Cobia is a popular game fish and table fare. Effective fishing methods for catching Cobia include spinning-reel or trolling using bait or lures. The most effective Cobia bait includes live bait and jigs. Cobia can be found in both inshore and offshore waters. Peak fishing season for Cobia is from November to May.
Habitat: Ocean
How to identify Cobia
Cobias resemble a small shark because of their long bodies, flat heads, muscular tails, and tall forward-positioned second dorsal fins. They also have an uncanny resemblance to a remora, minus the suction plate, which is located on the head of remoras. Cobias stay close to predatory fish, such as sharks and large species, just as remoras do. The cobia has a dark brown back that graduates into light alternating parallel brown/silver or rust/white markings. Smaller cobias have sharper markings that are deeper in color.
Where to catch Cobia
Cobia can be found in warm inshore and offshore waters around the world. Mature fish are more drawn to the shallows of continental shelves and floating/submerged objects, such as buoys, pier pilings, shipwrecks, and boats at anchor.
The following are habitats where you can catch Cobia:
How to catch Cobia
Peak fishing season for cobia is from November to May. When they are spawning, and during migration, they tend to stick to depths from 30-70 feet. After spring migration, cobias can often be found hanging out near cobia reefs and other structures, which can be found by looking for current breaks or rip lines.
There are several fishing methods that are effective for catching cobia, including spinning-reel, or trolling with bait or lures, chumming, jigs, and bottom-fishing. Color doesn’t matter much when choosing lures for cobia, though anglers should opt for something in the 4- to 8-ounce range for the best results.
The following are effective fishing methods and techniques for catching Cobia:
Best Lures, Bait & Tackle to catch Cobia
Cobias can be caught using bait or lures. The most effective cobia bait includes crustaceans, small live bait, cut bait, strip bait, and squid. The most effective lures are bucktail jigs, spoons, plugs, and weighted feathers.
The following are fishing lures, bait and tackle that can be used to catch Cobia:
