Cobia start out as little fellows (see the above picture of a juvenile), and then they grow, and grow, and grow. The world’s record cobia went 175 pounds. They don’t get that large in Virginia waters, but some can push 100 pounds. Cobia are the “snowbirds” of the fish family. They winter in the tropical Gulf waters, then gradually begin to migrate north. Recently, cobia made a blitz through North Carolina and now have entered the Bay – in force. The cobia season opened on June 15, and it should be a good one.
Cobia are one of the great fighting fish in the bay. They jump, they peel off line, they fight to the death, and they are good to eat. Very good – not so fishy tasting, but with a firm white flesh. Anglers both sight fish for cobia and draw them into chum lines. Cobia orient to cover, and will sometimes swim along beneath a floating object, like the top of a crab basket. They are here now, so let’s go fishing.
Also plentiful in Bay waters are bluefish, bull red drum, black drum and Spanish mackerel. Lots of stripers are being caught at night beneath the lights on piers and docks. Speckled trout catches are down due to a winter kill, but puppy drum are taking up the slack. The croaker bite is on throughout the bay, spot are hitting blood worms and flounder fishing is improving steadily. Surf anglers along Sandbridge have been pulling in Pompano, Sea Mullet, Bluefish, and on some days, Spanish Mackerel. Offshore charters are finding Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, and Mahi.
OBX
Pier jockeys at Nags Head were reeling in lots of bluefish along with small croakers, sea bass and trigger fish. Some citation sea mullet were caught at Ocracoke. Capt. Stecher of BeachBumFishing has been catching lots of big red drum in the sound. Offshore, the crew aboard “Bite Me” had a double hookup with sailfish and boated a pile of nice Mahi.
Freshwater
Crappie have tired of roaming the shallow waters and have headed deep, hanging near deep underwater structure and bridge pilings. Smith Mountain Lake has been a largemouth hotspot with a chunky 9-poundewer weighed at a recent tournament. The rivers are way low.
