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Cobia Capers


There is still much we don’t know about the mysterious cobia. By Dave Lear


I 36


F THERE IS EVER a case of iden- tity theft in the fishing world, cobia would be a prime suspect. Just consider all its known aliases: Ling, lemonfish, crab-cruncher, cobbeo, bacalao and the Man in the Brown Suit.


Cobia are one of those unique species that don’t fit into a specific family of fish like drum or jacks.


Would you trust your PIN with such a character? Probably not.


Illustration by Ben Kocian Despite all these monikers, cobia do


have many redeeming qualities. They are powerful fighters and will readily slurp down a variety of baits, lures and flies. They can be sight-fished, they can grow to triple-digit sizes, and the meat is some of the most delicious on the piscatorial buffet. So maybe they are not such bad guys after all, but they are definitely misunderstood. Or mysteri- ous, more accurately. Fortunately, our knowledge base on these nomadic swimmers is growing every year thanks to angler cooperation and tag- ging studies. And a profile of the sus- pect has been developed.


COMPOSITE SKETCH


Cobia are one of those unique species that don’t fit into a specific fam- ily of fish like drum or jacks. They are


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found in warmer waters throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast as far north as Virginia and Chesapeake Bay. They are a highly fecund fish, capable of producing mil- lions of eggs per season. Serial spawn- ing occurs from spring through the summer months, with April and May the peak. Spawning happens offshore, out to the continental shelf, at un- known sites. Biologists also aren’t sure whether the fish aggregate to spawn or if single males and females pair up. They do know the males must fertilize the eggs immediately. Juveniles reach maturity after about two years when they are approximately 33-inches long. Males live as long as nine years, while females live a little longer. The oldest fish aged was an 11-year-old, 106-pound female caught off Biloxi, Mississippi.


TIDE


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