So I tried cobia fishing for the first time this weekend. I would appreciate some advice.
Do you free line greenies without weight?
How far away from the boat?
Do you fish on bottom?
What depth of water should I be set up in?
Every time I put a bait on bottom I caught a shark. Any help is appreciated
First off…I am no expert by any means, but have managed to catch a good many Cobia. I have seen them caught by floating a menhaden under a ballon (no weight) after spotting them near the surface. I have had more luck just drifting with the live baits 20 yards, or so, from the boat and put one line just over the side about 6-8 ft below the boat. I think they like to hang out in the shade. We have caught them on everything from live bait to headed shrimp (fishing for spades). That 88 lb’er that fellow just caught was hooked using a live crab. I would stay off the bottom around these reefs this time of year. They seem to hang close to the surface around here. Unlike at Edisto I think they prefer to fish on the bottom using eels during the big cobia run. Well that’s my 2 cents. Good luck…Ben
Key West 196;150 Yammie
Life Is Good…Gotta Love It!!!
Cobia are not boat shy, they will sometimes come up and hang out right in the shade. I usually keep 2 baits on the surface with no weight, a couple suspended by balloons at 5-15 feet, and one on the bottom. The bottom rig does catch a lot of sharks, but sometimes cobia. They run the entire water column so I spread baits from top to bottom.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Thanks for the advice. I am going to brave the crowds and try again this weekend.
Are you talking about using a blue crab? This may be a stupid question but would it have to be of legal size? Do you break off the claws? Sorry for all the questions. I really want to learn how to fish for them.
Yes, crabs need to be legal size even when using them for bait. And yes, break off the claws.
The best way to rig them is with a rubber band. Loop it over one point of the shell, twist it about 20 times and stretch it across the back and loop it on the opposite point. Insert hook under the band, twist it a couple times and back under the band again. I can rig it faster than I can type how.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
I was wondering how y’all rigged those crabs. Thanks for the tip Capt.
Key West 196;150 Yammie
Life Is Good…Gotta Love It!!!
Thanks for the tips