February outlook is time to refocus on Cobia. There are several specific attributes associated with the geography of the Cape that raises the bar for our area when it comes to sight fishing for cobia. As the Gulfstream is shifting warmer water onto the shores of South Florida we are getting ready to welcome new residents of cobia to our waters. These fish will migrate northbound in a comfortable thermal cline of 68-72 degree water. Currently this comfortable thermal cline is on the western edge of the Gulfstream in South Florida. By the time these fish reach East Central Florida the Gulfstream will be further offshore than these fish care to be and this will turn them West bound and start showing up at the Tip of the Cape. Places like the Carole Lee Wreck and the Yellow Security Cans are typically the first to welcome these new residents. The waters North of the Cape will still be too cold to host these fish, thus turning them Southbound to our coastal shoreline. This is what makes our area the most exciting place on the East Coast to sight fish for Cobia. Opportunities over the following 4-6 weeks will come in small 2-3 day windows as weather patterns will push these fish back and forth, up and down our coastline in water that range from 20’ to 50’ depths. You will be looking for pods of bait, weeds or debris, rays, turtles, sunfish, or simply free swimmers sunny themselves in the middle of the day. We had a quick teaser of what to expect with this years Cobia run when our local population of Cobia began to show themselves as free swimmers in the area around the Dutch Wreck before this last cold front pushed them back down. In the coming weeks look for the water temp to reach the magical 68-72 degree range, check your neighbors gardens to see if his Azaleas are in bloom, respool you spinners with some fresh new line and get ready to get into the Cobia Sight Fishing Frenzy.
Tight Lines,
IGFA Captain Mark Wilson
www.PhantomChartersInc.com
Email: Mark@PhantomChartersInc.com
Phone: 321-537-8028
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