UTERCobia fishing in Biscayne Bay
In Biscayne Bay, cobia peak December–March and are around October–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Nearshore wrecks and reef edge.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cobia in Biscayne Bay, month by month
- JanuaryPeakNearshore wrecks and reef edge.
- FebruaryPeakStill on the wrecks.
- MarchPeak
- AprilAround
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot here
- AugustNot here
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberAround
- NovemberArrivingArriving with the first fronts.
- DecemberPeakSnook closes mid-month; winter reef and inlet pattern. Last snook harvest to the 14th. Kings and cobia on the wrecks, snapper on the reef, bones only on the warm afternoons.
Where to fish cobia near Homestead, Key Biscayne, Miami
Biscayne Bay's grass flats and the finger channels between them, the bayside mangrove shorelines of the national park, the inlets (Government Cut, Haulover, Port Everglades), and the reef line within a couple of miles of the beach.
Fish Scouter charts 734 marker / buoy, 515 artificial reef, 391 wreck, 20 beach / surf spots in the Miami & Biscayne Bay map area — the kinds cobia hold on.
What to use for cobia
- Live eelsHooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–7/0
- Jig head1–1 1/4 oz
- Braid30–50 lb
Feeds in 66–84°F water, best at 68–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch cobia in Biscayne Bay?
Peak season is December–March. Cobia are in Biscayne Bay October–April. January: Nearshore wrecks and reef edge.
Where do cobia hold in Biscayne Bay?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, beach / surf — around Homestead, Key Biscayne, Miami, Haulover, Fort Lauderdale.
What is the best bait for cobia in Biscayne Bay?
Live bait: live eels, pinfish, blue crabs, blue runners (hardtails). Live eels: Hooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–7/0, jig head 1–1 1/4 oz, braid 30–50 lb.
What are the rules for cobia in Biscayne Bay?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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