As any angler in the know will admit, cobia can be tricky to the point of frustration. Getting a school of cobia, ling, or lemon fish--as they are sometimes called by Gulf Coast anglers--to rise to the water's surface is one thing; but getting them to strike your offering can be an altogether different matter.

This fish has been known to strike an array of different baits and lures. On the natural menu, cobia eat crabs, shrimp and fish of all kinds. "Of all kinds" includes hardhead catfish between six- and ten-inches long, which cobia seem to unduly delight in. And as far as the catfish stickers go, they pose not a threat to the hearty cobia -only to the angler who decides not to clip them off.

Stu Sheer of Cocodrie, La., is one charter fisherman who has possibly caught more cobia than any other Louisiana angler. He usually starts off using jig type lures and then moves to live bait if they're not obliging. One of his favorite areas to fish cobia is south of Atchafalaya Bay.

Probably the easiest time to catch cobia is near shore during their migratory run, starting in spring when they move from their wintering grounds along the coast of Florida. From here they head north, some to the Atlantic side as far as the Carolinas, while some move into the Gulf. The Gulf cobia, after reaching to the extreme north of Florida's coast, move west into Louisiana waters, then move back again along the same route in late fall and early winter.

After their spring run abates, cobia seem to have a change in spirit, becoming less aggressive and more temperamental about taking a bait. This is when they begin to seek out wrecks, oil rigs, deep reefs and any structure capable of providing shelter. Simply put, it's a time when these fish are homesteading and they're more likely to insult your fishing mentality. It is this very fact that makes the cobia a challenge to catch and formidable fighter for any angler.

Like the shark, the cobia is not a bashful fish, and can at times be brought to the surface by making noise such as revving the boat's engine, by slapping the water's surface with a paddle, or leaving a hooked and thrashing fish overboard. In fact, avid cobia hunters will make it a point to produce as much surface noise as possible in order to lure them to the side of the boat. In this way, they can be targeted more easily when casting baits.

One popular method is sight seeking around structures such as buoys, anchored ships, floating debris, rigs and anything producing shadelike cover. Once located, freelined live fish are cast out in front of them. This tactic can be employed fairly successfully with the use of a quality heavy spincasting combo spooled with 20-30 lb. test.

Smooth operation of tackle is imperative when going after these denizens of the deep. This is especially so during their first show between late March and May when the biggest of the herds make their presence known. This time, anglers do well to check out the waters first for cobia, before tossing lures with tackle meant for trout.