 |
| This cobia was caught on the Pensacola Beach fishing pier. Photos by Mark Clabaugh |
Hello folks and welcome to paradise! There is a lot happening in the world of fishing in the month of April. In fact, a lot of people would tell you that it is the most exciting saltwater fishing month of the year!! First, chronologically speaking, in March the first cobia was caught at the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier! Second, snapper season opens April 15 for state waters (inside nine miles), but federal waters do not open until June 1. So for a month in a half we will be fishing for red snapper within nine miles.
Cobia or ling are caught seasonally off the cost of Northwest Florida and start showing up in March and peaking in April and May. These large fish migrate from South Florida North in the early spring. Fisherman on the pier generally monitor piers like Panama City and Okaloosa Piers, and in earlier days the Navarre pier, to gauge when they will be arriving at Pensacola Beach. Since the hurricanes, the early warning network has been somewhat disabled, meaning catching the first cobia comes as a surprise.
There are two means by which you can catch cobia off Pensacola Beach. One is to buy a pass at the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier and sight fish for them. Most anglers at the pier will fish at the end of the pier with an array of cobia jigs. Once a fish is spotted, the more seasoned fisherman will quietly cast beyond the fish jigging back. This technique requires excellent casting skills and practice. My friend Kenny Wade and his son crab cast on objects in the water or on the beach. For a demonstration of his skill Kenny casted out beyond an object in the water that was several yards away, jigged and returned a piece if insulation smaller than a paper plate in one cast.
No comments:
Post a Comment