By Ron Childs
One of the most sought-after fish in the Gulf of Mexico is the big brown fish with the broad, flattened head called a ling, a cobia, a lemonfish, or a crabeater.
These amazingly strong fish can grow up to six feet long and weigh up to 150 pounds. Not only are they absolutely delicious on the grill, they also can put up a fight that can easily go for an hour or more and put a big, strong angler on his knees.
These fish are found all over the Gulf of Mexico, in all areas from 10 feet of water to 250 feet, but have been seen in up to 4,000 feet of water. They migrate in the spring, up from south Florida and along the Gulf Coast, passing Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, and even end up in Texas.
Cobia can travel up to 15 miles a day and have been tagged in Louisiana and found 1,000 days later off the coast of South Carolina. This spring migration hits Mexico Beach, Fla., in March and April, when the cobia are migrating up and over toward Alabama and Louisiana.
The 98 Real Estate Group sponsors a Ling Ding Tournament each year in Mexico Beach in April, and some really big fish have been put up on the board as anglers strive for the cash prizes given to the winners. The tournament is held the first three weekends in April on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It is open to the public.
Cobia love to hang around floating debris, channel markers, buoys, bells, artificial reefs and wrecks under the water. With more than 200 artificial reefs built out of Mexico Beach since 1997, the cobia are plentiful and ready to do battle with the anglers. The favorite places around Mexico Beach are on the buoy line with floating buoys and along the Bell Shoal area, with about 10 or so reefs in 20 feet of water. The Lumbership in that area is a major cobia hole.
Cobia love to eat crabs, which make up 70 percent of their diet, along with catfish, squid and eels. Fishermen use a variety of lures, including artificial lures like big feathered jigs that you throw to the ling, along with big plastic eels. Most cobia fishing is done by sight fishing. This means you go looking for them around structure, and then you throw out in front of them and work the bait back in front of them when you see them swimming around. They are not bashful and will often come right up to the boat to check you out. You can buy live eels at the local marinas for bait, if you choose to use live eels.
You will need a strong rod and a reel big enough to handle a really big fight. Many people use 50-pound test line with a good spinning reel, so you can throw the lure at the fish. Don’t hit the fish with the lure, just get it out in front and work it back in toward the fish. You will often find four or five cobia together.
If you hook a 70-pounder, look at your watch and just plan on another hour of hard work. These fish are amazingly strong. The biggest mistake you can make is to underestimate their strength.
