The skies are blue, the temps are perfect, and the waters are warming—it’s the perfect time to land a trophy or two on a Bradenton nearshore fishing charter!
I love fishing for food (hello, mangrove snapper!), and I’m always fishing for fun. But fishing is a sport, and sport fishing really drives that home. There’s nothing quite like pitting your wits, your tackle, and your strength against some of Anna Maria Island’s best and biggest fish. And in the end, your reward is a fantastic photo or even a mounted trophy for your wall, to go with memories to last a lifetime. This is the time of year where AMI fishing charters look to win a few trophies in our favorite sport.
Today I’m talking about cobia, a very big, very tough-to-catch fish that’s perfect for springtime fishing in the Gulf. When it comes to nearshore fishing trips, Anna Maria in the springtime is just about perfect.
Cobia in Anna Maria Island Waters
Somewhat similar in appearance to sharks or barracuda, cobia are torpedo-shaped fish that can actually grow up to six feet long and 50 lbs! For Florida state and federal cobia regulations, anything three feet or longer is a keeper.
We expect to see these fish just in our nearshore waters right about now. They’re doing their springtime migration north, and they’re spawning, so they’re super-active and hungry.
Not interested in keeping your cobia prize as a trophy? Not to worry—we’ll get you set up with some delicious cobia filets instead. They’re super-mild in flavor (not in personality), kind of like mahi-mahi.
How to Catch Cobia
We’ll head out to various local wrecks and reefs to look for cobia feeding. I generally like to use live bait, especially crabs if I’ve got them, and you definitely need to have the right tackle.
Once you cast toward a cobia and get them hooked, that’s when the real “sport” of this sport fish comes into play. Cobia are strong, and they’re runners. They’ve got loads of energy, and even if it takes a while to reel them in, they will fight right up to the end.
Imagine trying to land a fish that’s over (sometimes well over) 10 pounds that also puts up a fight. Cobia are a blast!
You need to know the local waters and to understand the mindset of and behaviors of cobia in order to catch one. That’s where I come in! An expert AMI fishing guide can make or break your cobia quest.
Book Your Gulf Sport Fishing Charter Today!
The time is perfect for fishing right now, and anybody who knows Bradenton knows spring weather can be short-lived. Take advantage of this idyllic window and book your AMI Excursions fishing charter today!
