Cobia on the Fly - Tips?

[Charles.Tapp]

I'm heading down to Cape Lookout this weekend with some friends to target Cobia. We'll primarily be fishing with spinning rods, but I'm thinking of bringing a fly rod in case the opportunity presents itself. I don't have anything larger than an 8wt with a 9wt intermediate line. I suspect this will be too light for most of the fish, but wanted to get recommendation from the group on flies, tippet, etc. Any advice is appreciated.

Tight lines,

Charlie

[Jeffrey Silvan]

Charlie - 

If the heaviest you have is an 8 wt, I might stick to the spinning rod. You'll be pretty outgunned versus any but the smallest cobia. A 10-12 wt is pretty standard for them. A lot of people compare them to tarpon (with less jumping) for a size for size fight. I'm guessing you'll be on a boat? Fly fishing for them is fairly limited to sight fishing which gets pretty limited from the shore. Pop around channel markers and bridge piers. You can usually find them there, but you can definitely find some cruising flatwater too. Use heavy tippet - at LEAST 20 lb - since you'll be bringing a lighter rod. I know many people that don't go lighter than 35 lb even on a 10 wt. I would probably use a heavier shock tippet, too. Remember, these fish can get up to 80 lbs. The nice thing is you don't have to worry too much about spooking them, so you can get pretty close on them before dropping a fly. Just strip fast, and be sure to strip set rather than trout strike him. A pretty common fly for that area is called a "Whistler." There are tons of variations on them, and everyone has their favorite. A lot of tarpon patterns work well for them too, as do many saltwater streamer patterns.

I'll be hitting up the Broad River in SC for them next weekend, so I'm interested to hear how you do!

Jeff

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[Eric Y.]

An 8wt will be okay but a 9 or 10 would be the best fit. If you're chasing the smaller guys (10lbs or so) you'll be okay. Floating line is probably best, but if you have to use an intermediate, don't use a weighted fly. I would either build a leader of 60-40-20 or just use a level leader of 20-40lb fluoro. Wear them out before you get them on the boat because they're serious thrashers when landed. 

The flies I've had the best cobia success on are any combinations of chartreuse, red, white, and pink on a 4/0-6/0 O'shaughnessy hook. Anything tied for pike or muskie will work. They like big, bright, flashy flies that are on or close to the surface (think flat wings, big sand eel patterns, large mushmouths, kinky muddlers, tabory snakes, etc.) because you'll be sight casting to them sitting up really high in the column, if not on the surface. They're not very picky on fly patterns - if they're eating, they'll eat anything. 

[Eric Y.]

Jeff, the Broad River in and around Beaufort is where I've caught all of mine. With the late spring, you're probably going to have a lot of luck. In 2010, I made the mistake of going the last week in May and we only saw two fish - learned our lesson and went earlier in the month every other year. 

[Jeffrey Silvan]

I'm only going then because of the Memorial Day weekend. I set up the trip for cobia if they're active, otherwise we'll be switching to reds on the flats. It'll be my first time hitting that water, so hopefully the action will hang on like you mentioned.

On Thu, May 15, 2014 at 10:34 AM, Eric Y. <theeri...@gmail.com> wrote:

Jeff, the Broad River in and around Beaufort is where I've caught all of mine. With the late spring, you're probably going to have a lot of luck. In 2010, I made the mistake of going the last week in May and we only saw two fish - learned our lesson and went earlier in the month every other year. 

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[Eric Y.]

If you'll be in Beaufort for a day or two without a boat or guide, shoot me and email (edy...@mail.roanoke.edu) and I will pinpoint my super-secret wade-in flat for reds. In six years of going down there, I've never had to share the flat with other fishermen and access couldn't be easier. It also holds a lot of sheepshead. 

[Charles.Tapp]

Thanks, Jeff and Eric. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share next week.

Charlie