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Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
"AKA Ling, lemonfish, black salmon, cubby yew, sergeant fish,
crab-eater, cabio black kingfish, prodigal son & runner "

Description:   The large, sleek, really strong fish is slim with a wide depressed head and a protruding jaw and small eyes. The torpedo-shaped cobia has dark lateral stripes bordered by lighter color that runs down the overall dark brown body from the eye to the tail. The belly of the Cobia is grayish white to silver. The first dorsal fin has 7-9 spines that are not connected by a membrane. Juveniles have obvious black and white alternating lateral stripes. The skin is smooth with tiny embedded scales. The second dorsal is long and elevated in the front. The caudal fin upper lobe extends past the lower lobe. The beginning of the anal fin is underneath the second dorsal apex and the pectoral fin is pointed. Most fins are dark brown with gray markings on the pelvic and anal fins. Mature Cobia have slightly lunate forked tail fins. Cobia do not have air bladders.

The cobia's teeth are tiny and are in bands on the jaws, roof of the mouth and tongue.

Similar Fish:    The Cobia are the only living species in their family and have no relatives. In the water they look very similar to sharks. Cobia somewhat resemble remora, but lack the dorsal sucker and their tail is more developed.

Where Found:   The Cobia are found in shallow (less than 60 feet deep) tropic and warm temperate waters around the world. Most, but not all, Cobia migrate with the seasons moving from the winter into warm tropical waters and to more temperate waters in the warmer months. In the northern Gulf of Mexico Cobia remain but go to depths of 100 feet. In other areas Cobia will remain near power plants seeking warmth. In the summer Cobia will migrate north as far as Maryland.

Cobia like to hang around wrecks, harbors and reefs. The Cobia are found over the continental shelf as near anything that interrupts the flow of open water including anchored boats and oil rigs.

Size:    The fast growing cobia's average weight is between 20 to 40 pounds.

USA Record:    105 lbs 8 oz. in May of 1980

World Record:   135 lbs. 9 oz., July 9, 1985 by Robert Goulding in Shark Bay, Australia .

Bait used:    The choices that seem to work best are crabs, pinfish, grunts, bluerunners or eels.

Tactics to catch:   If you are spinning and plug casting make sure the lure is reeled in front of and across the path of the moving Cobia. it is best to use a medium to a slightly heavy rod and reel. The line should be 12-20lb. test.   Cobia like colorful jigs and noisy diving or sinking plugs.

If you are bottom fishing or trolling from a boat, pier or bridge fishing the rod & reel choice should be medium heavy with a 20-30 lb. test line. Use a sinker that weighs at least 2-4 ounces with a top swivel. A 40-50 lb. shock leader is recommended with a 4/0 to 7/0 O'Shaughnessy hook.

Regardless of whether you are trolling, bottom fishing, plug casting or spinning, when the Cobia is caught you had better hold on because this is one fighting gamefish. The dorsal spines are sharp and stout. Use caution when the thrashing Cobia is being transferred into the boat and the fish box as they can and have done damage to the angler, equipment and/or boat.

Cobia are known for wrapping lines around structures.

Climate   (water temperature range):    68 ºF to 86 ºF

Spawning habits:   The Cobia is sexually mature at two years of age. It is interesting to note that when spawning the cobia's body changes from brown to a light horizontal-striped pattern. There is not a lot known about the Cobias spawning habits other than they spawn offshore every 9-12 days (14-20 times in a season) during daylight hours and the larvae move offshore soon after hatching. The floating eggs are 1.3mm and will incubate in approximately 30 hours at 26 ºC. Newly hatched larvae are over 3mm in length and lack pigmentation. The larvae will live on it's yolk sac for approximately three days.   The larvae will then begin to eat zooplankton as they continue to grow rapidly reaching one gram in five or six weeks. In approximately one month, the juvenile looks like an adult cobia with two color bands running from the head to the tail. Juveniles will school but as they mature they begin to swim alone or in the company of sharks.

Table food?    The Cobia is excellent seafood in both taste and texture. It is sold fresh, frozen and smoked.

Consumption Concerns:   Warning due to high levels of Mercury

Feeding habits:    The Cobia prefer crabs, thus the nickname crab-eater. They also feed on mackerel and eel while their main diet is that of crustaceans. Because the Cobia are voracious eaters they often swallow their prey whole. They are often seen following rays, sharks and turtles to scavenge whatever is left behind.

Remarks:    The Cobia are fast swimming and can travel hundreds of miles in short periods of time.

Because of their tremendous growth rate and meat quality, they are an ideal species for aquaculture.

References:
http://www.fish4fun.com/
http://www.landbigfish.com
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/
http://www.swordfishingcentral.com
www.thejump.net
http://www.lagooner.com
http://en.wikipedia.org

Cobia Rachycentron canadum "AKA Ling, lemonfish, black salmon, cubby yew, sergeant fish, crab-eater, cabio black kingfish, prodigal son & runner "

Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
"AKA Ling, lemonfish, black salmon, cubby yew, sergeant fish,
crab-eater, cabio black kingfish, prodigal son & runner "