Fishing For Cobia in Key West
Fishing for cobia in Key West is a great way to experience the island’s natural beauty and culture. The fish are commonly caught in the summer and are prized for making fresh sushi. Many restaurants serve cobia in their dishes in Key West and throughout Southern Florida. Due to their size, endurance, and fighting abilities, cobia are popular targets for sport fishermen. If you’ve never hooked a piece of cobia before, it’s sure to be an eye-opening experience. These aggressive fish will swoop down and shake off your line, so you’ll need to learn how to work your lure accordingly.
Best Place to Catch Cobia in Key West
The best place to catch cobia in Key West is right off the pier at the Old Florida Fishing Pier. These fish are smooth-skinned and have very few scales. Their backs are dark brown or silver, with paler sides and grayish-white undersides. Their snout is black with two narrow dark bands running down to the base of their tail fin. When they are young, cobia often have prominent vertical stripes that alternate with white. The stripes will fade over time. These fish can weigh anywhere from thirty to fifty pounds and range from 20 to 47 inches long.
When to Catch Cobia in Key West
During their reproductive phase, cobia reproduce many times along the coast. This season normally lasts from late June to mid-August in the Southeast and from late summer to early October in the Gulf of Mexico. The best water temperature for cobia fishing in Key West is about 33 degrees. This fish is typically a warm-water fish that can be found throughout South Florida year-round. However, if you want to have the best chance of hooking a trophy-sized cobia, you will need to know when the best time of year is for cobia fishing in Key West. Luckily, the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico provide a great opportunity to catch cobia.
The best time of the year to fish for cobia is during the migration period. When this time comes, the fish will be swimming close to the surface, so sight casting will work best. While they feed on baitfish like eels and blue crabs, you can also try artificial lures such as bucktail jigs. You can also try Texas-rigged plastic eels and worms.
In the fall, there is also a brief rush of cobia fishing when the sea surface temperatures begin to decline. In the early fall, nearshore sight-fishing may be superb. Cobia fishing from November to December is short-lived. In the fall, strong winds and harsh weather might be an issue. However, fishing pressure is low, and there might be a lot of fish on rays out to 60 feet of water.
In the winter, the water temperature is usually around 68 degrees. During the warmer months, the temperatures drop, and it’s difficult to find the fish. This is because cobia prefers warmer water to colder ones. During the cooler months, the fish tend to be less active, but they do appear as the weather warms up. If you’re looking for a large snag, the best temperature for cobia fishing in Key West is 65 degrees.
Tips For Cobia Fishing-How to Land a Cobia
If you are a beginner fishing for cobia, you need to know how to land a cobia. These fish have sharp spines and are tough fighters. To get your first cobia, you must use a large net. Two people should work together to lift it over the side of the net. Once it is out of the net, place it in a fish box until it calms down. It should be kept in the water until it has calmed down.
Once you’ve spotted a cobia, you’ll want to find out where to pitch your lure. A good place to start is on the ledges or offshore. Typically, cobia are in shallow water, 30 to 70 feet deep. Usually, the best time to fish for them is in the spring, but if you’re not lucky, you may have to cast into offshore structures. If you’re fishing with bait, use bright colors.
Equipment Needed For Cobia Fishing
Depending on where you fish for cobia, you may need to use live bait or jigs. If you are fishing from shore, it is best to use live bait because the cobia attacks it more aggressively. You may also want to try chumming wrecks to bring the Cobia up off the bottom. The fish will still strike your lure, but not as aggressively as they would if you were using live bait.
If you are a beginner, you should start with a medium-weight spinning rod. This will be the most effective way to land a Cobia. You should also get a reel with a large arbor. A line of 80 to 120 pounds is recommended for catching Cobia. You should also buy a heavy-duty line so that you can keep up with the size of the fish. This will increase your chances of landing a cobia.
To catch cobia with bait, try a micro jig with a weight of 20 to 300 grams. This lure will attract these big fish, and the color will depend on the day you catch them. The best type of weight is flat blat, as cobia can be difficult to handle. Once you’ve hooked your first cobia, make sure you pull in the other lines as well.
More about Cobia
Cobia or Rachycentron canadum is a large salt water fish often found in the tropics. It is the only non extinct species in its genus. Cobia also goes by other names including Black kingfish, Black salmon, Ling and Codfish. These names can often be confusing as it is not a kingfish, tuna or cod.
- Scientific name: Rachycentron canadum
- Higher classification: Rachycentron
- Max size: 6.5 feet
- Mass 82 lbs
- Lifespan: 12 years
- Rank: Species
What does Cobia taste like?
Cobia has a very mild flavor and so is good to cook in a verity of ways.
Is Cobia the same as cod?
No despite its misnomer Cobia is not the same as cod. It does however has a similar tast.
Is Cobia Healthy?
Yes Cobia is a great source of low fat Protein as well as an assortment of vitamins. Like many fish it is also low in saturated fats.
Is Cobia a shark?
No although sometimes mistaken for a shark it is not one. The Cobia does not have an living relatives within its Genus.