Cobia are mostly solitary, but sometimes form small groups. (NOAA Photo Library)
Cobia are large, long fish with a dark stripe running along the sides of the body. They visit the lower Chesapeake Bay’s open waters from spring through autumn.
Appearance:
Long body that that is blackish on the back and brown on the sides
Two silvery bands sandwiching a dark band that runs along the sides from the head to the tail
Yellowish- or grayish-white belly
Flattened head with a large mouth and protruding lower jaw
7-10 sharp spines in front of the dorsal fin
Forked tail fin
Usually grows 3-4 feet long and weighs more than 50 pounds
Habitat:
Lives in the Bay’s deep, open waters
Often found in the shade of wrecks, buoys and pilings
Mostly solitary but sometimes forms small groups
Range:
Found in the lower Chesapeake Bay from May-October
Can move as far north as Tangier Sound and the mouth of the Potomac River
Around October, cobia migrate out of the Bay to warmer southern waters near the Florida Keys
Feeding:
An opportunistic hunter with a broad diet and big appetite
Eats mostly crabs and shrimp, but will also feed on squid and smaller fish
Predators:
Larger fish prey on young cobia
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
Spawns from June through mid-August near the mouth of the Bay or just offshore
Can spawn more than once during the spawning season
Eggs collect near the surface of the water. They usually hatch within 24 hours of being fertilized.
Young grow rapidly during their first two years. They have prominent white stripes on their sides that fade as they grow.
Can live up to 12 years
Other Facts:
Known by many different names, including crab-eater and kingfish
When hooked by an angler, cobia will put up quite a fight, leaping and running to escape
The Chesapeake Bay record cobia, caught at York Spit near Hampton, Virginia, in June 2006, weighed 109 pounds and measured 69.5 inches long
Sources and Additional Information:
Fishes of Chesapeake Bay by Edward O. Murdy, Ray S. Birdsong and John A. Musick
