Following our post yesterday about cobia in the Destin, Florida area, we heard from a few Saltwater Nation citizens from Charleston, South Carolina who reminded us that late April and early May is also cobia time in Southern South Carolina. Cobia can be found around nearshore and offshore reefs. As the water warms, some may even venture into local estuaries, like Port Royal and St. Helena sounds. Charter captains are rumored to be heading south toward Beaufort. Look to the buoys marking Charleston’s shipping channels, as well. Last year a number of 60 pound plus fish were taken off the buoys. South Carolina cobia are eager for just about any live bait: eels, menhaden, threadfin herring (greenies), pinfish, small croaker, and whiting. Cobia will also take a range of lures; bucktails often being the preferred lure, though soft plastics in the 8″ to 14″ range are just as effective. They can be fished with or without weighted heads (local tackle shops report Zman lures as being a popular soft body in the area).

 

Cobia, Fishing, South Carolina

By Sid

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