2009/10-06 Juno Beach Pier Fishing Big Cobia Nick Rocky Terry Chris Rick Joe Steve Dave

[coolkid39247]

omg I was there that day

[kingmackattack42]

Keep the gaff in the water and in one place, don't move it around!. Let the angler bring the fish to it head first with the hook side facing up, of course, or on the opposite side of where you need to stick the gaff. I've seen many nice fish lost because the gaff fouled the hook or leader and pulled it out. My very first Cobia was lost due to incompetent pier-gaff operation.

You want to put the gaff in the head, it's the toughest part of the fish and it usually won't give any. And be patient!

[hig12345678]

@kingmackattack42 That works when you're on a pier not too high off the water, but when you're in this situation, you cant help from the gaff swinging. it's nearly impossible, even in non-windy conditions

[kingmackattack42]

@hig12345678 Yeah, you're right. Watching this just brings back a bad memory of my very first cobia. I had hooked it off of the Dan Russell pier in Panama city beach on a rubber-skirted grouper jig. After fighting it for about 20 mins., I managed to bring the fish up. A local volunteered and lowered his 4 prong gaff down to the cobe. After missing several times, the gaff became badly entangled in the 17 lb. line and soon snapped it at the knot. Oh, what fun!

[hig12345678]

@kingmackattack42 Thats the negative about fishing for bigguns of tall piers!

[kingmackattack42]

@hig12345678 Oh, but what satisfaction when you do pull one up onto the pier. Landing a big fish on a pier is something many boat fisherman probably can't do. I've done both and of course boat fishing is much easier.

[hig12345678]

@kingmackattack42 Agreed. Even off a fishing charter boat in key west someone pulled out a big grouper in 30ft water. its insane what difference a boat can make

[kingmackattack42]

@hig12345678 True.True.

There have been some great catches off of piers. Big sharks at night, although they were probably caught using wench sized 16/0 Penn reels. Sailfish have been landed on piers also. But the biggest feat I've ever heard about was a 100 lb. + Cobia caught off the Dan Russel pier in Panama City Beach back in '99 using spinning gear. I saw a photo and it looked like an overgrown flathead catfish.

[jimmycriketnew]

you call that a big cobia?

[tr3v0601]

What state ?

[pierafficionado]

did not know this fish was on video, I am a star!!! To think I hooked that fish first and lost it and then it ate right after. Nice fish Nick.