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Return of the Armada
By
Capt. Bill White © 2005
www.sarasotabayfishing.com
Ah, Spring! The flowers are blooming, trees are hazing your windshield with
pollen, the snowbirds are flocking north, and spring-breakers are returning to
gulf beaches. Spring is the time of year when serious anglers neglect cutting
their lawns, cleaning the windows, downspouts, etc, in favor of tuning the
outboard, testing the depth finder, re-lining reels, replacing rusted hooks on
lures and cleaning filet knives in preparation of the calm weather to come.
Wives know from the glazed look on their husbands' faces, that small trace of
slaver at the corner of the mouth, and the twitch associated with the delivery
of every new issue of the subscribed fishing magazine that it's almost time.
Calm seas and warming waters bode well for those hunting the big black cruisers
also known as ling, lemon fish, crab-eaters, and brown shark. To those who know
cobia, the spring run is long-anticipated, we suffer through every
winter-extending cold snap, hoping it to be the last, waiting for someone to say
the water temperatures have reached 70 degrees.
All sportfish have their own fan base, with snook having the largest, but when
it comes to cobia, there are so many particulars that make this fish, well,
special. Thought by many to be the Forrest Gump of the fish world, cobia bumble
along, eating whatever they find interesting, leading the life of the blissfully
ignorant. Often, cobia will approach an anchored boat simply to see what it is.
Personally, I've had them swim right to me and circle while I was wading,
examining me to see if I were some sort of new stump in the bay, then swim away
to find another object of appeal. I've watched with great interest as huge cobia
followed tiny sharks, tracing their every move in hopes to glean a snack from
any meal the shark may find, only to laugh uproariously when the irritated
bonnethead turned and chased it's shadow away.
Often, cobia will take almost any object they find moving in the area. I've had
them eat top water lures as well as popping corks. Many times trout have been
stripped from the hook before my clients could get them to the boat, followed by
exclamations that a "shark" had stolen their fish.
No matter how dumb cobia may seem to be, never let their lack of poise and avid
curiosity fool you into thinking they are an easy mark. Cobia can, and will
often dumbfound you, appearing from nowhere and then disappearing just as
quickly. They will rush your bait with great speed, and then suddenly turn away
as if only kidding. The strength possessed by this galoot is unmatched. Cobia
can run, tire, run again, and then relax, only to run some more. They seem to
revel in the tug-of-war, pushing themselves to drive harder with each run. Once
in the boat, their energy suddenly returns, allowing a large fish the easy
ability to trash everything within reach. Anglers who don't know cobia may find
themselves sorely surprised to find the retractable dorsal spines jutting
upwards to greet hands, or in one fisherman's case, the bottom, when the man
tries to subdue the thrashing fish.
Pinfish make excellent bait for cruising cobia, as do sardines, threadfin, cigar
minnows, large shrimp and crabs. Artificial bait arsenals for cobia should
always include 4 and 6 inch DOA Shrimp, DOA crabs, DOA Baitrunners and Tough
Guys. Other lures found attractive to the big brown shark are topwater baits
such as Mirro-lure, Zara Spook, soft tails and other assorted splashers.
Tackle should be sturdy for cobia, with at least 15# test line, 10-17# rods as a
minimum, and medium large spinning reels. Some like lighter, others heavier,
matching their tackle to their own ability to fight the fish or the environment
available. Obviously, if you encounter a cobia in a tight situation, heavier
tackle should be used for better control, and when offshore or on open flats
where the fish has plenty of room to run, lighter gear can be an option.
Spring cobia will begin to show offshore around shallow reefs, from 20 to
50 feet deep, some will make their way inshore to gorge on crabs and shrimp on
the flats, while others will continue on to northern destinations. Some will
find comfort in local waters, staying on through summer and even into a warmer
fall. Attracting cobia over reefs is sometimes as easy as starting a menhaden
oil slick and waiting with live baits out on flat lines. Some anglers prefer to
ride around actively searching for surface cruising fish, while others prefer
hunting those fish feeding on the flats.
Cobia are a great challenge to the fly fisherman who wishes to test
himself (or herself) against the brute strength possessed by these fish. For
this one needs a guide who can find the fish and advise properly during the
fight, while working the boat to your advantage in order to help the fly rod.
Fly tackle for cobia should be at least 9-10 weight, but with the bigger fish a
12 or even higher is recommended. I once led one of my clients to ten cobia in
two days on flies, with the largest being 85 lbs. On a twelve weight that big
fish took 2 ½ hours to land and required we chase the fish for nearly seven
miles.
Great flies for cobia are large and flashy, gaudy in the least. I prefer large
(4-6") red marabou flies, large shiner varieties, and my own pinfish
patterns. Cobia have rough ridges in their mouths like snook, not teeth, and
will rub through ordinary leader material, so you should use at least 40 lb
fluorocarbon as a shock, followed by a 15 lb tippet or greater. Flies should use
5/0 hooks or larger, so basically, rig like you would for tarpon.
Cobia are pure fun. They offer the angler sight fishing opportunities, strong
fights, and rough and tumble runs as an alternative to graceful jumps. They'll
dig their faces into the bottom to dislodge your hook, while one or two of their
comrades follow closely as if wondering why. They'll break you off and come back
to eat a second, third, or even fourth time, often breaking you off every time
and training leaders while they do. They have no fear of boats or motors,
letting the vessel approach closely as if daring you to take them on. Even when
frightened away by the accidental angler, these fish will often regroup and meet
you on the field of battle seemingly just to test themselves. Cobia are truly a
special species, and in my book, easily earning their game fish status.
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