I don't cobia fish but have an opportunity to try it down on the OBX this summer. I was planning on using my Penn 320 and Slammer rod but just read that a cobia will toast the worm gear in a level wind reel. Is that true? Also, I remember from the old days that you can use an inflated balloon for a float but heard that is now against the law as it can kill sea turtles if swallowed. What do you guys use as a float? Finally, I read where crushed up dead crabs make good chum. Do you agree? Thanks.

Here is some tips to help you out!

Ok let me try and sum this up as best as I can for you. A penn 320 will get smoked by a cobia or a king mackeral, most likely. You may have a chance of landing one, but the chances are slim. You just have to know how to horse em in with a 320 reel. But if you plan on to go cobia fishing, I recommend you use a shimano tld 20 or a 25. If not a penn gld graphlite 50. Those are my favorite, plus its a 2 speed. And aslo another good reel, is the senator, 113 or the 144h Either one of those reels are good, but if you still want to try your penn 320 then go for it. Chances are you hooking up with a 70lb cobe on that 320 is going to give that reel a run for its money. About the inflated balloons, I dont prefer to use them. If you go to the bait shack or long bay point and tackle, they have these floaters that have a swivel that you connect to on your line of your rod, and then at the bottom of the floater there is a spring with little rubber ball ends. You push on the spring allowing the ball ends to lift so you can put your live bait line through there. And when a fish hits, it will release the live bait line and your floater will still be attached to your rod, because it connected with a swivel. You will hear a popping sound when a fish hits it, cause it releases the line from the ball ends of the floater. Those are really good to use. They run around from 5 to 7 dollars. Another big reminder is, you should bring a decent spinning rod and reel, cause cobia like to hang on the top, so rig up a buck tail and sight cast to the cobia. That is another popular way of catching them. And about the chum. I havn't heard of many people using crushed up crabs for chum, but it is worth a try. I mainly use menhaden, croaker, and mackeral for chum. But the crabs is worth a try. Another little thing to try is, is to buy one of those IV drippers they use for patients at a hospital or bass pro sells them also. And get you some menhaden oil, or spanish mac blood and put it in the IV pouch and set it to a good dripping pace! That is also a good method. But hope this was enough help for you and good luck with the cobia! Tight lines -Chris

A penn 320 is more than enough reel for the meanest of Cobia

I think a Penn 320 caught the state record at one point.