Cobia live bait bottom fishing ?

I read a lot post very little (fat fingers). I have yet to fish Gulf Shores Pier. I fish PC mostly in summer months. I really appreciate the post on this sight. Looking forward to meeting yall. My son played football for 5 years at South Alabama and fished it a few times. Shame on me for not making to the pier. We are going to start fishing GSP a lot more.

Ok to the point. We are going to come down mid April and May, Maybe even last week of March. I'm better caster with a jig than my son. So my thoughts are (depending on the King bite) to put my son on a bottom rig. All Googanism aside. I'm experienced on the pier just not so much during Cobia season. So I have a few questions.

1) Is GSP called first shot?
2) When fishing on bottom, casting out where is the best place to avoid sight casters? I know not to at end of pier, but I would assume west side of octi would be best.
3) Is it even worth bottom fishing? Thinking Cobia close enough to bite will be spooked by the bombing of jigs.
4) Is a float rig acceptable to use at GSP?
5) What is the best bait to use? eels, crab, hardheads? I know mixed emotions and opinions on eels.

Sorry for the questions. Just coming down new to this pier. I love the fellowship on piers and don't want to disrupt anybody else.
Thanks in advance for any help.
John

1. No
2. In the middle part of the east side, off the west or SW side of the end (depends on wind, OUTSIDE THE RED LINE)
3. At times it can be, sometimes the fish come by deep or come off the sandbar and under the pier
4. float rig is OK, many freeline
5. Best bait in March is ANYTHING alive, in April we use LYs once they start showing up

Hope this helps!

Nope, it's combat fishing.
Somebody hollering, "Cobe!" can start a stampede.
The jigs will be flying thick for sure, bombing the hell outta any sighted Ling.

Bottom fishing is allowed on the Octi, outside of the Yellow lines marking the Southern end.
Preferred for bottom to cast downwind.

Float, freeline, trolley or bottom as long as you follow the posted rules.

I've seen more Cobes caught on a freelined Hardtaiil fished right in front of the pilings than anything else.
Catch the ones lurking under the Octi.

You're more likely to hook a big Bull Red, Black drum or stingray than a Cobia when bottom fishing.

Thanks for the information. I assume with the warmer temps they should be showing up soon. Kings also.
I'm just going nuts and losing sleep wanting to get down to fish.I'm driving my wife crazy.
What's the Spring break crowd like in Gulf Shores late March early April? Hopefully not as bad as Panama City.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JKCOLE

Thanks for the information. I assume with the warmer temps they should be showing up soon. Kings also.
I'm just going nuts and losing sleep wanting to get down to fish.I'm driving my wife crazy.
What's the Spring break crowd like in Gulf Shores late March early April? Hopefully not as bad as Panama City.

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I come down every year during Spring break. The crowd is usually almost non existant. The rules of no beer on the beach helps with that. Last year, they even put out an ad saying "if you want to party go to Panama". Quite frankly, I see less people on spring break than I do if I go between June-August.

I have not, however, been fortunate enough to see kings caught when I was down during that time. This year could be a little different since it is warmer, and I'd assume water temps are a bit warmer.

At some piers one can soak a live bait straight down near bottom of pilings to keep out of the way while still casting another rod. One rod at a time rule limits that.