers could hold fish. Being 1st helps a lot b/c the fish have not been harrassed yet. If you spot a turtle or other large floatsam slowing get up wind and heave your bait to it. A powerhead is advised when spearfishing.

Where can I get live eels , I've got some plastic ones, do they work?

Markers work so do Rays or Turtles some folks strap a ladder in the boat for trying to sight them. Colorfull jigs work so does live bait, on jigs I prefer chartuse and think they do too.

I have cruised markers and pitched pinfish with some success.
1 for 7 3 for 8 last year and two weeks ago 1 for 2.

On the other coast I have been on a boat that got live bait and trolled wrecks two on flat lines and two on downriggers we caught massive Cobia and Amberjacks out from Saint Marys.

Be careful theese are dangerous creatures, in the boat care should be taken to make sure they never touch the deck of your boat either release the fish in the water or staight from the water in to a kill box ( huge cooler with some ice sit on cooler at least 5 minutes) Green Cobia on the deck have caused many an injury and broken rod. All Cobia that are not dead are a threat. Watched a guy fishing by himself wrestle a 4' Cobia into the boat. Next thing you know it looks like he stepped on a bee hive. He is high stepping jumping around and finally out of the boat and into the water. We ease over and he begs us please get that Devil fish out of my boat and him back in it. We asked what he wanted done with the fish. He gladly gives us the fish, and we help him out of the water he asks what that thing is and drives off towards the hill trembling and muttering curses at the fish now in our cooler. Other than Tarpon I would bet more people get hurt from underestimating Cobia than any other fish.

Have never tried an eel but have used jumbo black plastic worms on a jig head be carful have fun don't keep them all you can only eat so much.

The only Cobia I've ever got on pupose made me promise to all that is holy I would always carry several large sticks and roit gear. Good eating fish, just be careful there ain't no point in getting in hurry.