Hi Everyone,

I've been invited to head over to Destin, Florida next year and spend some time fishing offshore with a good friend of my fathers. He is an AVID Cobia/Ling fisherman and I would like to make him a custom rod as a thank you for letting us stay with him and his hospitality. I've never even SEEN a Cobia in person. I've read up some about them and read some pretty hilarous reports about people getting accidentally hit with the fish mallet while the Cobia destroyed the rest of the boat... (well it was funny to me for sure... ;-) )

So, if there's anyone out there that is familiar with offshore Cobia fishing I would love to hear from you.

I've already purchased an 8 foot live bait rod (Rainshadow RCLB 80M 20-50lb.) that I was told was fantastic for Cobia since he often uses live eel. I know it will be a spinning rig for sure. I just need help with things like what is the typical fishing style ? Cast and restrieve then hold on for dear life ? Rod in a belt or held under the arm or braced on your leg ? Butt length, grip style... etc.

I have some pics that his wife sent me of some of the rigs that he's currently using. So if anyone is up to the task of helping me out just shoot me an email, I can send you the pics and we can go from there.

shieldski@hotmail.com

Sorry for being so long winded but this is a very special project to me and I want to blow his socks off.

Thanks as always for all the support, Jeff Shields
Shieldski Customs



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2007 08:54PM by Jeff Shields.

A cobia is a supersonic catfish on steroids. Very strong, very fast and they don't tire easily. My best was a 75+ pounder way back in the mid 1980's.

There are different ways to fish for them. Some people troll, others cast. You might want to find out a bit more about how your friend actually fishes for them. Then you can make him something that he can use in the style which he prefers.

.................

I just spoke to the wife and she said that he actually site casts to the cobia in the clear Destin waters. He typically uses live eel.

12 inch rear grip, 8 inch fore. Aluminum reel seat. Use a size 40 first guide and leave the tip a size 10 or 12. I would recommend a mushroom butt cap, as I know very few that would use a gimbal... at most a basic belt that a mushroom is fine with. A Quantum Cabo 70 makes a nice reel to balance this out with. If you made the whole set-up go with the Pac Bay silver/blue seat and make the whole thing match. The same set-up will also make him a good Tarpon rig.

-Steve

Tampa, FL

Calstar 800L would make a great cobia blank and is also a great tarpon blank if the opportunity presents itself.

My best is just 80#, but they get a lot larger. Saw a 5-footer gaffed way to early and brought aboard a 16' Whaler a few years ago. Destroyed the inside of the boat, including the center console. Every time the dad hit it with the priest it just got more enraged. His son was kind of hiding in the back of the boat. They had to tow the guy in.

Our waters on the southern Outer Banks are pretty good for cobia but Destin is one of the best places for them. We watched boats trolling 30-50yds off the beach taking them regularly.

Most of the folks round here use a 7' or 8' standup-type rod for them, similar to what was described above. Most of the fishing for them here is live-bait, in the deep holes where they are found most of the time. Boat-rod guides as opposed to rollers. I've been wondering what a spiral wrap would do for live bait (I do like the new "bumper guide" idea) on an 8' stick.

See what he likes and then build it for him after the trip as a "thank you"

Gee, you sure are going to have fun! Let us know how you did.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods.

Jeff:

Just as Tom ,Scott, Steve & Russ said they are fighters ! Just got one two weeks ago that went 65 + I was under rodded & fought it for a while, Remember to cut the tail and let him bleed out before you bring him into the boat. They will hurt you! I'm with Scott on the rod a Calstar 800 but I like the 800-H for Destin as offshore the Bill Fish up there are Monsters. I also would use double foot guides . All around great choices and would make a nice gift to show for your trip.
Good Luck
Bill Rice

Jeff, perhaps the local gulf coast fishing forum may be of some help for information : [www.pensacolafishingforum.com]. There has been lots of discussion of what gulf coast fisherman think is a good cobia setup. I believe the majority of fisherman targeting cobia in the Destin (Gulf coast) area use live eels, sight fishing, rely on very accurate casting, long casts. However they also use cobia jigs that I would guess are in the 2 to 4 oz range (when the live eels don't produce). Hope this helps...