DESTIN -- Third time was the charm for the crew aboard the Full Pull.
Angler Shane Atkinson, fishing aboard Destin's Full Pull, weighed in the first cobia Tuesday afternoon to kick off the 2009 HarborWalk Marina Destin Cobia Tournament.
The boat, captained by Chris Wagner, reeled in the 42-pound cobia in Navarre Beach and weighed in at HarborWalk Marina about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Capt. Wagner said they had been out kind of half-hearted looking for cobia on Friday and Saturday.
"It looked lifeless and we didn't see anything," he said, noting the water temperature was still a little cool.
However, in the last couple of days, the south wind pushed the warm water in and on Tuesday the water temperature was prime for cobia fishing - 65-66 degrees, he said.
Wagner said they spotted the cobia about 200- to 300-yards off the beach.
On the first pass, "He got spooked. He got in a little too close to the boat," Wagner said.
Nevertheless they found him again a few minutes later and Atkinson made a good cast at the cobia.
Wagner said there was no hesitation on the part of the cobia to take the eel.
"He was very hungry," he said.
They got the fish in the boat and headed back to Destin.
Catching the first cobia is nothing new to the crew aboard the Full Pull. Capt. Wagner said he knows of at least nine times where someone aboard the boat has brought in the first.
"I personally have been on the boat for six," he said.
Atkinson received $300 for his catch with more than $37,000 guaranteed cash and prizes being awarded during this year's tournament which is now underway.
There is still time to register for the Destin tournament. Fishermen both novice and professional interested in competing can find entry forms at HarborWalk Marina and online at
www.destincobiatournament.com
The tournament wraps up May 8 with an awards ceremony to be held in the ballroom at the Emerald Grande.
The HarborWalk Destin Cobia Tournament weigh-in stations will include two locations - HarborWalk Marina, Destin and Outcast Bait & Tackle, Pensacola.
For more information on the 2009 Destin Cobia Tournament or to register a boat contact HarborWalk Marina at (850) 337-8250 or visit
Destin Cobia Tournament
