Can someone please tell me if you can keep a legal Cobia caught at Kiawah Reef right now? Thank-you
Yes, until June 20th I think. Then none. The safmc being the wise masters they are have determined they will become extinct if you keep any after that. It must be wonderful being able to make such determinations while never actually looking below the surface, or even being on the ocean for that matter.
Olde Man Charters
843-478-1538
Oldemancharters@gmail.com
286 Seafox/Twin 300’s
Strange… I’ve heard from at least 5 guys that have been on the water for 30+ years and they say they have definitely seen a big decline in the cobia numbers in the past 6 or 7 years. I’m not a scientist nor work for safmc. Just repeating what I’ve been told. Also it’s a minor detail but no one has said they are going extinct. Just overfished.
From what I understand, and I might be wrong, but on June 20th the limit changes to 1 per person and 3 per boat. No change in size limit. It’s hard to keep up.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Update to Cobia Regulations (effective May 1, 2016)
Closed Season
May 1 - May 31. Catch and release only in SC waters south of 032 31.0’ N latitude (Jeremy Inlet, Edisto Island).
June 20, 2016 – December 31, 2016. Fishery closed in state and federal waters.
Bag Limit
1 per person, per day, and no more than 3 per boat per day. Applies only in SC waters south of 032 31.0’ N latitude (Jeremy Inlet, Edisto Island)
2 per person per day (Federal waters and all other SC state waters)
Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250
i keep hearing different things on what is defined as “state waters”. doesnt that mean within 3 miles of shore or am i wrong on that one? i dont have an offshore boat, but ive seen cobia near the beach in menhaden schools before and i definitely want to try to get one with the kayak in north fl.
- 2016 Saltwater Fishing Regulations
Size & Catch Limits for Saltwater Fish
TL = Total Length
FL = Fork Length; See How to Measure a Fish.
AIW = Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
State Waters extend from the saltwater-freshwater dividing line to the 3-mile limit.
Federal Waters extend from the 3-mile limit to 200 miles offshore (international waters).
All species in this section must be landed with head and tail intact.
Cobia
Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250
As stated above, harvest of cobia in federal waters (outside 3 miles) is prohibited from June 20-December 31. South Carolina will follow suit and harvest within state waters will be closed during the same period (in addition to the regulations already posted).
VA and NC bucked the federal regulations to some extent to keep the inshore fishery going after June 20, which will certainly affect the ACL and could affect the number the GA north area can keep next year. NC’s new regulations are:
A 37-inch fork length (measured from the tip of the snout to the fork in the tail) minimum size limit for all recreational fisheries.
Anglers fishing from private boats may only fish on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays under daily possession limit of two fish per vessel or one fish per person if only one person is on board.
Those fishing from the shore or shore-based structures (pier or surf) may fish seven days a week with a daily possession limit of one fish per person.
Those fishing on a for-hire boat (charter or guide) may fish seven days a week with a daily possession limit of four fish per vessel or one fish per person if fewer than four people are on board.
Those practicing catch-and-release may fish seven days a week.
VA has gone to 1 per person and 2 per boat.
Florida is not affected as they are considered part of a different stock and they did not come close to reaching their annual catch limit last year.
thatnks for clarifying. just wanted to be sure id be legal before stuffing one inside the hull (after subduing it of course) and bringing it back to shore. one would hope if they see me in a kayak that i didnt get it outside of 3 miles!
quote:
Originally posted by OccamsRaiserStrange… I’ve heard from at least 5 guys that have been on the water for 30+ years and they say they have definitely seen a big decline in the cobia numbers in the past 6 or 7 years. I’m not a scientist nor work for safmc. Just repeating what I’ve been told. Also it’s a minor detail but no one has said they are going extinct. Just overfished.
Of course the"extinct" reference was sarcasm. I had a diver on my boat yesterday telling me about all the red snapper out there but they keep them closed based on their studies, models and calculations rather than actually looking at what is there. I would not be suprised to see them do the same with offshore cobia, not the same as the Broad River population. Don’t put too much confidence in safmc or their management practices. SCDNR is better but even they built a reef with tax dollars for a two year study, then 19 years later asked safmc to close three square miles of ocean to bottom fishing because it was successful. Don’t put much faith in government bureaucrats.
Olde Man Charters
843-478-1538
Oldemancharters@gmail.com
286 Seafox/Twin 300’s
When the powers that be make it “hard to keep up”. they get to write many more citations and collect lots more money…
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker LarryFrom what I understand, and I might be wrong, but on June 20th the limit changes to 1 per person and 3 per boat. No change in size limit. It’s hard to keep up.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper