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Cobia Fishing Charters

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Fishing in South Padre Island

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in South Padre Island

South Padre Island Deep Sea

92% (13)
35 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,359
Fishing in Orange Beach

Inshore, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Orange Beach

Orange Beach Inshore Bliss

95% (20)
24 ft 1 - 6 People From $550
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Fishing in Islamorada

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Islamorada

Offshore Thrills

100% (12)
40 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,210
Fishing in Destin

Nearshore Fishing Charter in Destin

Half Day Trip - 44' Custom

100% (17)
44 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,485
Fishing in Islamorada

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Islamorada

Ocean Thrills With Captain Don

100% (12)
28 ft 1 - 4 People From $770
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Fishing in Fort Lauderdale

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Fort Lauderdale

Unforgettable Day Offshore

92% (12)
45 ft 1 - 6 People From $935

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More Cobia Fishing Charters

Damn Good
A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Islamorada
Fishing in Islamorada
Fishing in Islamorada
trip description for Epic Islamorada Inshore in Islamorada

Head out for a half, 3/4 or full day Epic Fishing trip in the beautiful Florida Keys fishing for Tarpon, Redfish, Snook, Permit, Mangrove Snapper, Shark, Goliath Grouper, Spanish Mackerel, and much more! Captain Ron is an Islamorada Veteran with over 42 years of Experience chartering fishing trips in the Keys. Per his expert opinion, he recommends half-day 4-hour trips for novice anglers and families with kids. The 6-hour trip is more involved and gives you and your group more time to try different spots, and catch a variety of fish species that the Keys has to offer. And for those fishermen looking to catch everything, that one big fish, or try for the Backcountry slam, Captain Ron recommends the 8-hour full-day trip! No matter which trip you choose, Captain Ron will supply the fishing gear, and you should bring snack, drinks, a cap, sunblock, sunglasses and a camera. Come along and Enjoy!! Read More

Flats, Inshore, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Islamorada

Epic Islamorada Inshore

100% (7)
25 ft 1 - 4 People From $660
Fishing in Stock Island
Fishing in Stock Island
Fishing in Stock Island
trip description for Key West Nearshore/Offshore Trip in Stock Island

Climb aboard with Captain Mike for an epic half, 3/4, or full-day experience off the coast of the beautiful Florida Keys! Whether you want to spend a half day near-shore, spend some extra time to go off-shore, or even do a little of both, this luxurious 63' custom built sportfisher will meet all your needs. Trolling the open waters can produce hard fighting species like Amberjacks, Sailfish and Mahi. Trolling trips are great because the boat and the knowledge of your captain take care of half the work for you. You get to sit back, relax, enjoy the sweet sea breeze, and rest your arms while you wait for the reel to start screaming and your work to begin! Bottom fishing changes the target species to an entirely different set of fish. You can expect delicious and hard-fighting reef species like Snapper, Grouper and Amberjacks! Captain Mike will provide all the fishing gear you need to catch some picture-worthy fish. All that’s left to do is bring some food, drinks and sunscreen, and cast off with Captain Mike! Read More

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Stock Island

Key West Nearshore/Offshore Trip

100% (3)
63 ft 1 - 12 People From $1,760
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A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Fort Myers
Fishing in Fort Myers
Fishing in Fort Myers
trip description for Fort Myers/Sanibel Fishing Trip in Fort Myers

These trips are nearshore/inshore with a maximum distance offshore of 9 miles. Most fishing will be with live bait for snook, sea trout, redfish, tarpon, jack crevalle, snapper, grouper, and permit. Fishing licenses are included with trip as well as all tackle necessary. Water and ice will also be included, as well as the fileting of fish. Read More

Flats, Inshore, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Fort Myers

Fort Myers/Sanibel Fishing Trip

100% (13)
24 ft 1 - 5 People From $523
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A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Tampa
Fishing in Tampa
Fishing in Tampa
trip description for Tampa Bay Inshore Adventures in Tampa

Get out there and enjoy a fun, laid-back light tackle sportfishing trip on beautiful Tampa Bay. On this trip with 27 year veteran Captain Wade, you'll be going after classic species including snook, redfish, seatrout, and more! There are multiple options for your adventure, so you can find what's best for you. On the three-hour charter, you'll get a great introduction to Tampa Bay and have time to catch multiple species of fish. This is ideal for visitors, first-timers, couples, seniors, or parents with children of all ages. Of course, you'll be treated to professional, family-friendly service and courteous expert instruction. Four hours provides a greater opportunity to cover a larger area of Tampa Bay and catch more fish. Many people find this amount of time ideal for entertaining friends, clientele or hosting bachelor parties. Have a blast, while competing to see who catches the biggest fish or most fish. Six hours is highly recommended to maximize your fishing adventure on Tampa Bay. This charter is ideal for avid anglers, and enthusiasts looking to hone their inshore angling skills. Experience fishing numerous grass flats, mangrove shorelines, oyster beds, creeks and back-bays. No matter the adventure you select, you'll have a great time fishing with Captain Wade! He provides premium spin, fly or plug fishing tackle such as G-Loomis, Bull Bay, Penn, Sage and Tibor. Live-bait, flies, artificial lures, ice, bottled drinking water and sunscreen lotion is also provided. He will also fillet, bag, and ice your catch, should you decide to keep some fish for lunch or dinner! His 24' Sheaffer, “regarded as the best bay boat in the industry,” is ideal for fishing the inshore environment and was refurbished in 2022 with brand-new electronics and motor. Get out there and enjoy all that Tampa Bay has to offer! Afishionado, "Always an Adventure." Read More

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in Tampa

Tampa Bay Inshore Adventures

100% (8)
24 ft 1 - 6 People From $440
Damn Good
A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Port Aransas
Fishing in Port Aransas
Fishing in Port Aransas
trip description for Into the Depths- Captain Daniel in Port Aransas

Hit the water with Captain Daniel and experience an action-packed day of fishing! This 8, 10, or 12- hour deep-water adventure allows you to target a bigger variety of fish, such as Red Snapper (depending on the season), Mahi Mahi, and Tuna. The crew of Captain Daniel will guide you every step of the way. You will fish for big game fish, troll weed lines, and bottom fish around rocks, wrecks, and structure. The crew especially loves teaching kids and beginners everything about the different fish species available in this area, as well as fishing techniques. Captain Daniel will supply fuel, bait, top-of-the-line rods and reels, tackle, and ice. All you need to bring is a valid Texas Fishing License with a saltwater stamp for those over 16 years of age, food and drinks of your choice (no bananas), and comfortable life jackets if you are traveling with children. Enjoy an incredible day on the water with Captain Daniel! Read More

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Port Aransas

Into The Depths- Captain Daniel

100% (1)
36 ft 1 - 6 People From $2,200
Fishing in Freeport
Fishing in Freeport
Fishing in Freeport
trip description for A Nearshore Party in Paradise in Freeport

Head out to Freeport, Texas if you’re in for a true fishing adventure and pay a visit to Captain Rodney! Captain Rodney will show you various reefs and wrecks, all brimming with quality fish and surrounded by beautiful nature. Captain Rodney and his crew will help you chase Blacktip Shark, Cobia, King Mackerel, Red Snapper (depending on the season), and many more fish species. For these 5-hour trips, Captain Rodney chooses between three 27' ProKat catamarans - both provide a truly great fishing experience! These trips are great for families - Captain Rodney loves teaching little ones about the various species that call the Gulf of Mexico home. This trip is different from out nearshore in that we will run out to 9 miles and look for Snapper, Kingfish, Mahi and more. Make sure to bring a valid Texas fishing license as well as snacks and drinks of your choice (no glass). Captain Rodney will provide the rest - rods, reels, tackle, and an icebox for your day’s catch. Enjoy your day on the water with Captain Rodney! Read More

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Freeport

A Nearshore Party In Paradise

100% (5)
27 ft 1 - 6 People From $935
See All Cobia Trips

Everything to Know About Booking a cobia fishing charter

What are the best cobia fishing charters?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 499 cobia trips, and the most popular trips are South Padre Island Deep Sea guided by Emilio, Orange Beach Inshore Bliss guided by Rob, and Offshore Thrills guided by Paul.

Our guides are rated a 4.88 out of 5 based on 2639 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are licensed, insured, and vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly cobia guides / fishing lessons? Check out our beginner and family friendly cobia guides.

What types of cobia fishing charters are common?

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular for cobia as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and flats fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are bottom fishing, trolling, and light tackle fishing but heavy tackle fishing and live bait fishing are popular as well.

How much do cobia fishing charters cost?

for cobia prices can range anywhere from about $600 to $4,430, but the average price for a half day trip for cobia is $1,118. The average price for a full day trip for cobia is $2,430.

What month is best for cobia fishing?

The most popular season for cobia fishing is summer, and most anglers book their trips 69 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for cobia and what are the bag limits for cobia?

See here for more information on cobia fishing licenses, cobia bag limits, and fishing season regulations for cobia. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right cobia rules and regulations.

What is a Cobia?


A cobia is a unique fish - there are no other member of its scientific family left, and it is a fairly prehistoric-looking beast. It is a fish of many names (Texans prefer to call it a ling, and elsewhere around the world you might hear black kingfish, black salmon, lemonfish, black bonito, sergeantfish, cubby yew, crab-eater, or even the prodigal son).

To identify a cobia isn’t too difficult, as they have a massive, depressed head that looks almost flat like a catfish. They are also quickly told apart by their olive upper and white lower body, sometimes with a stripe down the side. These stripes are often more prominent during the spawn. They also have a few unique spikes on their back before their dorsal fin, and interestingly do not have a swim bladder like most other fish, meaning they must propel themselves to swim up or down in the water column.

Cobia are a popular gamefish; they’re strong-willed and fish hard on the line, and are known for keeping the fight alive even after being boated multiple times (don’t underestimate this fish). They are good to eat and are fished both commercially and recreationally. 


How big do Cobia get?

The cobia can grow to pretty substantial sizes, and they can fill out to be rather hefty. They can grow to a maximum of about 80 inches and 175 pounds. The average adults are closer to 30 pounds.

Cobia live to be up to 12-15 years and males mature at 2 years while females mature at around 3, a relatively young age. Breeding generally takes place from April to September in large offshore congregations (earlier in the southeast and later in the Gulf of Mexico).

 

What's the biggest Cobia ever caught?

The largest cobia taken on rod and reel was caught in Shark Bay, Australia. It weighed 135 pounds and was caught in 1985. But this is by no means the largest cobia taken - that distinction belongs to spearfishermen in Brazil who brought in a massive 172 pound fish in 2014. The fish doesn’t technically count towards any records because two men both speared the fish in order to bring it in, but this catch is impressive nonetheless. The official spearfishing record for cobia is a 142 pound fish, still greater than rod and reel. 



Where is the best place to catch Cobia?

Cobia are a pelagic fish and prefer the open sea but are often found cruising elsewhere, including any buoys or flotsam. They will often cozy on up to your boat to check out whats going on and search for crustaceans and small fish. There are also cobia who live inshore in bays and mangroves mostly in pursuit of prey.

Cobia are usually solitary but can be seen in small schools, especially in Florida where they are particularly common. They live all over the world in warm-temperate waters and are very widespread. You can find cobia from Canada to Argentina, from Morocco to South Africa, and from Japan to Australia. The only place you really won’t find cobia are the Eastern Pacific.

When should I catch Cobia?

In Florida, cobia are particularly plentiful. Atlantic coast cobia will hang around near the Keys in the winter months before they move back North. Therefore the Mid-Atlantic states will get the most action in the summer months. In the Gulf fish are around most of the year, but are best spring to summer.

A good rule of thumb is that on the Atlantic side fish will reach North Carolina and the Chesapeake Bay by May, and on the Gulf side will reach Destin by April.

In the US the season is always open. There is a 33 inch minimum for Florida and a 37 inch minimum for Texas and Virginia. In Florida and Virginia the bag limit is 1 per person and in all other states it is 2.

How do you catch Cobia?

When migrating, these fish swim close to the surface and sight casting is the name of the game. They are often seen migrating with rays, and some anglers even use ray’s wings as an indicator that cobia might be nearby. Otherwise, you can catch them trolling, bottom fishing, or jigging.

Cobia are strong, aggressive predators who mainly feed on crustaceans, fish, and squid. They are attracted to many jigs and are curious by nature, so it is good to use colors and get them excited with sound and movement. They will also eat a wide variety of live bait, but are especially interested in crabs (remember, one of their nicknames above is crabeater).

If casting, try to land the bait close to the fish and past its nose, and then run it by their head. If done correctly, cobia should lunge at just about anything that looks appetizing enough to get their attention. The fish will then take off, and once you are able, bring the fish to the boat and work quick so it doesn’t take your line again!

Are Cobia good to eat? What are the best Cobia recipes?

Cobia’s firm, white meat is considered excellent table fare. It has a rich taste and can be buttery but with a low amount of fat an oil. They are good cooked just about any style. They can be high in mercury like other pelagic fish so they are best in moderation.

Recent Reviews of Captain Experiences

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time today Caught a lot of fish. Thoroughly enjoyed our charter. Will return.

    Jorge E. with Chuck T. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Fantastic 4 hour charter, Captain James was a blast and he knew where the fish were! Will book again, thanks for a great time.

    Ted M. with James G. of Sarasota, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Wade was great. Worked hard and put me in lots of fish! Will definitely call him again!

    Brian G. with Wade O. of Tampa, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Absolutely Fantastic!! Captain Tim was a great Guide!!! Put us right on the fish and helped every step of the way. We caught so many we were getting exhausted just reeling them in!! Went past Fort Sumter and saw it from a totally new perspective. Great guy, great boat and fantastic experience! Marshview Fishing Charters Rock!!!

    Dan C. with Tim M. of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

  • ★★★★★
    Great guide and person. Fishing was great will be back again someday.

    Nathan G. with James G. of Fort Myers, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    We have been deep sea fishing 6 or 7 times and by far this has been our best experience so far! Captain Zach and First Mate Jason with No Alibi had us on fish from the word go and we kept catching all day throughout our 12 hour trip!

    Joshua C. with Zachary W. of Destin, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Corey was an amazing guide! We had a blast and caught some reds. Will be booking with Corey again!!!

    Kathryn E. with Corey B. of Port Aransas, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Corey was an amazing guide! We had a blast and caught some reds. Will be booking with Corey again!!!

    Kathryn E. with Corey B. of Port Aransas, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Had an absolute blast with Captain Chris! He was so nice and his passion and love for fishing made my bachelorette trip worthwhile! Our crew got to catch some great mackerel, yellowtail snapper and mutton snapper, plus more! Being able to celebrate my love for fishing and send off in the Keys with my gfs and Chris was the best! He got me on a huge tarpon hook up that I’ll absolutely never forget. Highly highly recommend this trip and we’ll certainly be back!!!

    Elizabeth G. with Chris P. of Islamorada, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    This trip was amazing! Captain Chris was the besttttttt. He helped us catch some really cool fish and even spent extra time with us to make sure the bride-to-be had a chance to catch the specific fish she wanted! He is so nice and even went out of the way to cut up our fish the best way, since he went to culinary school, to get us the most meat! He was so good, we can’t recommend him more!

    Elizabeth G. with Chris P. of Islamorada, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    This trip was amazing! Captain Chris was the besttttttt. He helped us catch some really cool fish and even spent extra time with us to make sure the bride-to-be had a chance to catch the specific fish she wanted! He is so nice and even went out of the way to cut up our fish the best way, since he went to culinary school, to get us the most meat! He was so good, we can’t recommend him more!

    Elizabeth G. with Chris P. of Islamorada, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    This trip was amazing! Captain Chris was the besttttttt. He helped us catch some really cool fish and even spent extra time with us to make sure the bride-to-be had a chance to catch the specific fish she wanted! He is so nice and even went out of the way to cut up our fish the best way, since he went to culinary school, to get us the most meat! He was so good, we can’t recommend him more!

    Elizabeth G. with Chris P. of Islamorada, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Awesome amazing ! Great guides we caught a LOT more of fish! Highly recommend!

    Carolyn L. with Tj D. of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

  • ★★★★★
    Has a great time. We all enjoyed

    Clayton S. with Paul H. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Spencer picked us up as scheduled. Boat was extremely clean and well prepared. We were fishing for tarpon and had a wonderful time. Hooked into multiple fish and had one giant. Spencer was amazing overall and would absolutely do it again. Couldn’t recommend him more.

    Patrick H. with Spencer C. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    All of us had a blast. Enjoyed every minute of it. The kids caught a nice size keeper each. Definitely will come back again.

    Sidney B. with Jordan N. of Fort Walton Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Capt. Corey did a wonderful job. Gives great service. Has an awesome attitude. Handles his boat well, Very clean and well kept. Will definitely book with him again.

    Henry V. with Corey B. of Port Aransas, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Five of us did the 8 hour trolling and bottom fishing. It was an amazing experience from start to finish and we caught a barrel of fish including vermilion snapper, triggerfish, grouper and an Atlantic bluefish. We caught and released several out of season fish as well. Captian Kyle and Mate Danny are super friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and made the trip an outstanding one. We were all first timers and they made us look and feel like seasoned pros.

    Michael E. with Kyle L. of Destin, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great time, good fishing

    Noah M. with Nick S. of Port Orange, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Had the best time with Ron and the crew! Would highly recommend this experience to anyone!

    Josh G. with Ron C. of Pompano Beach, Florida

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