[NC KingFisher]

I know it's kind of early, but with the way I read the regs season will be open to shore anglers all week. Was hoping for some local insight on what the best pier to hit up would be. I've seen alot of pictures of J Mercer's with some nice ones, but the price is kind of high. Any insight?

 

[gshivar]

Hello, Chances of catching a cobia on the beach (pier) in NC in February are about zero. Even though water temp is ~55 at WB, it is still 10 deg below cobia's low range. Kure pier is closed but lets people on. View on Surf Chex. Other piers as well. Dogfish and skates. good - luck.

 

[DaBig2na]

King fisher".... Are you wanting to know what the regulations are going to be for 2017 for NC water 0 to 3 miles? Is that what you're asking?

 

[NC KingFisher]

No I was talking about later this year, and any suggestions on some different piers. I've read the regs several times

 

[DaBig2na]

Well we see a lot more cobia up north on the piers than you do down south. The regs for NC aren't out yet but I'm told they are going to be about the same as last year.. The days that boat fishermen can fish hasn't been determined as well as the season dates.

Over the last three or four years if you haven't caught one off a pier by Labor Day weekend it's pretty much over on the northern beaches. Started up in the middle of May. The main thing we have to look at is wind direction and water temperatures. I think Avalon did much better than Jennette's as far as numbers, then Nags Head Pier would be a close third. We only decked about four or five kings on Jennette's last season.

 

[Garboman]

I would get a season pass at the pier with the most Hotties which usually means the pier with the biggest parking lot and least aggressive parking lot enforcement.

Back in the day I always fished Nags Head Pier on the Northern OBX because of the Hot waitresses that worked in the pier house restaurant.

I would also put out a bottom bait on a heaver, have to go through a lot of Rays and Sharks to get the Cobia, but the Cobia do a lot of feeding on the bottom and when you have one on a Drum rod with a 9/0 hook you can really put the heat on him, unlike if you are worried a little #6 Treble is going to fall out or straighten.

You get grief from some of the pin riggers but if the water is not really clear, I would rather have a bait on the bottom.

You just have to take care to be able to break off any Shark or Ray before he gets into a King Rig and put the heat on whatever hits your bait to try and get him to the surface to have a look at what type of Flattosaurus you have on.

Biggest Cobia I ever had on in my life was on a bottom bait of center cut jumping mullet with Abu 9000 and a Surf Stick, fish got off but that is okay, I still remember getting him on top and watching him swim offshore about 200 yards from the end of the pier. That was 25 years ago on Rodanthe Pier early May.

 

[NC KingFisher]

Per Garbo's advice, looks like it will be Mercer's pier. Oh the parking fees.......

 

[gshivar]

Sorry I read your post wrong. Yes to the above, the option of bait on bottom - live or dead. And at night also. If you like Mercer's, go for it. I had rather be bout anywhere than WB. good - luck - glenn