Tribune & Georgian. (Athens, Ga.) 2002-current, May 31, 2013, Image 13

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Newspaper Page TextFriday, May 31,2013 Tribune & Georgian 3B Submitted photos Mark Comora (above photo) fights a nice size ladyfish. Cobia are excellent fun on light tackle and at times can be extremely frustrating to hook. Standing (right photo) are Brian Mc- Fadden and Vernon Long, and kneeling is Jeremiah McDonald. Not pictured is Billy McFad- den, who also fished aboard the Miss Jabo. June prospects for area anglers are excellent Long marsh points make for excellent ambush points for a variety of light-tackle game fish. Captain Allen Mills and a fishing party are aboard the Kodak Moment. Terry Lacoss Special to the Tribune & Georgian The months of May and June provide area saltwater fishermen with excellent light-tackle fishing opportu nities both out in the open ocean, and in bays and back- country tidal rivers. “A huge cobia literally swam up to the boat while our fishing party was an chored and bottom fishing at FB reef,” captain T.D. La coss said. “Mike Burling soon cast a dead pogy right in front of that bruiser cobia without even a sniff from the cobia that soon disappeared down onto the hard bottom ledge.” A heavy jig was soon tied to the end of a light-tackle saltwater outfit and ran domly worked deep and just over the gnarly bottom structure. This time the for aging cobia was caught off guard and took the heavy saltwater jig deep in its mouth. After a 15-minute battle, Burling had landed his din ner with plenty of cobia filets left over for his guests. Later that afternoon, a second cobia was caught using the same light-tackle, deep-jig ging tactic while fishing aboard the Amelia Angler II. “You just can’t figure cobia out,” Lacoss said. “It seems if they are looking at you they won’t take a bait or lure, but the second they turn their head and look away, that’s when a cobia can be tricked to eat a plug or bait. “The day before I took out the Mike Burling fishing party, our fishing party was anchored up at the tip of the St. Marys rock jetties when a 50-pound cobia swam right up to the boat. We cast everything onboard our charter fishing boat to that cobia that simply would not eat. We later began deep-jig ging and caught that same cobia.” Cobia are the main attrac tion for light-tackle fisher men at the St. Marys rock jetties, and along the beaches and near-shore fish havens. Here, fishermen can target giant cobia that may well weigh up to 100 pounds on light-tackle fishing gear. Fly fishermen can cast large saltwater Poppers with white-feathered tails to cobia holding right on the surface with excellent success. An 8- weight, 9-foot fly rod with 9- weight floating fly line and a 9-foot, 20-pound tippet is preferred. Typically, cobia will take the popper (Umpqua Master Jack Popper) in the corner of their mouths where a 20- pound tippet will hold even the largest of cobia. Large 2/0 white and chartreuse Clouser minnow flies are also successful when target ing cobia on the fly. Spin or casting rods in the 20-pound class with reels filled with 30-pound braided fishing line are also excellent choices when light-tackle fishing for cobia. A 4-foot section of 40-pound fluoro carbon shock leader is needed when casting 3- to 5- ounce bucktail or plastic tail jigs. Fly fishermen are also scoring well in the bays and backwaters of Amelia Island for a variety of shallow-water game fish including sea trout, ladyfish, bluefish, red- fish, flounder and bonnet- head sharks. Once again, an 8- weight, 9-foot fly rod; 9- weight floating fly line; and a 9- foot, 20-pound tippet leader are ideal for all of these species of game fish. Successful flies include a 1/0 Clouser Minnow in the white and chartreuse color pattern, or a 1/0 white Pop per with a white feather tail. Crab patterns work best when redfish are in the grass and tailing. Ten to 20-pound spin or casting tackle is preferred when casting light lures to back-country game fish. A common favorite is a 7-foot spinning rod, 4000 size spin reel filled with 15-pound braided fishing line and a 3- foot section of 15-pound flu orocarbon shock leader. Spin tackle affords for longer casts, particularly on windy days. The Storm Chug Bug in the silver and blue color pattern provides for excellent action when there are plenty of bait fish holding on or close to the surface. Mirr-O-Lures Catch 2000 in the green back and silver body is an excellent choice when game fish are holding under bait fish schools, or close to structure. A recent favorite tech nique during the high flood tide includes working and in line, or a safety pin-type spinner in the flooded marshes for giant redfish. Add a plastic minnow or shrimp to the hook and hang on. Finally, if fishing is slow, deep-jig with a quarter-ounce jig head rigged with a Berkley Gulp shrimp in the New Penny color pattern. Be sure to set your reel’s drag so your fishing line will not part when a big fish tries to escape. Good luck! State foundation offers chance to hunt, fish for free for life Tribune & Georgian file photo The 20th annual Camden County Solid Waste Authority Fishing Derby, set for Saturday, is open to children ages 16 and younger. Kids fishing derby will be Saturday It’s the sporting opportu nity of a lifetime. Georgians can win the right to hunt and fish for free for life statewide in a new contest sponsored by the Georgia Natural Re sources Foundation. Visitors to the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division’s Facebook page (www.face- book.com/WildlifeRe- sourcesDivisionGADNR) can enter the Labor Day drawing for two lifetime sportsman licenses — one for an adult and one for a partic ipant younger than 16. Also, drawings for four more life time licenses are planned later in 2013 and 2014. From hunting Georgia’s trophy whitetails to casting for lunker largemouths, a lifetime sportsman license covers all state paid hunting and fishing license require ments for the life of the holder. The younger the re cipient, the greater the sav ings — more than $2,600 over a lifetime. Natural Resources Foun dation chairman Steve Leve- tan said the lifetime license giveaway is one of the first projects funded by the foun dation and “a great example of the unique funding oppor tunities made possible by our organization and our con tributors who support us.” “Additionally, it is ex tremely gratifying to see a funded project go from con Tribune & Georgian file photo The Georgia National Re sources Foundation is spon soring a contest in which Georgians can win the right to hunt and fish free for life. ception, through the grant process and now into a suc cessful project,” Levetan said. “We look forward to more opportunities such as this so that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources can continue to foster and grow Georgia’s great hunting and fishing traditions.” The contest began May 17. Only people who have been Georgia residents for at least 12 months before Sept. 2, 2013, are eligible. Enter by messaging the Wildlife Resources Division via Face- book with the information required. The drawing will be held on Labor Day, Sept. 2, just in time for fall hunt ing and fishing. Adult sportsman licenses are for ages 16-64; the youth licenses for 15 and younger. Lifetime licenses (www.geor- giawildlife.com/LifetimeLi- cense) include hunting, big game, wildlife management area, alligator, Georgia wa terfowl conservation, salt and freshwater fishing and mountain trout licenses. Georgia residents 65 and older are already eli gible for free lifetime sports man licenses. Contest details are at www.facebook.com/Wildlif- eResourcesDivision GADNR. Wildlife Re sources is a division within Georgia DNR. The mission of the Natu ral Resources Foundation is to support DNR efforts to sustain, enhance, protect and conserve the state’s nat ural, historic and cultural resources. The foundation’s focus includes recognizing the importance of promot ing the development of commerce and industry that use sound environmental practices. Learn more at www.geor- gianrf.org. Also, check out the founda tion on Facebook, www.face- book.com/GeorgiaNaturalRe sourcesFoundation. The 20th-annual Camden County Solid Waste Author ity Fishing Derby for chil dren ages 16 and younger will be Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to noon at the State Route 110 Landfill. Those interested should bring their fishing poles, special bait and appetites. Hot dogs, drinks and worms will be provided, and prizes will be awarded. Those with questions should call (912) 729-4099.

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Tribune & Georgian. (Athens, Ga.) 2002-current, May 31, 2013, Image 13