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It is well-known that cobia migrate through the North Suncoast during March and April on their way to their spawning grounds in the northern Gulf. Their annual appearance on the shallow flats sparks one of this area's most exciting sight fishing seasons each spring.
It also is well-known that cobia spend their winters in and around the Florida Keys. How and when they make their return trip through the bay area to the Keys is a mystery just now starting to unravel.
Tagging studies conducted by Jim Franks and Read Hendon, fisheries research biologists at the University of Southern Mississippi, have revealed, "We now know that migration is closely tied to the spawning behavior of cobia. Cobia spawn in Mississippi waters during the spring and summer - anywhere from the Barrier Islands all the way out to 100 miles or so into the Gulf of Mexico.
"Then in the cooler weather in the late fall, we see their reverse migration back to south Florida and the Florida Keys."
Other migratory species, such as king mackerel, travel north along the coast in the spring and follow the same general path south in the fall. Cobia, however, are seldom found on the flats or along beaches in the bay area in the fall like they are in the spring. It appears they follow a different route on their return trip to the Keys than they do on their northbound movement.
Local charter boat captains report an increase in incidental cobia catches near offshore reefs and wrecks offshore from September to mid October. This seems to indicate the fish are coming through on a track farther offshore.
Earlier this week while grouper fishing, several boats reported landing several cobia. Most, though, were smaller than the 33-inch (fork length) limit. While on a recent trip to see if the gag grouper had moved into their shallow water haunts, we encountered few grouper but lots of cobia.
During the first stop in 25 feet of water, a cobia followed an undersized grouper to the surface and was quickly landed. On the next stop, the first bait didn't make it to the bottom before a cobia ate it. As we pulled the fish toward the surface, it was escorted by at least a dozen more.
We quickly scooped a net full of live sardines and emptied it over the side, setting off a feeding frenzy behind the boat. They remained on the surface just behind the motor until we grew tired of catching them.
We even hand-fed some of them at the side of the boat. Nearly all were just below the size limit, but one 20-pounder was caught and released.
According to biologist's, cobia grow quickly and can reach 20 inches in length during their first year and between 35 and 44 inches in their second. Most cobia caught are between 2 and 5 years old, although they can live as long as 11 years.
Females have been found to grow faster and larger than males. Research also indicates 85 percent of cobia longer than 40 inches are females. According to the International Game Fish Association, the largest cobia weighed 135 pounds.
Tagging studies also have shown cobia can travel great distances in short periods of time. The fastest was a fish that was tagged off Port Canaveral and recaptured 700 miles away 46 days later off Apalachee Bay, or about 15 miles a day.