Sight Fishing for Cobia

[Yanks7man]

Hey guys, I have a quick question. Me and my buddy are heading out next week to go cobia fishin. He has never caught one before and i havent caught all that many, maybe a handfull. The only kind of fishing for them i have ever done is chummin at nine foot shoals and grandview. However, I want to try something a little different this year. I would like to try and sight cast for them but I dont know really where to look. Where do people usually spot them?? Around the CCBT or shoals? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and good luck this year!!:thumbup:

[South Paw]

Why not troll for them also?

Good Fishin

[mikec]

Open Water

[Split Shot-MK]

You can go along the CBBT looking for them along the pilings. You can run Buoy Lines looking for them under/around the buoys. You can run along Sandbridge Beach and look for them cruising but that tends to happen more further south - like in NC.

[Getaway]

Just got back from O.I. where we fished for Cobia by sight-casting. One thing for certain, (in our case,anyway,) you need a high platform (tuna tower) to spot them in open water. From the deck or flying bridge, I could not spot them at all, unless we were right on top of them. In the fall, when the Cobia are leaving the bay, you can often spot them around the channel buoys, even from the deck, as they are often on the surface and right behind the buoy.

Good Luck to yiou!

[THATSNEAKYMURRET]

If you dont have the eye for them your not going to see them. practice makes perfect I guess but you will get dissapointed if you dont know what to look for.

[fcpro]

Have to agree with the tower, although I dont have one. Also agree with knowing what to look for. I caught all of my cobia last year sight casting. One thing that helps if you are in calm water or a tideline is looking for a push of water on the surface. Cobia will sometimes create a "v wake" as they swim near the surface. Sometimes they will also "fin" on the surface. Also dont overlook schools of cownose rays. I have seen them follow rays in the past. Another good option is spotting a sea turtle on top. Have had several occasions over the years when one or more fish would be under the turtle. Good Luck.

[Getaway]

We had a pretty good chop (wave action) yesterday while fishing out of O.I. It was impossible to spot the fish except from the tower.

[Water_boy]

[QUOTE=Split Shot-MK;1379396]You can go along the CBBT looking for them along the pilings. QUOTE]

If you don't mind are they up current, down current or between the pilings?

[Wes Blow]

Take the time to go to this meeting if you want to learn about sight casting for cobia.

Here is the link to where it is.


http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/virginia-angler/263508-nac-june-meeting-cobia.html

[capt_ben]

A few tips...

1) They arent on structure like pilings and bouys right now. Bouys in another couple weeks, but not yet

2) Dont get frustrated. It can be boring and tiresome, but productive

3) Down south the fish are with turtles and Mantas, not up here "YET" or that I have seen any how.


Go to the meeting, I'll answer all your questions.

Capt_Ben
AboveAverageSportfishing.com