Another Cobia Story

[juan sapatos]

Had a trip scheduled for weekend of June 11 operating out of Shell Island Fish Camp (nice people, great service, great value). We planned to fish inshore Friday and offshore Satruday. The offshore trip was scuttled halfway to the mouth of the St. Marks by a balky outboard. Called to the fishcamp and they've got a boat available so off to plan B. Headed to the vicinty of the grassflats south of grey mare, started a drift, dropped a chum bag in the water (I know, I know, but I wanted the kids to catch something, anything).

After a few minutes of short trout and sharks, I start seeing something bigger swimming up the slick. My 14 year old son is free lining a live shrimp on a trout rod -- size 1 circle hook, 8 lb stren, 30 lb mono leader, no swivel. He sets the hook and a BIG cobia jumps twice. I cranked up and gave chase. A nice bystander sees us waiving our pitiful trout net, rides up and loans us a gaff. Fish towed us for 45 minutes. I started to consider the possibility that we might get the thing in the boat.

By this time we are a good 1.5 from the start in much deeper water. Get the fish to the boat and he takes yet another lazy 20 yard and deep to the bottom. My son says, "I think he's having a seizure." 30 seconds later he reels in the fish cut in half behind the pectoral fins. Judging from the marks on the hide the teeth were and inch wide on what had to be a monster bull shark. I'm guessing the fish would have topped 40 pounds. Salvaged two big chunks of meat from over the rib cage.

Not the ideal ending, but quite an adventure, particularly for a salvage trip. We've got pictures of the head and the fish swimming close to the boat. I'll try to post if I can figure out how.

[robbankston]

Sounds exciting!

[onefishtwofish]

Well that stinks. Sorry to hear that he got it that close. On a more positive note, I bet he tells that story way more times than if he had just landed a 40" cobia. And ya'll still had something to eat. Tell him good job on the fight though. Getting it that close was still a major accomplishment. Sounds like he was winning the battle.