Weekly Column - June 12, 2006

A cobia looks like what you might get if you crossed an overgrown catfish and a shark. What a combination! It is known as great fighter and a good eating fish too. Another great combination.

Cobia seem to be plentiful this year. Perhaps not as abundant as thirty years past but in better numbers than the past few years. June is the hot month for Cobia and plenty have been reported being caught from piers and boats alike.

Cobia is a free roaming fish making them hard to “target”. In fact many of the cobia caught are “accidental” catches made when targeting other species like king mackerel.

They do have some predicable tendencies that help in locating them however. They like deep holes near inlets and channels where there is a lot of water moment. Reefs with good structure and water movement are another place they can be found. They also like to hang out under things like sea buoys, floating debris, even your boat.

Cobia as large as 90 plus pounds are not uncommon with many of the fish in the 30-50 pound range. When targeting them specifically I use a 4/0 reel on a med/heavy 6’6” rod. But even the bigger fish can be landed on 20 pound class tackle often used to target kings. Just make sure you have a good smooth drag on the reel and set it properly. Then let the cobia wear itself out, don’t “horse” the fish.

Speaking of wearing out the cobia, never ever bring a “green” cobia (one that is not tired) into your boat! Many stories abound of angler’s nightmares induced by a boated cobia with fight left in him. In fact I’ve often heard the line, “a cobia comes to your boat not to see who caught him but to see what he caught. Beware of a cobia that seems to give up early and comes to the boat quickly!

Catching report

Inshore the flounder bite has been good with many fish in the 3 pound and up range being caught. Sheepshead are being caught around pilings using fiddler crabs. The drum bite has slowed a bit.

The Spanish and blues continue to be caught in good numbers a mile or so off the beach. With all the rain we have there is a very distinct tide line visible making for some productive fishing by trolling in a zigzag pattern across the color change. Plenty of cobia has been caught near the inlets and near shore reefs.

Small kings are being caught from the beach out to about 15 miles. Larger kings and Mahi can be found in the 15 – 30 mile range. Wahoo and blue marlin are being caught in the Gulf Stream.

The islands piers report a slowed catch due to all the rain. But some Spanish and blues are being caught mainly in the early morning. Mullet are being caught after dark. Vinita at Surf City pier reports and a nice Sheepshead over 3 pounds being caught this past Sunday.

Tight lines to all!