Damn Good Cobia Fishing Charters

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Cobia Fishing Charters

Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Naples

Naples Ultimate Fishing Adventure - 30'

NEW
30 ft 1 - 6 People From $900
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore, Flats in Clearwater

#1 Fishing Charter On Clearwater Beach

100% (4)
23 ft 1 - 6 People From $350
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Sarasota

4 Hours Fishing Trip

100% (4)
27 ft 1 - 6 People From $600
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Gulf Shores

Offshore Jigging / Trolling

100% (5)
35 ft 1 - 6 People From $950
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Shalimar

Gulf Adventures With Captain Shaun

NEW
22 ft 1 - 5 People From $750
Veteran Operated
This trip is managed by a veteran of the US armed forces.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore Fishing in Tampa

Inshore Family Fun Fishing

98% (41)
21 ft 1 - 4 People From $350
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Everything to Know About Booking a cobia fishing charter

What are the best cobia fishing charters?

Why should I book a cobia fishing charter with Captain Experiences?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 610 cobia trips, and the most popular trips are Deep Sea Trip guided by , Fort Myers/Sanibel Fishing Trip guided by , and Tampa Bay Fishing Classic guided by .

Our guides are rated a 4.88 out of 5 based on 4095 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are 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 type of fishing 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 live bait fishing and heavy tackle fishing are popular as well.

How much do cobia fishing charters cost?

Prices for cobia can range anywhere from about $700 to $5,000, but the average price for a half day trip for cobia is $1,381. The average price for a full day trip for cobia is $3,049.

Is booking a fishing guide worth the money?

Hiring a guide provides a number of benefits and many choose to book a fishing guide for a combination of experience, local knowledge, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.

Working with experienced fishing guides who know the best local spots and techniques can dramatically increase your odds of a great day. Having someone who is on the water every day and knows the area like the back of their hand is going to give you the best chances of success.

Booking a guide is also more cost effective, especially if you only get out a handful of times per year. When you consider all of the costs you would incur on your own such as the price of a boat, maintenance, insurance, gas, high-quality gear and tackle, repairs, and more, you’ll find that DIY is sometimes not worth the expense.

Even if you’ve got a great setup already in your home waters, booking a guide also provides a great opportunity to experience new techniques, new locations, or even a chance at a new target species to knock off the bucket list.

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

  • ★★★★★
    Great time with Captain Don. He put us on the fish and it didn’t stop. Got back to the dock and other fisherman were admiring the size of our yellowtail. Definitely going back for a full day.

    Christopher C. | March 10, 2025

    Trip: Ocean Thrills with Captain Don

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time and caught a bunch of fish. Really enjoyed the trip

    Michael J. | March 9, 2025

    Trip: South Padre Island Deep Sea

  • ★★★★★
    My experience on this trip was stellar You could not ask for a better captain and first mate.

    Michael J. | March 7, 2025

    Trip: Galveston Nearshore Hunt

  • ★★★★★
    Awesome day! The Fish had no chance! The Yellowtail and Mahi wore us out reeling them in. Great Captain, great fish, great experience! We will be booking again on our next visit.

    Christopher K. | March 6, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Fishing,Reef & Wreck and Sunset

  • ★★★★★
    Great Charter with Captain Larry! It was a slower time of year with a few species in season but he got us on some fish! We had a great time. Looking forward to booking again this summer!

    Samuel S. | March 5, 2025

    Trip: Half Day Nearshore Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    We had an amazing trip with Captain Tony. He was super knowledgeable, kind and patient with a new young angler. He put us directly on fish and specifically the tuna we wanted. We will fish with Tony again for sure. If you are looking for guide, Tony is the man and knows the Key West waters and area well being born and raised in Key West.

    Britt B. | February 18, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Fishing,Reef & Wreck and Sunset

  • ★★★★★
    Paul and his first mate were awesome! We came to catch a sailfish and they made it happen!

    Bill B. | February 13, 2025

    Trip: Ultimate Offshore Thrills

  • ★★★★★
    We had a wonderful afternoon fishing with Antonio and Tony!! Very pleasant and attentive, constantly moving to find us the best spots. Went above and beyond to ensure we caught fish, even on a slow day. Would highly recommend

    Rodney G. | February 9, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Fishing,Reef & Wreck and Sunset

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great trip with Brad. He was prompt and polite, but most importantly, a very attentive and experienced captain. He gave us many options for our outing and let us determine the course of our day. Highly recommend!

    Curtis C. | January 10, 2025

    Trip: Key West Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Brad and his first mate were first class. Helped us fish for all different kinds of fish. We even caught a 6 foot sailfish! Our family had a very nice time and highly recommend Captain Brad!

    Michael V. | December 25, 2024

    Trip: Key West Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    We had an outstanding day fishing with Rooster & Braxton on Christmas Eve Day. We limited out on red snappers in a hour with a 12 pound average. Would recommend Rooster as a captain because he is very knowledgeable & patient with novice anglers.

    Brian M. | December 24, 2024

    Trip: Captain Daniel's Fish Frenzy

  • ★★★★★
    James was fantastic. He communicated very good and knew the bay extremely well. He put my son and I on fish at each spot and couldn’t of asked for a better experience in Sarasota Bay!

    Joshua D. | November 27, 2024

    Trip: Sarasota Classic Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Johnny and JT were great! Winter fishing is tough but we all had a great time! I would definitely book a trip with Johnny again!

    Carmel B. | November 26, 2024

    Trip: Alabama Inshore Magic

  • ★★★★★
    We had a blast with Joe and Captain Chuck. Will definitely return!

    Yohannes H. | October 28, 2024

    Trip: Legendary Fishing in Key West

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Scott is absolutely Bbbaadd to the bone, in a great way. He was very attentive, super clean boat, very helpful on how to real in Amber Jack's, which helped a lot because that fish will fight you every second. He took outstanding videos and pictures. He took me to great spots to catch mahi mahi and amber Jack's. I couldn't have asked for a better trip or captain. The mahi mahi fish tacos are absolutely fire as well.

    Scott S. | October 28, 2024

    Trip: Bad to the Bone Offshore

  • ★★★★★
    My husband and son had a great time with Blake. There were definitely enough fish biting to keep my son's attention for the 4 hour trip.

    Andrea M. | October 21, 2024

    Trip: Galveston Bay Trophy Hunt

  • ★★★★★
    Capt Kenny was great and deck hand. He really worked hard for us finding fish on a pretty rough water day stayed fishing till bait was used up and even cut bait for us so we could keep fishing had a great time look forward to our next trip at the end of the month.

    Troy S. | October 8, 2024

    Trip: Galveston Bay Jetty Run

  • ★★★★★
    We had such a great time and our guide was fun, knowledgeable, and put us on the fish all trip! We will be going back for sure.

    Rae S. | October 6, 2024

    Trip: Key West Offshore Action

  • ★★★★★
    Had a really great time it was my son‘s birthday and my two grandsons was with him and a couple of friends and Captain Willis really did this extraordinarily great great kid Jake his first mate was jumping around the boat putting bait on my hooks really did great. I recommend this crew For your fishing experience and later met the owner Danny at his restaurant, all the guys are telling Danny about their experience on the boat. All excited the food was good at the restaurant Danny’s group at the restaurant was perfect. Danny is the owner was really phenomenal, on his appreciation of our decision to do business with his Services offered. If you’re looking to have a great experience, I would suggest you look these guys up in Port Aransas

    David L. | October 6, 2024

    Trip: Into the Depths- Captain Daniel

  • ★★★★★
    Awesome trip. Captain Bill was a complete professional and put us right on the fish. Everyone left happy with plenty of pictures and a full cooler. First mate Ashley was one of the best I've ever seen at what she does.

    Tommy O. | September 30, 2024

    Trip: Big Boat Mixed Bag

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