Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
Also called ling, lemon fish, black kingfish
A large, brown-colored pelagic fish with a distinctive flat head and shark-like appearance. Known for their powerful fights and excellent table fare.
Cobia at a glance
- Scientific name
- Rachycentron canadum
- Typical size
- 30-50 inches
- IGFA world record
- 135 lbs 9 oz
- State record
- 130 lbs 1 oz
- Water
- Saltwater
- Habitat
- Inshore
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Rare
Habitat
Follow rays, turtles, and large sharks. Found near buoys, wrecks, and structure.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a cobia through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksWhat to throw for cobia
The lure classes that produce for cobia, drawn from the same species map Cobia reasons about. Each one opens a full page on what it is, when it works and how to fish it.
Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the water in front of you today. That part is the app.
Cobia questions people ask
Cobia is Rachycentron canadum. Anglers also call it ling, lemon fish, black kingfish.
A typical cobia runs 30-50 inches. The IGFA all tackle world record stands at 135 lbs 9 oz. Cobia records the length and weight of every cobia you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Follow rays, turtles, and large sharks. Found near buoys, wrecks, and structure. It is a salt water species, filed under inshore in the Fishdex.
The IGFA all tackle world record cobia weighed 135 lbs 9 oz. The standing state record on file is 130 lbs 1 oz.
Soft swimbaits and paddletails, jigheads and bucktails and hair jigs all produce. Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the season, the water temperature and the tide on the day, which is the part Cobia works out against the lures you already own.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.