" Cobia " Homosassa 5/5/2023

Ruff One

We just got back from a trip up to dewinterize our house in MO. and get in some turkey hunting. Found a nice gobbler
 
We have a 10 day trip to Marathon planned with the Butchbals. I called Butch and we decided to run the boat out and check everything. Good excuse to look for some cobia. Pick up some pinfish and headed out to some nearshore rocks. Of course the girls wanted to go. Crew filled. Chum put out. Floated pinfish. Groupers small and large started coming in.       
Here is a pic of a red grouper. We have not ever caught one so close. We were in 15ft. We caught 3.
The tide changed and the cobia bite went off. For an hour we had cobia around the boat. Caught 5 with everyone catching one.
Cobia chaos for a good hour and half!  None made the new legal mark. All fish got released in good shape. Goal accomplished.  Boat checked out and bonus cobia action.
        Time to switch gears and start getting ready for our epic trip to Marathon. Of course we have plans to fish for multiple kinds of fish. I will post up as the trip unwinds. 
   Enjoy.

butchbal

Although we didn't boat any keepers it was a fun day. The only cobe we saw that was probably a keeper was one that followed a shark Tom hooked to the boat. It was the first one we saw and was not interested in anything we offered. 

Super excited about our keys safari, 10 days in Marathon. We are going to start off the first day with a private offshore charter for tuna, wahoo, and mahi. Tom arranged the trip with a local charter captain who is going to also going get us up the speed on the local waters as we will be fishing from my boat the rest of the trip. Maybe we'll get our keeper cobia down there

capt louie

Awesome ! Cobia are showing up here in decent numbers and can't wait to hear about the keys trip.

BottomBumpin

very cool!!  thanks for sharing and sounds like you got a great plan for Marathon! good luck!

RayI

Going out of CR in morning. Water looks like it will be warming to 79 to 80 in coming days. Went early last week and couldn't get a Cobia bite. Lived lined one and had Livie on a redi rig set to about 15 feet in 20 to 25 chumming with cut sardines and old frozen shrimp accumulated. I've stopped the chum blocks due to the draw of the sharks. Hate the bite offs and the effort fighting sharks & re-rigging. Got back to dock and someone there got a 40" about 10 miles from end of markers fishing the bottom? I was about 8 miles out. Did you get the Cobie bite in the 15' near rock piles?

Ruff One

Yes. We found the cobia in 15ft. Rock piles and live bottom. I ve fished crystal river and there are some nice rock piles out around the 16 to 18ft area. Some right off the barge canal. Not sure how far that is but I bet it's around 10 miles. Good luck.

RayI

Out of CR last Monday and Friday. Water temp 81 several miles from marker 1. Had success with Cobia both days boating 3 each day. Unfortunately all between 30 and 34". Hard to get a keeper but there are plenty out there. Landed a nice grouper as well. Maybe I'll see him again in the fall.

Ruff One

Fun day! You're hooked.

nick

Keepers are tough to come by this year for sure but overall it should be good for the fishery. 

Wish they’d talk about the size change more. A lot of people don’t know it changed. (Or it’s to the fork)

RayI

Agree it could benefit the fishery with all the 33 to 35" being available next year at a greater size. However I think more regular adjustments, like after next year, if it yields substantial results consider going back to 33" or maybe even less the following year? It has to trickle down to an increase in overall population and their size.

Another thing I question is the reduction of Gag season from 6 months to 2? they have been all over all year. As long as folks respect the 24" there is a very good chance of bringing home something for freezer while returning several shorts. And sometimes not.

Slacker

I heard the feds closed it due to shortages in the central and western gulf

ANUMBER1

Closed due to recruitment issues.

To many fish caught inshore.


Cobia size was upped due to panhandle guides complaining about few large fish making it that far north and being fished hard in sw and west central early.