Destin Deep Sea Cobia Fishing

Cobia is a type of bottom feeding fish that live in the Gulf of Mexico. They like to eat squid, clams and shrimp. While most Cobia weigh between 20 and 40 pounds, they can get over 100 pounds. Sometimes you'll see them with bigger sea creatures like rays.

Destin, Florida is a popular place to fish for Cobia. Cobia like to hang out near the middle of the Gulf in the winter months. But starting in March, the Cobia will start to migrate towards the shores. Destin, Florida is the perfect location to go out and catch Cobia. It's so popular they have Cobia Rodeo fishing tournaments every spring. My brother is a champion Cobia catcher and he told me what it's like to get Cobia on deck. Look at his prize winning check!

Cobia start to show up around April and May in Destin, Florida. They like to hang around the reefs and shipwrecks. There are plenty of those out in the Gulf, so all the boats scramble to their favorite ones in hopes to lure the Cobia in.
But once you hook a Cobia, watch out. They put up a good fight and will take your fishing line 200 yards out. Sometimes the Cobia battle will last 45 minutes or an hour- just for one fish! You'll need really strong fishing line like 20 or 30 gauge.
If you go on a charter yacht like my brother's, they provide the reels, line and bait for you.

If you catch the Cobia and pull it aboard, the fight isn't over. Cobia will squirm, wiggle, and wrestle all around the deck to find a way back into the water. They might even come after YOU. If you aren't doing a catch-and-release, it's best to give the Cobia a good smack on the head to end its misery. Don't hit it too many times or you'll ruin the meat. Cobia is a delicious fish to season and grill!
Still want to see more? Check out the videos below of my brother catching Cobia in Destin, Florida.