Cobia migrate through the Port St. Joe area in the spring. March through May provides some of the best fishing opportunities for cobia. Anglers usually sight fish cobia with live bait rigs, but they will hit artificial lures as well.
How to Catch Cobia
Cobia are migratory fish that can be found inshore and offshore. Inshore, anglers find these fish in bays, rivers and along the beaches. Cobia are usually targeted inshore under rays and schools of bait fish. It is common to see cobia swimming underneath rays inshore and nearshore. Offshore, cobia can be found on reefs and wrecks, although, some cobia will be found near the surface under rays and balls of bait fish just like you see them inshore.
You can fish for cobia with a bottom rig or by sight fishing for them on the surface. If you find these fish feeding near the surface, there is no need for a weight. Just throw a live bait fish on a hook and let it swim freely. If the cobia is hungry, it won’t take long for them to strike the bait. The best baits to catch cobia are live baits such as crabs, shrimp, pinfish, mullet and other small bait fish. Cobia aren’t too picky when it comes to eating, so most bait fish will work for cobia.
More Cobia Fishing Resources
- Visit our Cobia Fishing Home Page
- Cobia Fishing Basics
- Fishing Lures for Cobia
- Fishing Rigs for Cobia
- Live Baits for Cobia
- Cobia Fishing on Facebook
