It’s a cobia bonanza this week on the Space Coast! With offshore water temps being cooler, combined with light winds (for a nice change), the Cobia bite was solid this week!
There are several methods that work well cobia fishing, but this week it was simple. Without the presence of manta rays, these fish have been holding around most wrecks and reefs up the entire coast. In my opinion, live bait makes a huge difference. I like to have a full well of live pilchards or pogies, which ever may be most accessible. Sabiki rigs around buoys or small wrecks will be the go to for pilchards, and pogies can be found just outside the surf and can be caught using a heavy 10-12 ft cast net.
When it comes to fishing for cobia this time of year, slow trolling is a great method. I like running a kingfish rig with two trebles on a Shimano Tourium 20, paired with a Shimano Talavera and 30lb blue or clear monofilament line. Using a down-rigger or plainer and varying the depth with one long rod set out the back on the surface is definitely the way to go. Slow trolling these live baits and zig zagging around the local reef lines or wrecks will yield good results. You may pick up bonus fish along the way from kingfish, dolphin, sharks, and various other species. Once you get a bite you’ll have your depth figured out. Then, simply slow troll or drift in the same vicinity and you’re almost sure to keep it going. It’s always a great idea to have a pitch rod rigged with a jig or a live bait ready in case fish swim up to the boat, or follow up one you may have hooked.
The cobia bite will not last long, but has definitely been the hottest bite of the week this week!
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