-800-700.jpeg)
-800-700.jpg)
-102.jpeg)
-102.jpg)
Hawks Cay
Experience
Water Activities
Dolphin Encounters
Tennis
Dive and Snorkel
- SNUBA Diving
- SCUBA Vacations
- Lobster Season
- Spearfishing
- Wreck & Night Diving
- Snorkeling
- More Dives & Info
- All Experiences
Keys Fishing
Cobia Fishing in the Keys
Catch a Cobia with a Hawks Cay fishing charter captain
If you spend enough time fishing in The Keys will inevitably come across a dark, thick-bodied brute that at first glance, may look like a shark.
You may be scouring the grass flats for tarpon or circling an offshore buoy in search of blackfin tuna when you come across a torpedo-shaped shadow just within casting distance.
Don’t hesitate. Just toss your bait a few feet ahead of your target and hold on. You might be in for the fight of your life. For the cobia, sometimes called ling by traveling anglers, are one of the true treats of Florida Keys fishing.
Not many Florida Keys fishing charters target cobia, the legendary crab eaters of the tropics, but you might just come across one of theses brawlers while out dolphin fishing.
“Cobia, sometimes called Ling by traveling anglers, are one of the true treats of Florida Keys fishing...”
Cobia fishing requires no special tackle or tactics. The same gear used for tuna fishing will work for these tenacious fighters. Top Florida Keys outfitters, such as those who work out of the Hawks Cay Marina, are ready and willing to take advantage of the chance to hook a cobia if the opportunity presents itself.
Cobia, which travel alone and in schools, prefer structure such as reefs and wrecks, but will also venture into the shallows along with schools of stingrays, an added bonus for inshore anglers during snook season.
Cobia use stingrays the way a hunter uses a bird dog to flush game, which is similar to the relationship of sharks and remoras. The remora, or shark sucker, will attach itself to a large predator and pick up the scraps when the animal eats.
So it is not surprising to find that these opportunistic feeders and cobia are closely related. If you want to find a remora, look for a big shark. If you want to find cobia, look for a big stingray.
But offshore anglers also catch their share of cobia regardless of the season. One of the most common ways to catch cobia is simply toss live or dead bait out on the surface of the water while anchored up grouper fishing. Cobia and the sharks they often swim with are both opportunistic feeders that will eat just about anything.
If you are interested in catching a cobia, try to work it into your fishing expedition, be it for snook, tarpon, sailfish or marlin. The Hawks Cay Marina has seven offshore boats that specialize in everything from big game fishing to mahi mahi.
The Tailwalker, the Tailwalker 2, the Final Final and the Chelsey Lynn are full-cabin, air-conditioned sportfishing boats that can accommodate parties of six. But if you are looking for a little adventure, check out the Snapshot, a center-console that will also run tuna fishing charters. The Tailwalker 3 and the Eagle Eye are smaller boats that will still get you out beyond the reef.
Most of the cobia you will encounter will be in the 30- to 50-pound range. But remember, this fish can grow to more than 100 pounds, which makes cobia, on hook and line or spearfishing, a species to reckon with. Cobia are good sport, great table fare and well worth the extra effort.
QUICK FACTS:
Offshore Rates
Half day reef charters from $750
Full day reef charters from $1100
Backcountry Rates
Half day charters from $450
Full day charters from $650
Full Charter Price List
10 boats and captains available to suit any need. Download the complete
Hawks Cay Charter price sheet here.
Wish you were catching these fish?
We can “hook” you up! call for reservations:
charters available through:
Final Final
At Hawks Cay Resort
At Hawks Cay Resort
61 Hawks Cay Blvd.
Duck Key, FL 33050
charters available through:
Tailwalker
At Hawks Cay Resort
61 Hawks Cay Blvd.
Duck Key, FL 33050
charters available through:
Eagle Eye Charters
At Hawks Cay Resort
61 Hawks Cay Blvd.
Duck Key, FL 33050
charters available through:
Snapshot Charters
At Hawks Cay Resort
61 Hawks Cay Blvd.
Duck Key, FL 33050
charters available through:
Chelsey Lynn
At Hawks Cay Resort
61 Hawks Cay Blvd.
Duck Key, FL 33050
Current Conditions Fair
 |
Air 82.0° |
Wind Southeast at 6.9 MPH (6 KT)mph |
Humidity 69% |
