Miss Judy Charters
Captain Judy Helmey
"Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956!"
124 Palmetto Drive
Savannah, Georgia 31410
912 897 4921 or 912 897 3460 fax
www.missjudycharters.com
May 21, 2007
Looking for fish in all the right places!
Story of how to catch a cobia with a shark! It's definitely not what you think!
The navigational aids that line the channel that helps to show you the way to the ocean can be very interesting especially in the "catching arena!" These areas provide surfaces for marine growth, which brings on the hungry attentions of small fish. Now that I have set the stage here's how you can use this to your catching advantage. Firstly, let me mention that all or any of these buoys could be holding the attentions of fish especially at this time. The best way to attack this situation is to first always approach with caution. Not all fish will get alerted or even be aware of your presents. As a matter of fact some fish such as the cobia sometimes will come straight to your boat. In their case they are leaving one shade for another, which in this case is your boat. Cobia is known for hanging under anything from metal to wood to the real thing. Buoys are anchored and floating objects are pushed by the current are great places that could hold the attentions of this fish. You know the old saying, "never leave a stone unturned." Well in this case it's not stones we are talking about, because they basically sink! However, I do think that you get the picture. Another good place to look is around any surface holding sea turtle or large manta rays. Cobia loves to go with the flow of these beautiful sea creatures.
Small bait that seeks out buoys, debris, and any sort of moving so called shelter for protection. The fact of the matter is that they feel safe holding close to these things. Large fish know this so therefore they use this situation it to their advantage. I have seen on many occasion all sizes of fish hanging together. I call it "harmony in step" within the reef or moving object. However, if one of the participates get hungry or nervous the mood change is instant. Since this article is about cobia and it's the season to target this fish I would like to share with you this little story.
While fishing in clear waters south of this area several things caught my attention in regards to the real food chain. The chain that I am talking about is "fish eating fish eating fish!" As I watched this unfolded: We were targeting sharks so that we could get the best shot at a cobia also known as a lemon or ling fish. We had to bring the sharks in tight to our boat, because during this time the cobias follow the sharks. The sharks have a buffet of small to large size fish such as pilot sharks also call remora's holding and swimming with them. The fact of the matter is that those not attached make the same motions as the shark that they are following kind of like birds flying in a pattern. When a shark approached normally a few cobia would be right in step with the shark. The shark is one of those feeders that rip and pulls apart it intended meal. When this act takes place there are lots of floating leftovers in which to suck up quickly. So therefore sharks are popular for this reason. As long as the fish following only eat while the shark is feeding there is not a problem. However, if the fish following decide to strike out on there own "feeding frenzies of the wrong kind get started."
With that being said, if a cobia takes any sort of bait offering that you pitch to them the demeanor of the holding pattern of the shark changes immediately. What was just a shark follower becomes a potential meal for the "toothy one!" For the sake of getting on with this story lets assume shark came to the boat with several cobia in so-called tow. You made your cast and one of the cobia took you up on your bait offering. As soon as the cobia was hooked up fear and panic started sending out distress signals, which the shark immediately homes in on waves produce. After all it's their job! As long as you don't put any pressure on the fish it actually stays right with the shark. However, any real strong tighten of your reel's drag is going to result in a quick send out of distress to the shark. The absolute only way to land your hooked fish at this point is to "gingerly crab" your line in to the boat. As long as you proceed with this pattern the shark won't eat your fish! The bottom line is that if you are looking for a fight in this case it's not happening here! We held the fish at bay as the shark continued on it "meandering way!"