So where exactly is the 9 Nautical Mile line which is the boundary of state fisheries jurisdiction?? I have been attempting to get this information from LDWF but it seems that all they will provide is a statewide overview of the line which is not sufficient to determine exactly which rigs are within state jurisdiction. I spoke to Captain Comeaux in the Thibodaux office and was informed that enforcement agents use an app to determine if they are within state waters, but he could not provide me with access to the app. How are we to know which rigs are within state jurisdiction? Does anyone outside of the LDWF know exactly where the line actually is? Does LDWF even know?
Here's a couple of 50 pounders taken from the South Pelto blocks, notice the BP lesion on the closest one.
The Capt. boats another nice one.
Yes you can catch cobia in a bass boat, made it to West Timbalier on Friday and seeing the calm seas kept right on going until I got to the South Timbalier 50s, all caught on a 3 oz white bucktail jig, could have caught twice as many but it's hard to squeeze them into the live well on a 17' fish n ski.
The lesions you see are not normal scraping or wear and tear on these fishes bodies. I caught a lemon fish last time out that had much worse lesions than the one pictured above. The lesion on the one in the picture was external as are the others i've seen. The fish meat is fine, I just cut out the area of the lesion. The lemon fish are thick in South Pelto right now, in 2 hours i saw 8, hooked 4, boated 3.
it's private property and if he has the proper permits he can gate it off, but I can't understand why anyone would spend the money to put a gate across the slip, which is about 200' wide, just to keep people from catching a few trout close to the landing. I personally don't fish there even though I can see it from my camp because it's not worth it.
I don't see any ice chests in those little boats. I say if it got you back then it's not too small.
Research included age/growth, reprodution and reef fidelity. Researh supported by Mobil Oil. We spent 4-6 days per month doing accoustics and fisheries research using Mobil platforms as a base. All published in peer-reviewed journals. Helicopter rides out and in, spearfishing and hook/line fishing, eating like a king out there, and always brought plenty of fillets home. That's the way to fish, it spoiled me but all things must end.
and no, they don't just eat anyting. I watched a 60 pounder eat then spit my jig real quick on Friday. I've seen many Cobia refuse to take anything but a live fish. I'm sure you're a great fisherman and have boated hundreds of Cobia, I've boated thousands, and researched them extensively. One thing that I learned a long time ago is that you can't cathch them if you don't go out and try. I go out and try when possible and the proof is in the pictures.
Drew b is not talking fishing, he's just criticising and insulting people. Let's see some fish that you have caught drew. Why not contribrute rather than criticise. Let's hear where you fish and what you use and what you catch rather than call a magnificent fish such as a cobia a dog. I had the pleasure or participating in research projects on cobia and would never denigrate one of the finest and most sought after species in the gulf.
If it's in his hands then I really don't have a whole lot to do with it, maybe he lifted those clouds on Friday and kept me safe because it's not yet my time and when he decides that it is my time it doesn't matter if I'm 250 miles offshore or laying in my bed, it'll be my time.
How could you possibly assume that I would be toast no matter what those storms would have done? Just because you think you would have been toast in those conditions certainly doesn't mean that I would. So when are we supposed to fish drew? Only when there's no possibility that a storm will form on our coast? Well that's all summer. If you fish offshore a lot you'll get wet many times when you get to the beach on the way in, it's just a fact of life in coastal Louisiana. Storms are part of fishing in Louisiana and yes sometimes they're offshore and sometimes you get caught it one and it's never fun. All I can say is if you're smart and aware or your surroundings and know what to expect and prepare for, it's possible to catch cobia in a bass boat. I'll be sending lots more cobia pictures in the coming months, the weather is just getting right.
As Drew b said, there were some storms out there Friday and I had to avoid them the best I could, thankfully the storms stayed north and i was able to stay south of them. They dispersed by mid afternoon making the ride in great, I was able to do 33 mph all the way in.
Please don't assume, JB, that this thread was intended to start and argument, it wasn't. It was intended to show off an impressive catch, which is the intent of most of the threads on this message board. It was also intended to share with other anglers the specific area fished, the technique used, and even the size, color and type of bait to use. Funny the guides rarely share this type of information. As far as this whole argument that started regarding how far can one safely go in what size boat on any given day with any given weather, that's up to each individuals comort level and experience and I certainly wouldn't encourage novice boaters to try such a feat. Yes, those are kings.
JB, how could you tell from that one picture that the boat was beat up? It's actually a suprisingly seaworthy craft, and this is coming from someone who's owned many, many different boats. Just wondering what led anyone to believe that the boat in the picture is 22 years old, had a 22 year old motor, and is 'beat up'? And also, I would have to say that my life was in more danger on the drive to the boat launch than at any other time on Friday, when I'm on the water, I'm in control and can't be blindsided by anything.
Who said my 17' Challenger had a 22 year old motor? It actually has a 2012 optimax, with about 20 hours on it, that's what gives me the range to get out there and back on 15 gallons. To answer your question drew b, no, I would not allow my 18 year old to do what I did. I'm not 18. I have a lot of experience in the gulf. I have a graduate degree in oceanography. I know what I'm doing. My 18 year old son would not. And no, Medusa? Let's get real here. At my farest, I was 18 miles from Cat Island Pass, and about 12 miles from the beach.
Sure you're not talking about sky diving Capt? I too have many years of experience and I've seen many people (including myself) make plenty of mistakes in boats and live to tell about it. I've seen a 25' wellcraft blow up on land, broken the console off of a 26' regulator (guess it was a little too rough), broken down with a dead battery in the middle of the gulf (won't go out with just one again), a supply boat came along side and game me a new battery just before the coast guard showed up. Those were all mistakes but were overcome with common sense and knowing what to do. Things can go wrong but with proper planning, experience, and common sense they can be overcome.
9 miles out of Cat Island Pass and you're in 40' of water. A good handheld VHF can contact any of the rigs or boats in the area, and the many work boats are more than willing to help should you need it. And, from the pass you can log into WAVCIS and see the real time conditions at ST52B (CSI 06), and the weather radar, use your good judgement, make an informed decisision, have a great day cobia fishing, and come back with lots to clean.
Here's the best spot that I know of, a little more than a half hour away, but well worth it.
http://www.louisianasportsman.com/lpca/index.php?section=reports&event=view&action=full_report&id=157744
These were caught from the bank at the structure.
42 sacs, one striper, one goggleye, all on shiners
I've fished this structure many times and have never had any trouble. I go at first light on a weekday and i'm out by 9. The locals have fished the structure for years. I think the parish, sheriff, and dwf have given up on trying to keep people off the structure, the fishing is too good. The structure can be slippery though and if the water is up a little and running fast over, it can be dangerous, the locals wear tennis shoes instead of boots. Fising from the bank is allowed and plenty of fish can be caught from the bank. Your best catch will be if you can throw a cast net. Bring a bucket and cast up some 1'-2' shads, use them live under a 1/4 oz weight free-lined 4 to 10 feet down. Don't keep all those sacalait and stripers that you catch in the cast net though, that's illegal.
Here's the structure, you'll need this too:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=301655091440800
..When the water gets to about 5.5 feet, it's on.
I haven't seen this type of thing on Cobia before and I've caught lots of Cobia, notice in the picture from my last cobia trip that the one in the middle has severl of these lesions, and in this picture, I'm showing the 'good side', the other side was way worse.