UTERCobia fishing in Louisiana Coast
In Louisiana Coast, cobia peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Cobia on the nearshore platforms and the buoys; sight-cast with a bucktail.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cobia in Louisiana Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingThe spring run reaches the Chandeleurs and the barrier islands.
- MayPeakCobia on the nearshore platforms and the buoys; sight-cast with a bucktail.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakOn the rigs and the shrimp boats all summer.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish cobia near Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie
Millions of acres of marsh, ponds and bayous — Calcasieu, Barataria, Terrebonne, Lake Pontchartrain, Breton and Chandeleur sounds — fringed by barrier islands at Grand Isle, Elmer's and the Chandeleurs, the Mississippi River passes at Venice, and thousands of oil and gas platforms from the beach to blue water.
Fish Scouter charts 1,239 wreck, 438 artificial reef spots in the The Louisiana Marsh 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 Louisiana Coast?
Peak season is May–September. Cobia are in Louisiana Coast April–October. May: Cobia on the nearshore platforms and the buoys; sight-cast with a bucktail.
Where do cobia hold in Louisiana Coast?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, marker / buoy, beach / surf — around Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie, Port Fourchon, Grand Isle, Lafitte.
What is the best bait for cobia in Louisiana 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 Louisiana Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and change — read the current rule at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/recreational-fishing-licenses-and-permits.
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