Blanked On Dolphin, Comanche Cobia Saved The Day!

Worked hard for the dolphin without success. Fished SW Banks out to 650 feet. Skipjack busting all over the place throughout the day. Caught one of those. Started in at 1 PM hoping to see something that would hold dolphin on the way but never happened. Barely equipped for bottom fishing, we decided to stop at the Comanche Reef so we didn’t come back almost empty handed. Preceded to catch some nice Beeliners, a Trigger and a Scamp. Then the stud shows up with the AJ’s and 2 other Cobia under the boat. I have seen many HUGE Cobia swim by the boat and turn their nose up at everything we threw at them. But not this one, he quickly inhaled the jig Shawn threw at him and it was game on! 10 minutes later, the 49.6 lb stud hits the deck and becomes our DAY MAKER!

The J Team
Mayhem & Madness

That’s a nice one! I’ve found that when they show up while bottom fishing, few will refuse a live blackfish.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

STUD

26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream

What’s the law on them ? Had someone tell me you can’t keep them in offshore waters now???

Only in state waters. Federal waters still open until June 20th I believe. What a confusing constantly changing mess we are supposed to keep up with.

Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250

Foxhunter, from the SCDNR website: Effective 1May2016

-May 1- May 31, Catch and release only in SC waters.
-June 20- Dec 31, Fishery closed in state and federal waters.

So what I’m getting from this is that Cobia is back open in state waters from June 1-June 19.

http://www.safmc.net/fish-id-and-regs/cobia

The J Team
Mayhem & Madness

Cracker Larry, thanks for the pro tip. It is greatly appreciated and will do that next time.

The J Team
Mayhem & Madness

Ten fo we were legal then. He had it backwards. Good thing we didn’t get checked. Our story was we caught it at the cans. Slowed down to gaff a dolphin and saw him following boat in prop wash. Pitched him a ballyhoo and 30 seconds later had a green 30 pounder trying to break the gaff.

I’m jealous of you boys catching these big ol’ cobia. Nice catch Mayhem and I hope to catch one half as nice as that one before they are shut down.

My understanding is the state restriction applies only from Jeremy’s Inlet (Edisto Beach) and south…ie. the places where Cobia spawn inshore. Someone please confirm or correct? Larry, what did your letter say?

So far this year I’ve caught one and hope the question is relevant again in my boat.
Roger

49.6lbs of delicious, right there!!!

In the future, where every stranger poses a potential threat, knowing the predator mindset is the only safe haven.

Xpress H20B Bay Series
Yamaha 115 SHO

Ona Mission, unless something different was sent out in the letter to Larry, you are correct. Once again, this was posted on SCDNR website effective May 1 so I’m not sure if anything new has been published other places.

quote:
Cracker Larry, thanks for the pro tip.

Welcome! And if you happen to have a little beeliner, even better. Those little goldfish are hard for anything to resist :smiley:

quote:
My understanding is the state restriction applies only from Jeremy's Inlet (Edisto Beach) and south...ie. the places where Cobia spawn inshore. Someone please confirm or correct? Larry, what did your letter say?

The May closure is from St. Helena to the GA line. Not the entire state.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper