Best Times & Seasons to Catch Cobia in Florida (Full Guide)
Cobia are some of the most popular fish to target in Florida. Knowing the best times and seasons to catch cobia in Florida helps anglers maximize the success of their fishing trips.
The best time to catch cobia in Florida is spring and early summer, especially from March to June. Early morning or late afternoon are often the most productive times of day to fish for them.
Florida offers world-class cobia fishing throughout the year. Cobia can be found in Florida’s nearshore waters, around reefs, and near structures like buoys and piers.
Best Times to Catch Cobia in Florida
The best time to catch cobia in Florida is spring and early summer, especially from March to June. Early morning and late afternoon are the most active times for these fish. They like to hang out near underwater features like reefs and shipwrecks and around places where rivers flow into the ocean or bays open to larger bodies of water.
Seasonal Breakdown: Florida Cobia
Winter
In winter, cobia in Florida often move to deeper, warmer waters. This means you might have to go further offshore to find them. The best times to fish are still early morning and late afternoon, even in winter. During these hours, cobia might rise closer to the surface, especially near underwater structures like reefs and shipwrecks.
Regarding tides, aim for times when the water is moving in from the ocean or starting to flow back out. You can find cobia near places where bays connect to the open ocean or rivers meet the sea.
Spring
Spring is one of the best times to catch cobia in Florida, especially from March to June. During this season, cobia are often migrating, and they’re more active, making them easier to catch. The best times of day are early morning and late afternoon when they come closer to the surface to find food.
Tides are important too: aim for the incoming tide or the first part of the outgoing tide. During these times, cobia like to be near the spots where rivers flow into the ocean or bays open up into larger bodies of water.
Summer
Cobia are still around in the summer in Florida waters, but they may be a bit harder to find than in the spring. Your best chances to catch them are early morning or late afternoon when the sun isn’t too hot. During these times, cobia might come closer to the surface looking for food. You’ll often find them near underwater structures like reefs or old shipwrecks.
The moving tide, especially the incoming tide, can also be a good time to fish, as the water brings in small fish and other food that cobia like to eat. Look for cobia around places where bays or rivers open up into the ocean. So, if you’re fishing in the summer, focus on early mornings, late afternoons, and moving tides.
Fall
In Florida, fall isn’t the peak season for cobia, but you can still catch them, especially in September and October. During the fall, cobia often move to deeper waters but remain close to underwater features like wrecks and reefs. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to find them actively searching for food.
The tide also matters: try to fish during the incoming or early part of the outgoing tide when water is moving and bringing in food. Look for them near the mouths of rivers flowing into the ocean or where the bay opens up into larger water areas.
Best & Worst Time/Tides of Day
The best times of day to catch cobia in Florida are usually early morning and late afternoon. That’s when they are most active and looking for food. Midday is often the worst time because the sun is strong and cobia tend to go deeper in the water, making them harder to catch.
Tides also play a big role. When water flows from the ocean into bays or rivers, the incoming tide is a good time to fish for cobia. The moving water brings in food, and cobia follow to eat. When water moves back to the ocean, the first couple hours of the outgoing tide can also be good because cobia might still be hanging around, looking for a meal.
During slack tide, fishing for cobia can be challenging when the water is not moving much. They’re less likely to feed actively, so you might not have much luck. To sum it up: aim for early morning or late afternoon, and try to match it with incoming or early outgoing tides for the best chance to catch cobia.
Recommended Fishing Guides in Florida
These Florida-based charters are the best at putting you on great fishing action. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Captain Chris Fishing Charters | St. Augustine, FL |
| Great White Charters | St. Augustine, FL |
| Fish Slapped Charters | Clearwater, FL |
| Wet Lines Fishing | Clearwater, FL |
| Amelia Family Fishing Charters | Fernandina Beach, FL |
| 850 Charters | Destin, FL |
| Neptune Fishing Charters | Clearwater, FL |
| Leisure Life Charters | St. Petersburg, FL |
| Old Town Charters | Panama City Beach, FL |
Night Fishing for Florida Cobia
Catching cobia at night can be tricky, but there are some tips to help you succeed. The best time to catch them is during a full moon because the extra light makes them more active near the surface. You can find them around lighted docks, piers, or even floating objects in nearshore waters.
On darker nights, like during a new moon, cobia usually stay deeper in the water. This is a less ideal time to catch them because they’re harder to locate. During these darker nights, fishing in deeper waters near underwater structures like reefs or wrecks is better.
Top Florida Cobia Locations
Destin: In Destin, the best time for cobia is during their annual migration in the spring, typically in March and April. You’ll often see them following rays or turtles.
Tampa Bay: Here, cobia frequent the waters from late spring to early summer. They like to hang out near underwater structures like wrecks or artificial reefs.
Jacksonville: In Jacksonville, spring is the prime season for cobia. They often swim near the mouth of the St. Johns River where it meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Key West: You can find cobia year-round in the Florida Keys, but late winter and spring are especially good times. Look for them near floating objects or sargassum patches.
Sarasota: From April to June, cobia can be found in Sarasota’s nearshore waters. They often swim near natural ledges and artificial reefs.
Fort Myers: Here, cobia are most commonly caught during the spring months. They like to be around structures such as old wrecks and artificial reefs.
Miami: Cobia can be found in Miami’s coastal waters from late winter to early summer. They’re often near underwater structures and sometimes right under schools of baitfish.
Panama City: Spring is prime time for cobia in Panama City. They like to hang out near the jetties and other man-made structures.
Pensacola: In Pensacola, you can find cobia during the spring migration, typically in March and April. Look for them in open water but close to landmarks like buoys or anchored boats.
St. Petersburg: Cobia are commonly found in St. Petersburg’s coastal waters from late spring to early summer. They like spots where the bay opens up into the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida Cobia & Weather
Weather can affect where you’ll find cobia in Florida waters. On sunny days, cobia swim near the water’s surface, often following larger animals like rays or turtles. This makes them easier to spot and catch.
When it’s cloudy or overcast, cobia tend to go deeper. They’ll hang out near underwater structures like wrecks or artificial reefs. This is a good time to use fish finders to locate them.
During windy conditions, cobia may seek calmer waters. This means you’re more likely to find them in protected areas like bays or near the openings where rivers flow into the ocean.
If it’s rainy, cobia usually go even deeper to avoid the surface disturbance. They may also move closer to shore, looking for food stirred up by the rain. In cold fronts, cobia often move to warmer, deeper waters. So, if a cold snap hits, you may need to go further offshore to find them.
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