UTERCobia fishing in The First Coast
In The First Coast, cobia peak May–June and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Peak: cobia on the Mayport channel buoys, the reefs and the rays off the beach.
Leaving south.
Cobia in The First Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingFirst fish on the buoys and the nearshore reefs.
- MayPeakPeak: cobia on the Mayport channel buoys, the reefs and the rays off the beach.
- JunePeakStill on the reefs and buoys.
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberLeavingLeaving south.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish cobia near Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville
Spartina marsh, oyster-lined creeks and the Intracoastal from Ponce Inlet to the Georgia line, the St. Johns River and the Mayport jetties, St. Augustine and Matanzas inlets, and the beaches. More like Georgia's lowcountry than the rest of Florida.
Fish Scouter charts 598 marker / buoy, 191 wreck, 130 artificial reef, 18 beach / surf spots in the The First Coast 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 The First Coast?
Peak season is May–June. Cobia are in The First Coast April–October. May: Peak: cobia on the Mayport channel buoys, the reefs and the rays off the beach.
Where do cobia hold in The First Coast?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, beach / surf — around Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Mayport, Fernandina Beach.
What is the best bait for cobia in The First Coast?
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 The First Coast?
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 · The First Coast, the whole year