March Madness is here so bring on the cobia! This is the historic time frame here in the central east coast that the migration of cobia swims by us. Free-swimming cobia are the most fun to target in my opinion and, although we catch them all year long, this is usually the best time. The water is warming back up to the 70-degree mark, which is great, but a few things must come together though. One being sunny skies; you must be able to see into the water a little bit. And, two, try to get as high as possible.
A hungry cobia is not a picky fish, nor are they the smartest. My bait of choice is a buck tail with a whole squid hooked on it. This gives a natural look and smell. There are many different types of baits and lures people use. They also like to eat the steel at some points.
I also like live bait. Bunker and pinfish work great too. It’s fun to watch a cobia go nuts trying to eat a livey. Sometimes there are days that you will see 30 fish and maybe only two actually eat or get “Fired Up” on a jig. I haven’t had many cobes turn down a live fish. Some say they will never turn down a live choice shrimp or their magic swim bait etc. Fishing is just what it says, fishing. Some days they’re on fire, others they swim away from whatever you throw at ’em.
My gear of choice is a 7-foot medium action rod with a light tip to jig the lure and enough backbone to stick the hook. Line is 40 lb. braid and a 50 lb. leader. If I’m using live bait, I use an 8/0 circle hook and I hook the live fish through the back of the head and cast forward and past the fish.
Capt. Chris Cameron
Fired Up Fishing Charters
firedupcharters@gmail.com
www.firedupcharters.com
www.sharkfishingcocoabeach.com
(407) 222-3573
Your premier fishing guide charter for shark fishing Cocoa Beach,
offshore fishing Port Canaveral, and nearshore fishing Cape Canaveral.