Nature Coast, William Toney

Good catches of cobia have bent the rods of many Nature Coast anglers this week. The best way to catch a cobia is be prepared for them. I’ve had clients ask me on the phone can we catch cobia on our trip and my reply if we’re fishing for trout trout in deep water with light tackle then there is a good possibility but if we leave port with the intention of catching cobia it will never happen. Cobia appear and like I said be prepared with a medium heavy spinning rod with a eel like soft plastic to cast at them or the best of all a live pinfish. I always call cobia a opportunity fish and now they are in full swing  heading north up our coast line. The best depth has been in the 10 to 15 foot range near high profile rocks.

The trout bite is consistent on the keys on high water with D.O.A. 5.5” jerk bait in glow or glow gold rush belly on incoming tide. Redfish on the same points and rocky bottom but live or cut pinfish has been the best bait. Back out the the 10 foot depths the trout, blue fish, sea bass and small grouper are biting excellent. Look for spotty bottom and the best bait has been a MirrOlure LIL’ John in new penny, bourbon, golden bream and water melon red flake. High incoming tide will be mid day this weekend. W