Nearshore waters fill up this month, with big pods of baitfish bringing in predators by the thousands. From bluefish to Spanish mackerel, the action can pick up in shallow-water places just outside of the breakers. Anglers should keep a larger rod rigged and ready for a visit from a monster-sized cobia.
As a general rule, cobia showing up along the beaches are huge fish that often push the scales to seasonal heights, but don’t expect to see any more than two or three fish in a group. Cobia follow big schools of bait inshore and will patrol the edges like a sheep dog herding its flock. Fortunately for anglers, seeing big cobia around these schools is a piece of cake. These torpedo-like brutes cruise just under the surface in the super clear, green water. Their dark, brown silhouettes are easily recognized and anglers will have fair warning when these fish enter the picture.
Capt. J Baisch always keeps a close eye out for cobia in the spring and summer.
“It’s a good time to catch cobia around the schools of bait,” said Baisch. “I keep a rod rigged with a big Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow or topwater plug when we are hitting these schools (of) Spanish. Over the past few years, the cobia have really shown their selves.”
Getting one of these huge cobia to crash an artificial lure will make any trip a success, and to make matters better, it is all sight-casting.
In the clear water, Baisch ties his lure directly to a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader.
“Cobia are leader-shy for the most part, and you will lose some tackle, but it is part of the game,” he said.
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