UTERCobia fishing in The Treasure Coast
In The Treasure Coast, cobia peak December–March and are around October–May, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Winter fish riding manta rays and following sharks off the beaches; nearshore wrecks.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cobia in The Treasure Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakWinter fish riding manta rays and following sharks off the beaches; nearshore wrecks.
- FebruaryPeakStill with the rays and on the wrecks off Jupiter and Fort Pierce.
- MarchPeakMoving north.
- AprilLeavingSnook and tarpon at the inlets; kings on the reef. Inlet snook on the outgoing, tarpon in the inlets and along the beach, kings on the reef edge. Trout on the lagoon flats at dawn.
- MayAround
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot here
- AugustNot here
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberAround
- NovemberArriving
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish cobia near Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart
The inlets and the Intracoastal behind them, the southern Indian River Lagoon's grass flats and spoil islands, the St. Lucie and Loxahatchee rivers, the beaches, and a reef line that comes within a mile of the sand from Jupiter south.
Fish Scouter charts 842 marker / buoy, 442 artificial reef, 264 wreck, 48 beach / surf spots in the Palm Beach & the Treasure 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 Treasure Coast?
Peak season is December–March. Cobia are in The Treasure Coast October–May. January: Winter fish riding manta rays and following sharks off the beaches; nearshore wrecks.
Where do cobia hold in The Treasure Coast?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, beach / surf — around Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian.
What is the best bait for cobia in The Treasure 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 Treasure 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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