UTERCobia fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, cobia peak May–July and are around April–August, spawning in June–July, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Spawning in the sounds — SCDNR found cobia eggs in every May and June sample. Rules tighten for this run — check SCDNR.
Not in South Carolina Coast this month.
Cobia in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingCobia move into Port Royal and St. Helena sounds as the water nears 70.
- MayPeakSpawning in the sounds — SCDNR found cobia eggs in every May and June sample. Rules tighten for this run — check SCDNR.
- JuneSpawningSpawning fish around the Broad River and the sound channels; release the big females.
- JulySpawning
- AugustAround
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish cobia near Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto
Port Royal and St. Helena sounds, the ACE Basin, Charleston Harbor and its jetties, Bulls Bay, Winyah Bay and the Grand Strand beaches — spartina marsh and oyster rakes behind barrier islands, with live-bottom ledges, artificial reefs and the Georgetown Hole and Gulf Stream offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 218 wreck, 144 artificial reef spots in the The Lowcountry 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 South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is May–July, with fish spawning in June–July (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Cobia are in South Carolina Coast April–August. May: Spawning in the sounds — SCDNR found cobia eggs in every May and June sample. Rules tighten for this run — check SCDNR.
Where do cobia hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, beach / surf — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for cobia in South Carolina 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 South Carolina Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and change — read the current rule at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/licensing.html.
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