UTERCobia fishing in Charlotte Harbor
In Charlotte Harbor, cobia peak April–May and October and are around March–January, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Peak — wrecks, markers and rays on the beaches.
Fall fish back on the wrecks.
Cobia in Charlotte Harbor, month by month
- JanuaryAroundA few winter fish on the nearshore wrecks.
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingSpring run past the passes and on the markers.
- AprilPeakPeak — wrecks, markers and rays on the beaches.
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeakFall fish back on the wrecks.
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish cobia near Englewood, Boca Grande, Punta Gorda
Boca Grande Pass and the mangrove sounds behind it — Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, Matlacha, the Caloosahatchee, Estero Bay — miles of mangrove shoreline, oyster bars, sand holes in the grass, and long barrier-island beaches from Gasparilla to Sanibel.
Fish Scouter charts 254 artificial reef, 98 wreck, 47 marker / buoy, 30 beach / surf spots in the Charlotte Harbor & the Islands 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 Charlotte Harbor?
Peak season is April–May and October. Cobia are in Charlotte Harbor March–January. April: Peak — wrecks, markers and rays on the beaches.
Where do cobia hold in Charlotte Harbor?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, beach / surf — around Englewood, Boca Grande, Punta Gorda, Pine Island, Fort Myers, Naples.
What is the best bait for cobia in Charlotte Harbor?
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 Charlotte Harbor?
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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All about cobia · Charlotte Harbor & the Islands, the whole year