Monday September 25, 2017

An exciting offshore and nearshore fish on Florida's east coast is the popular and often plentiful cobia which can be sightfished off and on throughout the year during temperate seasonal temperature changes. Cobia require a 10 weight or better flyrod and are looking for larger flies and offerings than smaller inshore species.

Often sought on offshore structure over reefs, wrecks and rubble, the cobia will also follow and relate to large marine animals like manta rays and sharks. Look for cobia around floatsome, bouys and other structure too. It's not uncommon to look back and see cobia following a slow trolling boat, they truly can show up anywhere and are a pleasant surprise for the preparred and startling for many as they resemble sharks to the untrained eye.

Cobia like jigs and brightly colored flies that have a larger profile than standard streamers. Ray Norman has developed a fly I use almost exclusivley and it just simply works. Cobia will also take poppers and can be teased to the boatside to take a variety of streamers and crab patterns.

Cobia are hard fighting, heavy fish that never seem to give up the battle even after they're boated. Average size of this fish seems to be over 25 lbs with 35-40 lbs not uncommon. Brown to black colored with no teeth, short spikes on their backs and plenty of "BIG FISH" attitude. Cobia are often mistaken by anglers for sharks and can be seen freely swimming near the surface near flotsam or structure. For the most part cobia are dark brown but can have some color fluctuation due to genetics or habitat.

Both INSHORE and NEARSHORE inhabiting inlets, bays, and among mangroves; frequently seen around buoys, pilings, and wrecks. During the spring and fall migrations they can often be seen free swimming along the coastline.

We often find cobia swimming near the surface near floating sargassum seaweed or flotsam. Prior to the 1980's cobia would frequent navigation aids but this has become less of a habit due to angling pressure.

One of the preferred ways to catch cobia consistently is to simply bottom fish near wrecks and structure. Cobia respond well to live bait and find comfort and food source near large bottom structure.

As a note you should always look around large marinelife for swimming cobia. Large sharks, manta rays, whales and turtles can often hold cobia that relate to them as traveling companions or hitchhikers.

Remarks

spawns in spring and early summer; feeds on crabs, squid, and small fish. Target this fish in early spring or late winter (feb-april). Cobia are often seasonal so make your reservations during this time of year.

Cobia Fishing Information & Photos

Port Canaveral Cobia
Family Cobia Fishing
Cobia with Manta Rays
Offshore Cobia
Schooling Cobia Offshore
Site Fishing Cobia
Inshore Cobia Fishing
Central Florida Cobia
Cobia Captain Charters
Cobia Fishing

Regulations

Minimum size 33" to fork 1 per harvester or 6 per vessel per day, whichever is less.

State Record

103 lbs., 12 ozs.

Fly Fishing For Cobia

Reviewed by Captain Richard Bradley on Last modified: November 08 2016 11:48:24.

Published by: Captain Richard Bradley of Lagooner Fishing Guides©

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Lagooner Fishing Guides
Cocoa Beach's premier saltwater fishing guide with over 25 years of charter fishing experience in his native waters.
Telephone: 321-868-4953
Website: www.lagooner.com

204 Garfield Avenue
Cocoa Beach, FL
USA

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