Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

Cobia have a long body that varies in color from brown to gray to black, with a yellowish or grayish white belly. Adults have:

• Two sharply defined silvery bands along the sides.
• A flattened head with a large mouth and protruding lower jaw.
• Seven to 10 sharp spines in front of the dorsal fin.
• Usually grow to 3 to 4 feet and weigh more than 50 pounds.

Where do cobia live?

Cobia are found in the deep waters of the lower Bay from May through October.

• They can move as far north as Tangier Sound and the mouth of the Potomac River.
• Often found in the shade of wrecks, buoys and pilings.
• They are mostly solitary but sometimes form small groups.
• Around October, cobia migrate out of the Bay to warmer southern waters.

What do cobia eat?

Cobia are opportunistic hunters with a broad diet and big appetite. They will prey on:

• Crabs
• Shrimps
• Squids
• Smaller fish

How do cobia reproduce?

Cobia spawn from June through mid-August near the mouth of the Bay or just offshore.

• Eggs collect near the surface of the water and usually hatch within 24 hours of being fertilized.
• Young have prominent white stripes on their sides, which fade as they grow.

Other facts about cobia:

• Known by many different names, including crab-eater, kingfish and boninto.
• When hooked by an angler, cobia will put up quite a fight, leaping and running to escape being caught.
• Can live up to 15 years.
• The Chesapeake Bay record cobia, caught at York Spit near Hampton, Virginia, in June 2006, weighed 109 pounds and measured 69.5 inches in length.