Name/Relations || Range/Sizes || Habitat & Habits || Notes
Common Name:
Cobia
Other Common Names:
Ling, crab eater
Scientific name:
Rachycentron canadum
Family:
Rachycentridae (Cobias)
Related Species:
(no other species in this family) Remoras, especially the Sharksucker which
if it weren't for its sucker, would be a cobia's smaller twin.
| Range: Worldwide in warmer waters, especially near coral reefs. In the Americas from New Jersey to Brazil, the entire Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay (in summer) and Carribean |
Sizes:
Possible to 200lbs, common 15lbs-60lbs.
Habitat: Inshore and offshore reefs and structure, including floating weeds, but some are migratory. Cobia migrate in the north into Gulf of Mexico in the spring and fall and north in Atlantic in the summer, returning to south Florida reefs and springs each winter. Some cobia stay year round on reefs in the Gulf Stream, in the Gulf of Mexico (in deeper water), and in water south of Florida reefs and spring-fed rivers.
Spawning Habits: (Either spawns in schools off-shore and then young live in sargassum, estruaries or shallow reefs, or more likely, cobia enter estruaries and shallow bays and spawn en-masse, and the young then head offshore soon after hatching).
Feeding Habits:
Very similar to remoras in feeding habits: Cobia will often follow rays,
turtles, and sharks, sneaking in to grab whatever its leading animal digs
up or leaves behind. Cobia will also cruise and hunt in packs from 3-100
fish when migrating, often following the shoreline in 15feet-50 feet of
water. Cobia will also feed and loiter around structure such as jetties,
reefs, bridges, piers, oil rigs, and weedlines. Cobia eat a variety
of foods including smaller fishes (mullet, eels, jacks, snappers, pinfish,
croakers, grunts, herring), crabs, shrimp, and squid.
Notes:
Will definitely take pitched baits and lures on light tackle, and is a
very tastey large fish. Anglers should look behind larger cruising and
feeding rays, and around bridge pilings, bouys, floating weeds, and reefs
for a cobia, then pitch a live bait such as a mullet, eel, pinfish, or
croaker well infront of the cobia on light takle (15lb-30lb test) with
a short leader of 40lb-50lb mono. Alternatively, cobia are fond of
large bucktail jigs with soft plastic tails or tipped with squid.
In the Northern Gulf of Mexico, cobia often migrate on shallow sand bars
just beyond the beach, making for excellent sight fishing and pier fishing.
In the winter, cobia also often enter coastal spring fed rivers and power
plant discharges in Florida. In the Chesepeake, cobia lurk around
the CBBT islands and also enter inlets near Buckroe Beach VA.