UTERCobia fishing in Georgia Coast
In Georgia Coast, cobia peak May–July and are around April–August, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Fish in St. Simons and Wassaw sounds and on the nearshore reefs; live eel or menhaden.
Not in Georgia Coast this month.
Cobia in Georgia Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingCobia arrive off the Golden Isles beaches and the sound mouths.
- MayPeakFish in St. Simons and Wassaw sounds and on the nearshore reefs; live eel or menhaden.
- JunePeakSounds and buoys; sight-cast on calm days. Georgia sets its own season — check GADNR.
- JulyPeak
- AugustAround
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish cobia near Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill
Endless spartina marsh and tidal creeks behind the barrier islands — Tybee, Wassaw, Ossabaw, St. Catherines, Sapelo, St. Simons, Jekyll and Cumberland — cut by big sounds (Wassaw, St. Catherines, Doboy, St. Simons, St. Andrew), with shell rakes everywhere, artificial reefs nearshore and Gray's Reef and the Gulf Stream offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 338 artificial reef, 180 marker / buoy, 169 wreck, 1 beach / surf spots in the The Golden Isles 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 Georgia Coast?
Peak season is May–July. Cobia are in Georgia Coast April–August. May: Fish in St. Simons and Wassaw sounds and on the nearshore reefs; live eel or menhaden.
Where do cobia hold in Georgia Coast?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, beach / surf — around Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, Darien, Brunswick, St. Simons Island.
What is the best bait for cobia in Georgia 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 Georgia Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Georgia DNR) and change — read the current rule at https://coastalgadnr.org/RecreationalFishing before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes.
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