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Cobia on artificial?

leel33mlleel33ml Posts: 143 Deckhand
in Big Bend General Fishing & The Outdoors #1
Howdy folks. I was fishing yesterday just drifting the grass flats and picking off trout. When I was heading in I stopped at a channel marker and lo and behold there was a big cobia hanging out. I quickly threw my gulp shrimp at him he took a sniff and wasn't interested. I quickly threw a mirrolure at him same thing. Took four shots at him then he took off. Is live bait the way to go for them? Or is there a good artificial they will take? :huh Either way it was cool seeing one.

Replies

  • lboverhoflboverhof Posts: 148 Deckhand
    #2
    I have caught them on bucktails. 1 oz or bigger.
  • Ruff OneRuff One HomosassaPosts: 1,950 Captain
    #3
    Throw them a cobia jig or two. Some times they just don't want to eat, other times they will eat anything. If I had that happen, I would have got two shallow trolling lures ready and trolled around that whole area. That would have fired him up!
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  • Jim311Jim311 Posts: 4,922 Captain
    #4
    I caught one on a Gulp shrimp under a popping cork once. He tried to eat the bobber 3 times before he found the shrimp. Sounds like you might have found one that just wasn't too interested in eating. They supposedly like to eat eels so many people throw a soft plastic eel. I actually bought a 1/2 jighead and plan to use some big bass fishing worms for this purpose. They like pinfish and catfish for life baits.
  • kingkong954kingkong954 Posts: 646 Officer
    #5
    Sometimes they aren't interested in artificials... that's why its nice to have a live pinfish on the boat. Even better... keep a live crab. You just need one!
  • HammerheadTedHammerheadTed Posts: 1,240 Officer
    #6
    I know it is surprising that I would be using a top water lure, but I have caught legal Cobia on a Skitterwalk at Tin Pan and had some real fun netting it in that strong current by myself.
  • lboverhoflboverhof Posts: 148 Deckhand
    #7
    Jim311 wrote: »
    I caught one on a Gulp shrimp under a popping cork once. He tried to eat the bobber 3 times before he found the shrimp. Sounds like you might have found one that just wasn't too interested in eating. They supposedly like to eat eels so many people throw a soft plastic eel. I actually bought a 1/2 jighead and plan to use some big bass fishing worms for this purpose. They like pinfish and catfish for life baits.

    Now that you mention it. I forgot that I caught an undersized cobia (32" :banghead) on the flats with a trout rod. It was also on a gulp new penny shrimp.
  • NewberryJeffNewberryJeff Posts: 7,343 Admiral
    #8
    I keep a 20lb rod, 50lb leader with a yellow bucktail on the boat at all times for cobia. It catches grouper also.
  • permit_mepermit_me Posts: 998 Officer
    #9
    NewberryJeff wrote: »
    I keep a 20lb rod, 50lb leader with a yellow bucktail on the boat at all times for cobia. It catches grouper also.

    yep. yellow bucktail is the charm. Tripletail,when home will eat thos gulps, though.
  • leel33mlleel33ml Posts: 143 Deckhand
    #10
    Im picking up a spinfisher 8500v with a nice 7ft heavy action for the cobia if I see them again and grouper. I'll pick up some of those jogs too. Thanks for the tips! I'll be better prepared next time.
  • capt louiecapt louie citrus countyPosts: 9,887 Moderator
    #11
    10 to 12" rubber worm when all else fails. They seldom turn down an eel. You can add it to the jig but it will sink out of sight if it's heavy and it makes it tough to see how the cobia is reacting . I like a 3/8oz so I can keep it in sight.
    "You'll get your weather"
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