Captain's Note:
You'll think you're seeing or casting to a shark but if this captain spots a cobia, we're going after him! The cobia is fairly easy to hook but very agressive in it's fight, the cobia is all muscle and will test your fighting skills appropriately. Fly fishing for cobia is easy if you can put the fly in the sweet spot especially on the first cast. After that, the game changes. Usually released after a very hard won fight, the cobia is occasionally kept for the dinner table.
Description:
Cobia have an elongated body with a flat broad head. The front dorsal fin consists of 8-10 spiney rays which fold back into the body cavity. The second dorsal and anal fins are very high in front and taper back. Cobia have a large and powerful caudal fin. Resembles a sucker fish. Has a chocolate brown back, lighter brown and silvery stripes on its sides and a mostly white belly.
Avg. Size:
20-40" max. 80"
Distribution:
Found throughout Gulf Coast.
Habitat:
Coastal waters.
Behavior:
Moves in small schools often with sharks or rays. Often found around floating objects such as buoys, wrecks and platforms.
Diet:
Crustaceans and small fish.
Fishing Techniques:
Flyfishing while sight fishing. Bottom fishing and casting from a boat. Also trolling. Best to use natural live bait. When hooked the school will follow hooked fish to the boat. |
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