What is the best circle hook for your fishing adventure? The truth is that while size matters, it varies depending on the fish you want to target. We will sort that out later in this blog, and we encourage you to take a closer look at the circle hook size chart here and explore the various circle hook sizes.
Circle Hook Sizes
You may have noticed that circle hooks run in two ways – the # or the /0- For example, the #1 circle hook is different from the 1/0 circle hook. As you choose your range of circle hooks understand that with the # number system on hooks, the larger the number the smaller the hook. So, a #4 hook is smaller than a #1 hook. With the ought or aught system, the hook sizes are followed by a /0 – for example, 1/0 is a one aught hook, and it is smaller than a 4/0 (four aught) hook.
Another key consideration when choosing the hook size regardless of the style of hook circle, J, etc. – is that you need to match the hook to your bait size, and bait size is a reflection of the fish you want to target. Many fish, with some exceptions, will eat whatever food will fit in their mouth. By matching the size of bait to the mouth size of the fish you want to target, you can sometimes eliminate pesty bait steelers that will take your bait even though they are small.
There are physiological reasons for choosing the right hook. With circle hooks, you want to pay attention to the gap. That is the space between the point of the hook and the shank. Wider gaps allow thicker jaws to enter the circle of the hook and therefore allow you to hook bigger fish. Smaller gaps make it more difficult to hook bigger fish since the hook will not fit over their jaws.
How to Choose the Right Size Circle Hook for Your Goals
Fishing hooks have seven parts. These include the:
Eye – where you tie your line to the hook
Shank – Attaches to the eye and is a straight part that ends where the hook begins to bend.
The Bend – The bottom of the hook where the metal forms a U-shape
Throat – where the hook begins to straighten after the bends – there is often a barb in the throat to help keep the hook in place.
The Point – where the throat meets the barb
The Barb – the sharp part of the hook that penetrates the fish’s flesh to help set the hook and keep it in place.
The gap – The span of air – no metal – between the barb or point and the shank. The gap is the diameter of the opening that indicates the fish jaw size to hook size ratio.
Choosing the best circle hook is all about two things.
The diameter of the metal that makes up the hook – thinner for smaller fish, bigger for heavier baits, and for bigger fish.
The gap measurement so that you can gauge what size fish will fit the hook or what size bait you can use with this hook.
The exact size of the circle hook will vary from one species of fish to the next. For that reason, you want to think about what size bait you will use or soft plastic. Longer soft plastics, which are very popular, take bigger hooks. You want the shank of the hook to be longer so that the head of the soft plastic piece sits at the eye of the hook and the bend emerges from the soft plastic near the middle or top third of the soft plastic mimic.
You also want to think about the gap, especially with circle hooks. The gap needs to be large enough so that the hook will be set above the jawbone. If it does not, the fish can tear – literally – away from the hook.
Best Circle Hooks for Saltwater Fishing
Two brands stand out when you shop for circle hooks. Mustad and Gamakatsu.
There are other brands of circle hooks that are also awesome. Eagle is one such brand.
For saltwater fishing, you will likely stay with a 2/0 hook for most inshore and some offshore fishing. For reds and speckled trout, you can do down to a 1/0 or stay with the 2/0
#4-6 for Jack Mackerel, if you are targeting bigger fish such as Cobia, or Yellowtail 5/0 is a good bet. If you are using soft plastics as bait, consider a 3/0 or larger depending on the length of your soft plastic bait.
For massive fish, such as marlin, you will head to the top of the big hooks with 10/0 and 11/0 hooks. You could use a 10/0 or 11/0 circle hook for the red snapper. Their mouth is huge, and they don’t typically shy away from hooks.
What size circle hook is right for your next fishing adventure? If you are going solo, stick with a selection of circle hooks to match the catch available. A good quality 2/0 will do you well for most inshore fishing. 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0 for medium-sized fish and go big – 10/0, 11.0 for anything with plenty of weight and a big mouth.
Saltwater catfish are a pain to deal with because they are so good at stealing your bait. The joke, however, is on them because you might find them to be one of the best fish to eat. How big do saltwater catfish get? Most species range from 9-12 pounds at full maturity, so not as big as freshwater catfish. While there are several types of saltwater catfish there are only two main Florida catfish species – hardhead and gafftop catfish.
What Are Saltwater Catfish?
Are there saltwater catfish? There are a few species of catfish that live in saltwater. Hardheads and sail catfish are perhaps two of the most widely populated saltwater catfish along the coastal waters of Florida. They reside in both the Atlantic and more heavily in the Gulf of Mexico.
If you are wondering how big saltwater catfish get, they stay fairly small. The Hardhead catfish can grow to 28-30″ in length and about 12 pounds. Anything close to that would be considered a trophy catch. Most Florida catfish found in the shallows range in weight to three pounds. The Sail Catfish or gafftop catfish is slightly smaller when fully matured weighing around nine pounds. On average, expect most of the Florida catfish you catch to be under three pounds. In fact, both species are considered pest fish for anglers because they are very good at stealing your bait.
Hardhead or gafftop fishing is fairly easy. You can find saltwater catfish in both the shallows during the summer and in deeper water in the winter months throughout the Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. While the hardhead catfish is generally only a saltwater fish, the sail catfish, aptly named because of its taller dorsal fin, will sometime invade brackish lagoons, bays, and estuaries.
For those anglers who want to target snook, redfish, or spotted trout, you will have to battle the sailcat catfish and hardhead catfish as both will try to steal your bait. For most of you, that’s a negative, and it can be, but there is an upside. Ocean catfish make amazing cut bait. If you find that you are having to re-bait your hook or constantly unhook Florida catfish from your line, just use them as bait.
Hardhead Catfish
Can You Really Eat Saltwater Catfish?
A big question from anglers new to catfish saltwater fishing is “are saltwater catfish edible”? They are edible, though some people do not like their taste. You can, and you should expect a similar taste and texture as you find with freshwater catfish. Many people who catch saltwater catfish do not bother with eating them. They just throw them back. They have a bit of a negative image because they are not overly large, they are bony, and their dorsal spins can be toxic. They are actually excellent to eat.
If you cook them correctly, you end up with a solid, flakey fish that has a firm texture and that lovely catfish taste. They are not gamey or bad tasting. You do have to work cleaning them as they are very slimy. Their extra thick slime coat helps protect them from the saltwater but makes them slippery to hold. There is also the risk of getting “stung” by their dorsal rays, and pectoral rays, which can cause a toxic reaction.
For these reasons, many anglers prefer to target other fish, that are less work and easier to clean. Opportunity is in the eye of the beholder. The ocean catfish pretty much catch themselves. All you have to do is throw out your line, and they will attempt to steal your bait. If you have not tried them for lunch or dinner, do so. You may be pleasantly surprised at the quality of fish they are.
How To Clean and Prepare Saltwater Catfish
Catfish have very angled rib bones. So, you have to filet them a little differently than you would another type of fish.
Step 1: Bleed them, by cutting the gills. You can use an ice chest with water in it so that they bleed into the water. That kills the fish faster, and they bleed out quickly. The result is a cleaner filet.
Step 2: Once the fish is dead, you want to feel for the outline of the ribs. The bottom of the ribs will range from the pectoral fin to the anal fin. Cut along the spine and along the edge of the ribs down to the anal fin. This will help you remove those ribs when you filet the fish.
Step 3: At this stage, you can filet the catfish like you would another fish. The difference is that as you remove the meat (filet, you slide your knife along the rib cage where you made the cut to the anal fin. As you do, the meat will come away from the ribs, and you will end up with nicer filets. Hardhead and sailcat catfish do not have a lot of meat, so fileting in this way helps to produce the most meat.
Saltwater Cat Fishing Tips
What bait do you use for saltwater catfish? – Catfish hunt by smell, so something stinky is always a good choice. Oily cut bait is one of the best baits to use.
How to safely catch saltwater catfish? – Saltwater catfish have three spines that can produce a toxin. Those are the first dorsal ray, and the two thickest spines on the pectoral fins. To safely catch catfish, bring them to the boat or on shore with a net. The net helps reduce them flopping around, which can cause you to get stung easily. Put them directly into the cooler and then bleed them.
What techniques work best for saltwater catfish? – You can target catfish in shallow water and along structures with cut bait and hook. You can also chum them in the same situations and then target them with a hook and bait. Chumming helps cause the catfish to congregate in one area where you can then target them with your hook.
Why Do People Not Like Ocean Catfish?
There are two main reasons why anglers do not like ocean catfish. The first is that they steal your bait while you are fishing for other fish. The second is that they are a little harder to clean. Some anglers will tell you that ocean catfish are not good eating and that is very debatable.
Are saltwater catfish poisonous? Another reason people do not like ocean catfish is that their spines can cause a toxic reaction. By learning how to handle them safely, you can avoid much of the risk. The flesh is not poisonous to eat.
Fishing with live bait is sometimes a must. When it comes to tempting big fish with live shrimp many anglers struggle to keep their bait shrimp alive. Inside, we discuss how to keep bait shrimp alive and some of the tricks we use to use live bait successfully.
How To Keep Shrimp Alive Longer
Like all living organisms, there are parameters that must be met to keep shrimp alive. Those are:
Plenty of air
The right water temperature
When you take shrimp out of the water and put them in a bucket or a Livewell, you are putting them into an artificial environment. That means you have to manage the environment to create one that sustains life, even if it is for a short while as you fish. Here’s some more on how to do that.
Limit How Many Shrimp You Put in Your Bucket or Livewell – For three gallons of water Keep no more than about 18-shrimp. For five gallons of water keep no more than 24 shrimp. Too many shrimp deplete oxygen and foul the water. When the water is dirty it kills the shrimp. Live shrimp is a better bait option over dead shrimp – though both will catch fish.
Add Oxygen – Warm water holds less oxygen than cold water. Because the shrimp are in a bucket, the water will warm quickly. To counter the loss of oxygen, use a bubbler. There are battery-operated bubblers that will aerate the water for you. As an alternative, there are flow-through shrimp buckets that you drop into the ocean where you are fishing. The tidal pressure forces water through the bucket so you don’t have to worry about an aerator.
Use a Shrimp bucket – Unless your Livewell is small you probably want to go with a special bucket for live shrimp. They make them. They are set up to hold an aerator. Plus, they are small enough that you don’t have to hunt for shrimp.
Use small ice packs to regulate the water temperature. If the water is too cold or too warm the shrimp will die. By using small ice packs or even small amounts of frozen water in a bottle or container, you can keep the water in the bucket just right. Do not add ice directly to the water. It will shock the shrimp and cause them to die. It also will melt and dilute the water in the bucket. Saltwater shrimp need salt water and if you add ice to the bucket, it will drop the ratio of salt to the water.
Limit the time you have the shrimp in the bucket – On the way to go fishing, pick up your live shrimp from the bait store. Trying to keep them overnight is a hassle. By limiting the amount of time you have the shrimp, you stand better odds of getting to the fishing spot with live shrimp.
Keep it Shrimp Only – The shrimp bucket is for shrimp. Don’t put anything else in there. Not only do you risk your shrimp becoming a meal for other things in the bucket, but those other things will use up oxygen and pollute the water, both of which put your live shrimp at risk of dying.
What Are You Using To Keep Shrimp Alive?
One big mistake that anglers make when trying to keep shrimp alive is to use a regular bucket. You can certainly take a regular bucket and modify it to work. It is much easier to just buy a shrimp aerator or filter bucket. It is also important that your shrimp bucket be clean before you use it – every time you use it. When you have a designated shrimp bucket, you tend to use it only for shrimp which cuts down on many pathogens that may kill the shrimp.
Common Mistakes
Adding ice directly to the bucket is a common mistake.
Not cleaning the bucket well enough before you add the water and the shrimp
Not keeping the bucket out of the sun while you fish
Adding too many shrimp to the bucket, especially with an aerator.
Advice For Longer Lifespan
Keep the water temperature fairly consistent. Not hot, not cold, but something close to the surface temperature of the waters where you fish.
Don’t put other fish in with your bait shrimp. Fish like shrimp as snacks.
Use a bait shrimp bucket that you float in the ocean. It will help keep the temperature in the bucket consistent and add aerated water to the bucket.
Don’t buy your shrimp the day before you go fishing, instead, buy them on the way to go fishing so that you keep them in a bucket for the least amount of time possible.
How To Keep Shrimp Alive Without a Livewell
Unless your Livewell is small, do not use it for keeping bait shrimp alive. You will spend a lot of time hunting for the shrimp and if you catch other bait fish you will have nowhere to store them. Keep the Livewell for fish and use a bait shrimp bucket for shrimp.
It may seem like a hassle to fish with live shrimp. There is a reward of sorts though. Live shrimp are very keen on avoiding predation. They will hide from the smaller fish that steal bait and live shrimp. That means that your bait is going to stay on the hook longer and your odds of hooking bigger fish are better.
Redfish are the kings of inshore fishing. Because of their vast range and fighting prowess, they remain a favorite of anglers from South Texas almost to New Jersey. Where you find redfish and how you fish them are two very interrelated attributes.
The process of targeting big bull redfish begins with your rod and reel, which we outline for you in our blog – “What Is the Best Rod and Reel for Redfish and Speckled Trout”. However, this blog focuses on lure selection for the successful fishing of redfish wherever you find them.
The Trick to Catching Redfish
Redfish are creatures of habit, and they range from deep water to crawling across muddy weed beds with hardly any water at all. Habit is a good thing to think about when targeting redfish. It is true that they will eat whatever they can find, even snakes. But to successfully fish them, you need to pay attention to what is available where you are fishing. In fly-fishing, we call this “matching the hatch”, and to do that, you pair your fly with patterns of insects that are available (hatched.) With redfish (and most others) you do the same thing. The redfish are dialed into what is available and so you need to be also.
Pay attention to what is available in the water where you fish. In the shallows, you might be looking at blue crabs on the sandy bottom near a marsh or inlet or sardines that are schooling in deep water. Redfish fishing in the in-shore can mean targeting them with crabs, shrimp, and shads. So all of these options are variables that change based on where you fish. That little factoid is important because you want to match your lure selection to what is physically available in the water where you are fishing. Thankfully, redfish lures come in a huge variety of sizes and patterns.
Our Top Saltwater Lures For Redfish
Inshore fishing
Inshore fishing you want to have a few varieties of soft plastic shrimp and crabs – these can be lures or jigs the head standers work well for bottom targets. Head standers mimic feeding shrimp and in terms of redfish lures, they are a hit. Another hot item is the shad patterns. You can find these in metal lures or soft plastics, and they work well on a variety of fish. Eel patterns are also a good option.
What you are looking for in a good inshore lure is a mimic of the life that exists in the sandy flats, rocky crevices, smaller reef structures, etc. These are the food items that redfish are dialed into and what they will strike at first and fast. You can also pay attention to seasonal changes, such as when the baitfish come inshore to spawn or when bigger fish, such as cobia are chasing baitfish into the shallows.
When you fish inshore, you would usually grab a shrimp pattern first. If you notice, there are a lot of crabs around switch to crab patterns. If you are not seeing a lot of native wildlife – shrimp, crabs, eels, then you can try a gold-tone spoon and see what that does. The best tip is to be prepared to change it up often.
Our Choice for Topwater Lures
Get ready to start speaking gibberish – As in the Skitter Walk, which is a hot topwater option for targeting redfish. The Skitter Walk by Rapala is one of the best and most versatile red drum lures, but it is not alone. The Heddon Super Spook is another option that will do an excellent job. One of the best reasons to opt for topwater lures for redfish is that red drum can present an explosive strike that launches them out of the water. THKFISH GT Popper is a third option, and they are available in many color patterns – go for the gold tones though the blue can be a hit in spring or fall.
Any of the above lures will do well in deeper water or inshore fishing, but for tidal marshes, inlets, and brackish water, you want to go a complete 360. If you are fishing along the weedy beds, you will find shrimp and crabs and those are good bets, but a perfect topwater lure is something in a mouse pattern. Think fluffy and bright like a dry fly. Small rodents are not uncommon food for big red drum fish. One of the best artificial lures for redfish is the Redfish Mariboo #10 in purple and black. The fluffy bit of flotsam is a redfish magnet.
A good tip for fishing the weedy spots is to use a weed guard. They allow you to pull your lures through the weeds with far fewer snags. Redfish love the weeds, and you can find big bull redfish in shallow water in weedy spots.
Our Choice for Best Versatile Lures for Redfish
Often when you are targeting redfish you also have the option to target speckled trout and snook too. Twitchbait options are a good choice because they will allow you to target red drum, speckled trout, and snook. The slow sinking twichbait by Yo-Zuri 3D in the mullet patterns are good options. In fact, many of the slow sinking lures, such as mullets are ideal. You can target redfish all day and increase the fishing by also enticing snook and speckled trout to pop the hook.
Again, the takeaway here is not so much the specific lure as the fact that it mimics something that is native to the environment. When you dial that in, the fishing becomes better.
When you set up for redfish, the lures you use are close mimics. If you are fishing inshore, the water can be murky as the tide changes. If you are fishing inlets, bays, or estuaries and marshes, you want to pay attention to the clarity of the water. Brighter tones work well in murky water and redfish seem to love the color gold. Gold and green, gold and purple, and gold and red are three options. If you want to fish with spoons, gold and green are hard to beat. The best tip to give is to be prepared to switch up your lure option often. Stock and rig your leader with swivels, so you can switch your lure with ease. In shallow water, you will often sight-fish for redfish, speckled trout, and snook. To make that process better, standard equipment should include polarized glasses.
Is saltwater fishing after a rain good or bad? It is a common question and the answer, maybe. The best time to fish is before the storm hits. The fish can sense the change in barometric pressure, and they do their best to take in as much food as possible.
The reason for this is that during a rainstorm, most fish hunker down and weather out the storm. When waters become rougher, it takes more energy to fight the current and the larger waves that come with a storm. For that reason, fish try to find places where they are less exposed and exert less energy to stay safe.
After a rainstorm, fish may become more active. They may leave their shelter and hunt for food. If the water is rough or if the rain has caused higher levels of turbidity (silt, mud, and sand) to cloud the water, the fish will have more difficulty finding food. In deeper water, the waves may remain high, but the water should not be too muddied by the storm.
Fishing after the rain can be good if you target specific fish. Those species with a high-energy need to eat constantly to maintain their speed and agility. Mackerel is an example. Tarpons are another example of fish with high energy levels. Both are excellent targets after rain. if you are fishing inshore, then try targeting snook, redfish, black drum, bluefish, and speckled trout. Even flounder will be more active and looking for smaller creatures that the rougher water has displaced.
If you are fishing in deeper waters, head for structures, such as oil rigs, wrecks, or along the shelf. These areas are where the baitfish will head during rougher waters. Once the storm passes the predatory fish – Tarpon, Cobia, Shark, Tuna, Mackerel, and Yellowtails will head to those areas also to feed on baitfish.
Before the storm, you can troll of chum for bigger fish. They will be on the prowl and anxious to feed. Like a boat, big fish are impacted by storms in aggressive ways. It is harder for them to swim and the violent nature of stormwater can cause them to sustain air bladder damage. They will try to feed heavily and then settle down to wait out the calmer waters. During the storm, they will not be present unless they are in crisis. After the storm, and when the water begins to settle down they will emerge and hunt for injured fish, smaller fish, and baitfish schools.
Water temperature also impacts how active fish are. If the weather is cold, you may want to fish in deeper water where the temperature will band in layers and the fish will find a layer of water with a temperature that suits them best. Some anglers use a fish finder tool to locate fish that stratify before or after a storm.
Fishing After Rain
Rain is a natural occurrence for animals all over the globe. As such, those that are successful have built-in tools for dealing with finding food before and after rainstorms. Fish behavior after the rain depends on how long the rain lasts and how rough the conditions get. If there is an afternoon shower, the chances are that little will change. If there is a rainstorm that lasts a few days, fish will emerge hungry and in need of food.
If the water is muddy, fish will be slower and more apt to take what presents itself rather than roaming about for food, especially for smaller fish. Often after a rainstorm that lasts for a few days, rivers pump a lot of sediment into coastal waters and the turbidity of that episode can last for weeks with the impact of staining even deeper water for a longer time.
Fishing after the rain needs to be a well-thought-out adventure. The water can be swift near spots where rivers enter the ocean, and waves can be much larger than normal. Also, expect wind and showers to follow after the main storm passes.
Pros of Fishing After a Storm
Fish are hungry but may have a harder time finding food. A good tip is to either chum or use stinky bait. Bait that leaves an oil or blood trail will be your best bet. In water that is stained, bait fishing is often the best option. Trolling can become more difficult since visual hunters will have a harder time seeing lures.
Fish on the leeward side of objects. An object such as rocks will act as a storm block for fish and you will often find fish that hunker down behind an object so that they get a break from the stronger currents and waves. Figure out the current and then fish on the side of the object that follows the current. Use bait over lures and be patient.
Fish the Calmer Junctions – You should be able to spot these. They are the place where the deep water meets shallow shelves or where the inflow of a river is stopped by ocean water. In that junction, all of the small food will gather and fish that are successful in surviving storms will focus on those areas to consume smaller fish, crustaceans, crabs, etc., that become washed into the deeper water. your options include top-water flies, bait, and if the water is clear then lures.
What are the Cons of Fishing After a Rain?
Fishing can be more difficult due to the way rain changes fish behavior and the environment. You can overcome each. If you fish in calmer areas where the water or current is not so strong and if you use baits that attract fish even in muddy water.
The Ocean is rougher – if you are prone to seasickness, you will have a harder time dealing with the ebb and flow of post-stormwater. If you don’t succumb to seasickness, you might feel its effects in the heavier chop following rain.
There is an increased risk, especially for smaller boats, due to the heavier swells.
Fishing Before Rain
Fishing is good before a storm. Fish can feel the change in barometric pressure and the smart ones try to prepare for several days of hunkering down and not feeding. That means the fish become active and the fishing is easier. The water is clear, so hit them with lures, baits, or jigs. Most species of fish will be more willing to chance food before a storm.
Fish will have to stay in one place or within a small area for a day or more during a storm. They will only venture out if they are very hungry. If you are fishing before a storm, you will find fish on the move and hunting. Stinky baits are a good tip.
Fishing During Rain
Fishing during the rain can be miserable and cold. You can offset that experience with quality raingear by dressing in layers that help your body to maintain warmth and wick moisture away from you. When the rain begins the fish will likely already be hunkering down. The increased barometric pressure will warn them of the rain. This is the time to fish on the leeward or sheltered side of structures, in deep holes, and places where fish may find shelter from the increased current and formation of larger swells and waves.
Never fish alone in the rain. Be wary of lightning and leave the water and head home if lightning begins. Also, be wary of changes in the ocean’s condition. If the water becomes too rough it is dangerous.
How does rain affect fishing behaviors?
As the rain begins to fall, surface-feeding fish, such as sea bass and cod may try to feed. As the rain continues and the water begins to muddy and the current or wave patterns increase, fish will find shelter. That is why you fish on the sheltered side of structures during and after the rain. That’s also a good tip if you fish during the change of tides. Fish will move from one side of a structure to another as the tide moves from incoming to outgoing.
What are the pros and cons of fishing during rain?
Cons of fishing in the rain
The weather is bad, and you are likely to get wet.
The water is often rougher, and you may get seasick
It is dangerous to fish in the presence of lightning and if the water becomes too rough.
Visibility is less and tactics such as sight fishing may become worse.
Pros of Fishing in the Rain
Fish are likely still active if the water is not muddy, or the current is too strong.
Fish can be easy to find behind structures where the current is lessened.
Stinky baits may work better than lures
Fishing before, during, or after a rainstorm requires a lot of thought. The water can be rough and dangerous, the storm can produce lightning, which can be deadly, and the fishing can be miserable if you do not know how to fish the storm. It can also be a miserable experience if you do not prepare for wind, water, and rain. It is also important to understand how fish behave in storms so that you can target them. Fishing in a storm requires that your tactics be spot on otherwise, like the fish looking for food in muddy water, you are fishing blind.
Cobia is a top-ranked sports fish that is also excellent to eat. People compare it to the yellowtail kingfish in flavor, which is distinct, firm, and pleasant. Commercially, cobia is a premium fish due to the fact it is not overly bony, and you can filet it into steaks, loins, or sometimes cutlets. While cobia is good eating, it is the rodeo-like fight that draws anglers to it. When you target cobia, you are getting the best of both food and sport.
Targeting Cobia
The biggest cobia can be six feet long and weigh close to 100 pounds. Cobia is a deep-water fish and is often accessible by fishing charters that offer deep sea fishing. They like to hunt along the border between shallow water and deep water, especially if there is a shelf there or some sort of structure. You can catch cobia anywhere the bait fish swarm, from the shallows to deeper water. The waters off Destin tend to drop quickly and depending on where you fish and the number of fishermen around you may want to head into the deeper water.
Cobia is often a sight fishing target. You can spot the singles from the deck and then cast onto them. They will take a jig or live bait and BOOM it is fish-on.
They feed on many things including shrimp and crabs, and smaller fish, and will follow sharks to clean up any scraps that may be left over when the shark feeds.
Where To Catch Cobia in Florida
Cobia can be found from the State of Virginia all the way down the Eastern seaboard and into the Gulf of Mexico. Around Florida, one of the best places to fish for cobia is off of Destin, Florida, and into the Gulf.
If you are fishing for Cobia around Destin, Florida it is important to understand the behaviors of cobia and how to target them. Cobia is a migratory fish, and the local populations tend to migrate from the northern Gulf to the Southern Gulf and then back again. Generally, from March into October you find the most cobia in the Northern Gulf waters. From October or November until March or early April, you find the most cobia in the Southern waters of the Gulf.
The best Cobia Season in Florida is when the fish are in the Northern Gulf of Mexico – March through October and sometimes into November. If you are planning on fishing for longer or overnight then you can fish Cobia year-round. It takes longer to hit the Southern waters, but it is doable.
Where to find cobia in Florida
If you are fishing in early spring in Florida for Cobia, then head to the panhandle – anywhere from Levy in the east to Pensacola in the West. Inshore and along sandbars in shallow water – 15 feet depths or less. During the summer months, and when the shallow water is hotter, cobia tend to stay in the deeper water – 15 feet or deeper especially along any physical boundary between deep and shallow water.
During the fall and winter months and into the early spring months, you can often find cobia in the more southern waters of the Gulf. The farther south they migrate the warmer the water stays year-round. Cobia prefer water that is warmer than 70°F. If you are using a fish finder, use one that will tell you the water temperature.
If you are fishing off of Destin, you can be battling cobia in as little as 15-minutes from leaving the harbor. That makes the area around Destin, Florida ideal for all types of fishing. If you are heading out with a charter, then expect to be on the fish quickly.
What To Use As Bait For Cobia
What is the best bait for cobia? It is not a surprising question considering the draw cobia has on anglers. The answer is probably pinfish, which are baitfish that remain active and present a frantic behavior when cobia is present. Nothing piques the predatory instincts of cobia more than a struggling pinfish. “What do cobia eat,” is another popular question. Cobia eat many things and their diet ranges from shrimp and crabs to smaller fish, shads, and even eels. That variety of food is why you find cobia in waters from shallow to very deep.
You can use live baits or cut baits. Pinfish are good for both, squid, cigar minnows, ribbon fish, menhaden, and Spanish sardines are all options for bait for cobia. Cobia will follow sharks and eat the fringes of what remains after the shark has struck. For that reason, cut bait is also good. In addition, to live or cut baits you can also target cobia with soft plastics. Choose lures that have a longer tail and that mimic shad. One of the best bait for cobia is soft plastics with streamers.
Cobia Fishing Techniques to Hook a Cobia
Cast and Retrieve – A good technique with live bait or cut bait. Basically, you toss out your bait and retrieve it with short strokes. If there is a cobia around, they will feel the vibration of the bait and investigate. Once they strike, you will feel a sharp thump on the line you set your hook with a solid, upward jerk of the rod. With cobia, you have to set the hook hard, and you will know instantly if you’ve succeeded.
Sight Fishing – You can use live bait, cut bait, or jigs and lures when you sight fish cobia. Once you see the fish, toss out your line to it. Work the bait or lure and then allow the bait to drop. You will see the fish drop too. Open the bale and gently hold the line with your finger to the rod. Once the cobia takes the bait, you will see the line start to strip off of the reel. Flick the bale over and set the hook. You generally set the hook two or three times to really set the hook. For many fish, you only set the hook once. With cobia, set it a few times.
Florida Cobia Regulations
There are two big changes in the Cobia regulations for 2022.
July 2022 – the size increases for legal cobia. They must be 36″ to the forks
A vessel may only catch two cobias per day – in the past it was six cobias but in July 2022 that regulation dropped to two fish per boat per day.
Be sure to check with the Florida Fish and Wildlife unit before you fish as the regulations can change quickly. Cobia is an amazing sports fish. They are strong, fast, and smart, and when you battle them, they put on a good show and you will never know until they are on the boat if you will win that battle or not. Some anglers choose to target cobia that swim with sharks. It’s a fun opportunity, but never expect to land the fish before the shark eats your prize catch. A good tip for fishing cobia in deeper waters is to fish around structures, such as oil rigs. They will hang at oil rigs feeding on the bait fish that congregate there.
Is saltwater fishing after a rain good or bad? It is a common question and the answer, maybe. The best time to fish is before the storm hits. The fish can sense the change in barometric pressure, and they do their best to take in as much food as possible.