Cobia

Species: COBIA

Cobia

Identification: Cobia are dark brown on the sides and back which graduates to white on the belly with two darker brown horizontal bands on each side. They have small eyes and a flat head with an elongated body with small, smooth scales and very coarse sand paper like teeth in the jaws and mouth designed for crushing crabs, bait fish and squid. The lower jaw protrudes slightly further than the upper. The first dorsal fin has 6 to 9 independent, short, stout, sharp spines that are not connected by membrane. They have large pectoral fins and forked tails. Young cobia have prominent bands of black and white and have rounded tails.

AKA: Black bonito, black kingfish, black salmon, cod, crabeater, lemonfish, ling, ling cod.

Size: They can get to be a maximum length of 78″ (2m) and weigh up to 172 lbs. (78 kg).

Range: Cobia are Pelagic covering the whole water column.

Ideal Water Temp.: 68°-86°

Habitat: Along inshore structures, near shore beaches, reefs, seagrass beds.

Diet: The cobia feeds primarily on crabs, smaller fish and squid. They will follow larger fish like rays and skates and even sharks, turtles to scavenge.

Season: Fish beaches in the spring and fall.Try bridges, buoys and piers in the summer.Try warm water sources during the winter

RECORDS:

World Record: The largest Cobia caught on rod and reel was caught in Shark Bay, Australia, and weighed 135 lbs (60 kg).

Fishing Tips:

Natural:

Artificial: Eels, Eels or you can try Eels imitation eels from 6″ to 10″+

Fast Facts:

• Cobia are the only members of the family Rachycentridae.

• Cobia are also referred to as Black King Fish. 

• A cobia does not have a swim bladder.