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PATRICK LEMIRE

C A L L I N G U P A C O B I A

Going back to that “Super Popper”, mine and then falling or diving toward the
are large popping plugs normally used safety of the bottom. This is what an alive
for tuna and other near-surface feeders. I and swimming prey would do. Rod tip
have removed both hooks, added a disk twitched between pops also adds some life
of thin, pliable plastic to its face, and to your bait choice. Each popping motion
spray painted it all flat, dark brown. The should give a 1-2 ft. move of the popper.
plastic disk increases the cupped popping Repeat the procedure until you feel there’s
face from 1-112” to 2-114” and the flat not going to be a response and then do it
brown makes the 7” popper look sort of thru about five more casts and popping
like a piece of driftwood. The plastic disk retrieves just to make sure.
either AT&T nor Verizon are has a small slot cut into its center where
Ninvolved here. This piece is about it’s forced over the leader attachment eye Weed lines and other floating materials are
sending a message to a distant “Cobia” or locking it into a cupped position. As an also prime locations to use this popper/
“Ling.” My “Super Popper” is the part of added measure of security to the disk, I trailer combination. Draw a cobia from
this rigging option that does the “Calling put a small amount of two-part epoxy in under the weed line, etc with the same
up a Cobia.” I had used trailers behind a the disk face at the attachment eye. The pop and swim motion or cast beyond
popper first on speckled trout well over rear hook eye has the 18-20” mono sec- a surface cruiser and retrieve across or
50 years ago and later for Kingfish and tion and the trailing bait tied there. across and away, giving an additional
Wahoo, but didn’t relate that basic rigging chance for the cobia to give your presen-
to having cobia/ling applications. Recommended baits include Almost Alive tation a closer took.
Lures 11”, natural color, “Cobia Can-
When approaching an offshore platform dy” eel, single hook rigged at mid-body. If a kingfish like charge at your bait isn’t
or bottom structure spot, don’t assume My hardest Cobia strike ever was on a made but only a leisure swimming swim
that the boat’s engine, prop or hull noise deceased eel; the cobia ran like a streaking up, aggressive pops as it approaches may
will bring a cobia into view, as happens on kingfish from about 25 feet away inhaling speed up the swim process, resulting in a
occasion. Think about it; if those noises the eel. Another is the 3-D crab, 4”, by sold hookup. Speaking of a solid hook-
can possibly attract a cobia -imagine the Savage Gear; last but not least is one of up, my hook preference is a “J” hook of
attraction of multiple casts using a big my longtime favorites, a pink/chartreuse whatever size works best with your bait
popper ahead and above suspended bait. Snapper Slapper 1 or 3 oz, bare or with a and tackle. “J” hooks give you more rod
whole, 5-6 inch squid attached. A whole sweep, hook set motions to use as deter-
The attraction starts with the cobia’s squid of 5-6 inches, body end and head mined by the cobia’s position in relation
lateral line sensors when they convert that hooked, is another quality cobia bait. to you and the boat at hook set time. That
distant touch into a visual as it approaches means right, left, up or down rod sweeps
the bait presentation. Large platforms or To make your rigging come to life, cast as soon as the bait/lures hook is in its
smaller ones, along with pipe rigs, are the into or just out of a platform’s legs, over mouth or along side of its head.
primary target areas. Pipe rigs in particular a wreck or rock, and use a pop and pull
are easier for you to be able to attract a retrieve. Back to the cast a moment, With a circle hook the line must come
Cobia simply because of the fact they are toward the end of the cast, slow your line, snug or tight as you do a slow, rod loading
smaller and therefore your Cobia is closer aligning the popper and trailer bait away motion as the cobia swims away. While
to your popper’s attraction and bait. An from you for a clean entry into the water. that might be a shorter time than it took
important point to remember is that they The pop sends out its call while your bait to read this sentence, its plenty of time for
all may hold Cobia. has the look of swimming up and away the cobia to decide to spit the bait, with

42 | Waves Magazine | May 2019 Issue