Cobia

Cobia are long, broad, dark-brown fish with a flattened head, a protruding lower jaw, and a white stripe along the flank, so that at a glance they are often mistaken for a shark or a large remora. The low spiny dorsal shows as a row of short, stiff spines.

They inhabit warm Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters, holding around buoys, wrecks, reefs, and range markers, and frequently shadowing large rays, sea turtles, and sharks near the surface.

Targeting cobia

Curious and opportunistic, cobia feed heavily on crabs, eels, and baitfish and will investigate almost anything near structure or a big host animal. Sight-casting a bucktail jig, an eel, or live bait to a cruising fish is a favorite tactic, and they are also taken bottom-fishing and chumming around wrecks. Cobia hit hard, pull with bulldog strength, and are excellent eating, which keeps them high on the nearshore list.