We failed on that attempt, and similar attempts over the next hour or so resulted in the cobia nosing the live bait and bumping it around, but never taking the hook. The boat next to us caught a nice cobia - they estimated it to be fifty pounds. I guessed it to be around thirty-five.
Finally, as one of the cobia swam by on the surface, I put a live grunt in its path. The grunt headed for the bottom and the cobia turned and inhaled it. I set the hook hard and gave the rod to Charles. Charles had never caught a cobia.
As he reeled the fish to the boat it seemed simple enough, and I actually had a chance to gaff the fish early. WARNING: Do not bring a green cobia in the boat with you. I had the privilege of learning that warning the hard way many years ago, so I passed on the gaff at that point.
It was about then that the cobia finally realized he was hooked! It was also about then that Charles realized he had a fight on his hands! Several runs followed by long pumping retrieves, followed by several more runs, followed by... - well, you get the picture. A tired Charles finally celebrated as we gaffed a thirty-eight pound cobia and dropped it in the ice chest.
The fishing is hot right now on the offshore reefs up and down the Atlantic coast. It's time to take a day of vacation in the middle of the week if the wind is right - because you don't get a lot of days when the fish are active and the weather guessers are accurate. We ended up with enough fish to plan for an office fish fry this month. Maybe you can do the same!
