Cobia Fishing Mayhem at the CBBT (Part 2)

This blog post represents part two of this adventure.  This post recounts the last day of our 2020 cobia fishing adventure at the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel area.  We had two other days of exciting fishing, probably the most hectic fishing that I'd ever encountered.  The combined total of the catch for both days was two cobia, 73 sharks and 13 big stingrays.  It was utter mayhem on the boat the second day.  If you missed reading part one, you can find it here.

Steve is posing with this 43 inch cobia, the first of two that we caught on day one.  We hoped to add a few more on day two.  

The extreme number of sharks and rays in the area decimated our supply of bunker over the first two days.  We had plenty of live eels, but not having bunker posed a big problem.  Luckily, one local tackle shop in Cape Charles told us that their supplier would bring them fresh bunker at nine in the morning.  As far as we knew, these guys were the only shop around that had fresh bunker.  

So much for an early fishing start!.  But then again, having to get bait at nine meant that we could catch up on some much needed rest after the beat down the sharks and rays put on us during the first day..

For some reason, there was a shortage of fresh bunker in the area.  We didn't know if COVID had something to do with it or not.  Or, if it was simply that bunker were scarce in the CBBT area compared to other years.

Shawn Kimbro discusses the fate of bunker (aka menhaden) in the Chesapeake Bay.  There are serious concerns in the Chesapeake Bay recreational fishing community about the commercial over-harvest of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay.  The vast majority of menhaden harvested are not for bait supply, but ground into oil for use in dietary supplements, animal feed, or even beauty products.  Perhaps last years bunker shortage is related to the over-fishing of bunker?  Probably.

Sharks are fun to catch, but when there are lots of 'em, you're going to go through some bait and tackle.

We arrived at the bait shop to find several boats and anxious anglers awaiting the arrival of the bunker supplier.  We were told that the supplier was on his way, and would be there within the hour.  The store owner set up a system where he gave each customer a number to save our spot in line.  We had one more chance to replenish our hooks, sinkers and leader.  Even though we bought hooks and leader the previous day, later that night, we lost a lot more tackle to the sharks.

When the supplier finally arrived, we were able to get plenty of fresh bait for the day's fishing.  What we had leftover was mushy, smelly, old bunker, that fell of the hook and stank up the boat, big time.  So, we were very appreciative to yet another local business, Bailey's Bait and Tackle in Cape Charles, VA, for come through for us.  If you visit Cape Charles, make sure to stop in and check out their store.  They're knowledgeable, very helpful and have a good selection of tackle.

The weather on our last full day was a huge let down.  We faced dealing with at least 20 miles per hour sustained winds.  But, since they were coming out of the East, we decided to try and tuck in along the Bay's Western shore, thinking the land would break the wind enough that we could run to the spot where we fished the night before.  

Here's a photo of Virginia Beach as seen from the Mouth of the Chesapeake Bay near the bridge during.  The Bay was really rough on our last day, and there was no way that we could get out to this spot.  This picture was from our 2017 trip.

We hugged the shoreline en route to Steve's cobia spot.  The waves were not quite as bad closer to shore, but, they were still pretty bad.  We really wanted to make our last full day of fishing count.  The exact spot that Steve likes to set up on was, unfortunately, further away from shore, where it was much worse.  

The allure of a honey hole proved too much to resist.  It didn't seem that far away, so we tried to get out to his spot.  As we moved further out, the waves were much worse, as some of them crashed over the bow.  It was pretty hairy.  I can't tell you how many times it felt like someone tossed buckets of water in my face on the way out. 

Steve tried to set the anchor so we could start fishing.  But, the wind was too strong to hold the boat.  No matter how much anchor rope he let out, the anchor just dragged the bottom.  There was no way we could hold anchor, much less fish out there effectively or safely.

We checked our Navionics app to see if we could find some good structure with a good current break, next to deep water closer to shore, out of the wind where we could at least hold anchor.  Hopefully, such a spot would attract cobia or drum.  In theory, cobia can be anywhere out there, but, we were about to set up on an unproven spot, so, our confidence was down.

After a soaking wet boat ride, Steve found a place close to shore that provided a nice current break near deep water.  We set up the anchor.  We had no idea whether or not fish were drawn to this spot.  There was another boat about a half mile away doing the same thing.  We set out the chum bucket, baited the rods and reels, cast our baits out and hoped for some action.  At least we were fishing.  We hoped that, maybe later, the wind might die down and we could move out to Steve's spot.

The tide pushed the lines one direction, but the wind was strong enough to push the stern of the boat in a different direction than the fishing lines.  Instead lines pointed off the stern, they pointed off the starboard side.  It was a little bit of a problem because you couldn't utilize all of the rod holders the way that you'd like.  It wasn't ideal, but, we were fishing.  And, that's a plus on a day when you question your sanity for even being on the water.  It was really rough out there.

At first, the action was slow, but it didn't take that long for the sharks to find our baits.  It wasn't as hectic as the day before, but the action was steady.  Cobia often travel with sharks and rays, so we had a chance.  The sharks weren't quite as big, but, we were fishing and catching fish.  Steve really wanted to be on his favorite spot.  He's caught cobia there before, and it's a proven spot.  Our chances were much better out there.

the business end of a typical hook stealing CBBT shark!

Fortunately, right before sunset, the wind died down and the waves laid down enough that we could get out to his spot.  After we re-positioned the boat and dropped anchor, we noticed that the tide hadn't changed yet.  It was slack tide.   We took some time to make sure that all of our tackle was ready to go, ate some food, relaxed, and took in the beautiful sunset.  Like the previous evening, we expected the action to pick up as the tide picked up.  When the tide is ripping, that's when the fish really hit the most, and that would occur well after dark.

After a long day of battling wind, waves and sharks, the Bay settled down and gave us a beautiful sunset and an opportunity to fish where we wanted to fish.

Just as we had hoped, the action picked up when the outgoing tide started to roll.  Again, the sharks and rays battled us, testing our tackle and our stamina.  The sharks were bigger at this spot, but the action wasn't as fast and furious as the previous day.  Although we caught fewer rays, they were massive.  Fighting them took so much time.  And, you can't assume that each one is a ray, because each one could be a cobia.  You really don't know until one is near the boat.  Some of the bigger sharks took a long time to get in as well.

Before we knew it, it was almost 11 o'clock at night.  The tide, by now, was ripping.  We weren't getting the sharks as fast as the previous night, and we had a lot of bait.  It was our last night, and, after spending the day fishing a spot that we really didn't want to fish, and finally getting out to the honey hole, we didn't want to leave quite yet.  However, we had a long ride home the next morning.  We'd be able to sleep in a bit, so there was some solace in that.  But, we both knew that we had to rap it up soon, unless something dramatic were to happen.

Around 11:30, we said to each other that we'd finish up using the baits that were already out, and when they're gone, we'd be done.  Of course, we were thinking that the usual suspects would be going through our bait, meaning, the sharks and rays.  

All of a sudden, the spinning rod sitting in the rod holder close to the chum bucket slammed down.  It sounded like a gun shot. We both jumped up, and Steve grabbed the rod.  Line shed from the reel so fast that it sounded like a power drill.  He held on for dear life as the fish bolted out toward the ocean.  The fish moved off the starboard side of the boat.  Steve had to pass the rod around another rod in a rod holder, and then around the motor.  As he handed me the rod, it caught on the top of the motor for a split second, then slipped off the motor and smacked me right in the side of the head.  Steve cracked up as  the look on my face probably looked like Curly after getting slapped by Moe.  

All trip long, we were able to pass the fish around the boat without much of an issue, but not this time.  As I fought the fish and tried to pass one of the rods, the rod tip tangled on one of the other rods.  I don't know if I passed my rod over the other one, or under when it should have been the other way around, or what.  No matter, it had to be fixed.  Steve grabbed the rod from my hands as I offered to untangle it.  

Meanwhile, the fish kept heading counterclockwise around the boat.  By now, he was off the bow.  We cleared the line, and Steve handed the rod back to me.  The fish continued around the boat, and we had to clear the rod around more lines.  I was able to pump the rod and gain a bunch of line back, finally.  We were lucky again that this fish didn't spool us.

What does "spooling us" mean?  That the fish runs so fast and hard that it rips all of the the line off of the reel, and ultimately breaks off, winning the battle.  We almost had that happen several times on this trip.  It's nerve-racking, to say the least.

We went around more lines as the fish kept taking me around the boat.  Once again, we are at the stern.  And around the motor we went again.  The fish moved off to the starboard side, and finally, I was able to gain line and bring the fish in.  Unfortunately, as the fish neared the boat, rather than run again, it bulldogged under the boat near the bow.  I handed the rod to Steve, who was in better position on the front deck to get the rod under the anchor rope as the fish moved to the port side.

While under the boat, the fish tangled itself in the chum bucket rope.  Now, we were in trouble.  Steve handed me the rod again, and worked to free it up, but without success.  We were in danger of losing this fish that we worked so hard for.  I had an idea on how maybe we could save it, and Steve let me take the lead.

I decided to pull the chum bucket rope and bring the bucket, and hopefully, the fish up with it.  In doing so, we were able to free the line by unwrapping it around the messy chum bucket.  I set the chum bucket and the rope on the front deck, out of the way.  

Steve muscled the fish in again.  At this time, we still hadn't seen the fish.  We had no idea what we were dealing with.  It could have been a ray or a big shark.  My headlamp got a glimpse of it, and we both screamed, "Cobia!"  I couldn't believe my eyes!

I immediately reached for the net to try to help put this battle to an end, as the hard fighting cobia seemed to swimming against the tide parallel to the boat.  It looked huge.  It was still too far away from the boat to reach it with the net.  Neither of us thought that it was quite ready.

Now, I've been the net "*****" for many a fishing buddy, and have netted more big fish than I can remember.  I've only had one mishap where the fish was lost many years ago.  It was a big king salmon that we had in the net.  The lure got caught in the net at the same time that it rolled, the hook came free and the fish flipped itself out of the net.  I couldn't believe it.  I swore that I'd never lose a fish again if I could help it.

After a fight like we just had, and with how unpredictable and crazy cobia are, anything can go wrong.  Even a net man as cool and collected as me (normally) can get flustered and mess up. I was determined not to let that happen.  I waited for the right time so that we had a chance to net the fish head first.  Finally, I had my shot and nailed it.  The big fish went the net, no problem.  

Of course, Steve was extremely excited, trying to coach me the entire time, and I reassured him that I'd get the job done.  But, deep down inside, I would have been devastating to lose this fish at the net.  It was my responsibility to do my part to finish this catch.  I take pride in my net work, and this was the ultimate test, because, so much can go wrong.  Once the cobia's head was in the net, I hoisted the fish into the boat.  It flopped out of the net, doing flip flops, as if aiming it's sharp spins with revenge in it's eyes.  We both, again, scampered to the back of the boat as far away as we could until it calmed down.  I was so happy to land that cobia for Steve.  

Steve holding up our third cobia of the trip that measured 47 inches long.  What a fight.  That fight could have been the definition of "Cobia Mayhem".  It was insane.

We exchanged a bunch of high fives, and rested a little bit to calm our nerves.  After the fish calmed down, Steve walked up to the front of the boat and measured it at 47 inches long.  Another really nice cobia!  After a few pics, we thought that maybe, since the tide was moving perfectly, and we just caught cobia, that we might be able to catch another one.  So, we agreed to keep fishing. 

This 47 inch cobia that gave us such a hard time.  These fish are psycho fish, and they drive anglers nuts too.  We can't wait to go try for more!

After that, the shark action picked up where it left off, and we had our first shark double of the day.  Not long after we landed the sharks, I put a huge chunk of bunker on the bunker rod.  Go big or go home, right?  

It didn't take long another huge fish to strike that bunker rod.  I picked up the rod and set the hook.  This fish took off just like the last cobia, and then, like the cobia, headed toward the starboard side of the boat.  I didn't see it, but off in the distance, Steve saw the fish jump way out of the water.  Because of that, he was convinced that it was a big cobia.  

I worked the brute of a fish in and it went for the bottom like a sinking ton of bricks.  I couldn't stop it, as it controlled me, not me controlling it.  It was in charge.  I was just holding on.  All of a sudden, it decided to go around the bow, and you know what that means?  Watch out for the anchor rope and chum bucket.  I handed the rod to Steve, who jumped up on the front deck, and he worked the rod under the anchor rope, and the fish then went for the chum bucket.

Once again, we have a big fish, probably another big cobia, wrapped up in the chum bucket rope.  Steve held on and I decided to pull the chum bucket up again.  This time, it was much tougher to do.  That fish pulled hard and was much heavier.  Still, I was able to eventually free up the chum bucket bring into the boat, out of the way.  Steve, meanwhile, fought the monster fish.

After several minutes fighting the fish on the port side of the boat, Steve was able to raise the fish high enough that, with my headlamp, we could see what it was.  It was a massive eagle ray.  It had beautiful white spots and had to be seven feet across.  I'd never seen a ray that big.  Wow!  He held on to it while I tried to get pictures and a video, but, those didn't turn out, unfortunately.

We finally got it to the side of the boat, and, with a ray this big, with a large poisonous tail spine, Steve didn't want to risk tangling with this ray, so he cut the line.  It was too big to flip over and get the hook out with the release tool.  The sea monster eased into the depths out of site.  

Even though it was a stingray, it was worth a few high fives.  It fought every bit as much as a cobia, probably for at least a half hour.  And, it fooled us into thinking it was a cobia with that big leap early in the fight.  Steve estimated that it came out of the water by at least six feet or so.

I loved the action we had catching sharks, but, when you get so many and it's so hectic, after a while, they become annoying, especially when you lose tackle.  The rays are frustrating because, quite simply, they just wear you down and own you.  But, looking back, it's great experience fighting big fish.  The better you are at fighting big fish, the better you'll be when it's the fish that you want.

At the end of our last full day of fishing, we finished with 36 sharks between 2 to 5 feet long, 4 massive stingrays, and another 47 inch cobia.  Three cobia on the trip, not bad at all.  And, we had no shortage of big fish action.  What a trip to remember for years to come!  

I'd say that if there was only one disappointment, it was that we didn't hook into and land a big bull red drum.  That's still on my bucket list.  Steve said that cobia are a blast, but there's nothing like a big bull redfish.  Well, now I have something else to look forward if I'm fortunate to get down there again.

Steve got quite a workout hoisting this gigantic bull red drum that he caught on a previous CBBT trip to pose for this picture.  We didn't get any of these on this trip, but it's something that I look forward to next time if given the opportunity.

We didn't get off the water until about two in the morning.  When you catch a big cobia, all you want to do is get another one.  Plus, the tide was ripping and fish, although sharks and rays, were biting.  We still had a good chance at another cobia.  We had to give it a go, even though all we did is feed the sharks.  Still, it was a good effort.  We put everything into it.

As a result of our efforts though, we were paying for it.  We were both very tired and sore from fighting big shouldered fish over the past two and a half days.  And, we still had to get back to the ramp, clean the fish, get back to the motel, eat dinner (at three in the morning), get our gear out of the boat, and maybe get some much needed sleep before the ride home.

After our hours long ride back to our normal lives, we arried home tired and cranky, but, both of us realized that our trip was quite special.  During the conversation later in the trip, we brought up the point that we work well as a team while fishing, and really, other than the late night faux pas, we had a fantastic time. 

My fishing buddy and friend, Captain Steve Kelley.

Steve, when you read this, please know that, even though I've said many times that you're a great Captain and fishing pal, that I don't say such things lightly.  Not many people get those kind of accolades from me.  Thanks again for the fantastic cobia trip, and the great fishing year. Happy New Year, my friend!