Skip to main content
  • Visitors
  • Meetings
  • Sports
Visitors
  • All Places to Stay
    • Beach Houses
    • Condos
    • Resorts
    • Hotels
    • Cabins
    • RV Parks & Camping
    • Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    Friends on the beaches in Alabama
    Should You Stay in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach?
    Luxury RV Resort Gulf Shores
    The Ultimate Guide to Campgrounds in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Children at Waterville USA in Gulf Shores
    How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Beach Vacation
  • All Things to Do
    • Beaches
    • Attractions
      • Arts & Culture
      • Coastal Crafters
      • History & Museums
      • Indoor Activities
      • Popular Attractions
      • All Attractions
    • Amusements & Entertainment
      • Mini Golf
      • All Amusements & Entertainment
    • Fishing
      • Fishing Seasons
      • All Fishing
    • Outdoor Activities
      • Back Bay Blueway
      • Biking
      • Birding
      • Gulf State Park
      • Hiking
      • Motorcycle Runs
      • Nature & Parks
      • Shelling
      • Tours
      • Trails
      • All Outdoor Activities
    • Water Activities
      • Boating
      • Diving
      • Equipment Rentals & Outfitters
      • Jet Skiing
      • Kayaking
      • Marinas
      • Paddleboarding & Foil Boarding
      • Parasailing
      • Sailing
      • Snorkeling
      • Dolphin Cruises
      • Cruises
      • All Water Activities
    • Shopping
    • Golf
    • Nightlife & Bars
    • Signature Experiences
    Fat Daddy's Arcade Gulf Shores
    21 Rainy Day Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
    10 Fun Family Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Dad and kids hunting crabs on Alabama's beaches
    Take The Kids On A Catch & Release Crabbing Adventure On Alabama's Gulf Coast
  • All Events
    • Annual Events & Festivals
    • Community Events
    • Concerts
    • Events Calendar
    • Holiday Events
    • Live Music
    • Snowbird Events
    Gulf Place Gulf Shores Christmas Lights
    Holiday Events
    Blue Angels
    Blue Angels
    Live Music
    Live Local Music
  • All Restaurants
    • Fan Favorites
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Food Trails
    • Recipes
    • Seafood
    Perch at The Lodge
    Best Fine Dining Restaurants on Alabama’s Beaches
    Pleasure Island Tiki Bar
    12 Restaurants Locals Love On Alabama’s Beaches
    Cobalt the Restaurant Orange beach
    4 Beach Restaurants Perfect for Date-Night
  • All Planning Tools
    • Order a Vacation Guide
      • Order a Printed Guide & Brochures
      • View e-Guide
      • All Guides
    • eNewsletter Sign Up
      • Couples Newsletter
      • Destination Newsletter
      • Fishing Newsletter
      • Golf Newsletter
      • All eNewsletter Sign Up
    • Maps
    • Getting Here
    • Weather
    • Welcome Centers
    • Couples Getaway
    • Family Vacations
    • Beach Safety
    • Photographers
    Family Vacation Gulf Shores
    10 Things to Know Before Your Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Vacation
    Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
    10 Fun Family Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Dog Pond Lake Shelby
    Easy Options for a Pet-Friendly Beach Vacation
  • All Blogs
    • 10 Family Activities
    • 14 Public Beaches
    • 21 Rainy Day Activities
    • 5 Things I Learned From My Vacation
    • 8 Things to Know Before Your Vacation
    Bike Share Program Gulf State Park
    10 Cheap & Free Things To Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Paddle boarding Orange Beach
    10 Things to do with Teens in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Waterville USA
    5 Thrilling Amusement Parks Gulf Shores Orange Beach
  • Deals
    All Deals
Visitors
  • All Places to Stay
    • Beach Houses
    • Condos
    • Resorts
    • Hotels
    • Cabins
    • RV Parks & Camping
    • Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    Friends on the beaches in Alabama
    Should You Stay in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach?
    Luxury RV Resort Gulf Shores
    The Ultimate Guide to Campgrounds in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Children at Waterville USA in Gulf Shores
    How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Beach Vacation
  • All Things to Do
    • Beaches
    • Attractions
      • Arts & Culture
      • Coastal Crafters
      • History & Museums
      • Indoor Activities
      • Popular Attractions
      • All Attractions
    • Amusements & Entertainment
      • Mini Golf
      • All Amusements & Entertainment
    • Fishing
      • Fishing Seasons
      • All Fishing
    • Outdoor Activities
      • Back Bay Blueway
      • Biking
      • Birding
      • Gulf State Park
      • Hiking
      • Motorcycle Runs
      • Nature & Parks
      • Shelling
      • Tours
      • Trails
      • All Outdoor Activities
    • Water Activities
      • Boating
      • Diving
      • Equipment Rentals & Outfitters
      • Jet Skiing
      • Kayaking
      • Marinas
      • Paddleboarding & Foil Boarding
      • Parasailing
      • Sailing
      • Snorkeling
      • Dolphin Cruises
      • Cruises
      • All Water Activities
    • Shopping
    • Golf
    • Nightlife & Bars
    • Signature Experiences
    Fat Daddy's Arcade Gulf Shores
    21 Rainy Day Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
    10 Fun Family Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Dad and kids hunting crabs on Alabama's beaches
    Take The Kids On A Catch & Release Crabbing Adventure On Alabama's Gulf Coast
  • All Events
    • Annual Events & Festivals
    • Community Events
    • Concerts
    • Events Calendar
    • Holiday Events
    • Live Music
    • Snowbird Events
    Gulf Place Gulf Shores Christmas Lights
    Holiday Events
    Blue Angels
    Blue Angels
    Live Music
    Live Local Music
  • All Restaurants
    • Fan Favorites
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Food Trails
    • Recipes
    • Seafood
    Perch at The Lodge
    Best Fine Dining Restaurants on Alabama’s Beaches
    Pleasure Island Tiki Bar
    12 Restaurants Locals Love On Alabama’s Beaches
    Cobalt the Restaurant Orange beach
    4 Beach Restaurants Perfect for Date-Night
  • All Planning Tools
    • Order a Vacation Guide
      • Order a Printed Guide & Brochures
      • View e-Guide
      • All Guides
    • eNewsletter Sign Up
      • Couples Newsletter
      • Destination Newsletter
      • Fishing Newsletter
      • Golf Newsletter
      • All eNewsletter Sign Up
    • Maps
    • Getting Here
    • Weather
    • Welcome Centers
    • Couples Getaway
    • Family Vacations
    • Beach Safety
    • Photographers
    Family Vacation Gulf Shores
    10 Things to Know Before Your Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Vacation
    Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
    10 Fun Family Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Dog Pond Lake Shelby
    Easy Options for a Pet-Friendly Beach Vacation
  • All Blogs
    • 10 Family Activities
    • 14 Public Beaches
    • 21 Rainy Day Activities
    • 5 Things I Learned From My Vacation
    • 8 Things to Know Before Your Vacation
    Bike Share Program Gulf State Park
    10 Cheap & Free Things To Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Paddle boarding Orange Beach
    10 Things to do with Teens in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Waterville USA
    5 Thrilling Amusement Parks Gulf Shores Orange Beach
  • Deals
    All Deals
Meetings
  • Home
    All Home
    • Plan Your Conference
    • How Can We Help
    • Why Our Beach
    • Services
    • FAQs
    • Getting Here
    • Restaurants
    • Things to Do
    • Calendar of Events
    All Plan Your Conference
    • All Meeting Spaces
    • Unique Meeting Spaces
    • Accommodations
    All Meeting Spaces
  • Reunions & Weddings
    All Reunions & Weddings
    • Meeting Planner Toolkit
    All Toolkit
    • Connect With Us
    • Submit RFP
    • Subscribe Today
    All Contact Us
  • Stories
    All Stories
Sports
    • All Events
    • Book>Direct
    • Perfect Game World Series
    • Gulf Shores High School
    • Beach Races
    • Orange Beach High School
    All Events & Special Rates
    • All Restaurant Sponsors
    • On-the-Go Dining
    All Restaurants
    • All Attraction Sponsors
    All Attractions
  • Business Sponsors
    All Business Sponsors
  • Facilities
    All Facilities
    • Facility Info
    • Leisure Events
    • Our Services
    • Planner Toolkit
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    • Future Sports Tourism Development
    All Bring Your Event
  • Sponsors
    All Sponsors
  • Stories
    All Stories
Fishing The Pass Orange Beach

Cobia is on the Move

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

David Rainer
February 20, 2023

One of the most anticipated migrations in the northern Gulf of Mexico is in full swing, and if you’re down at the beach, all you have to do watch the boats going up and down not far from the beach looking for the prized cobia.

Cobia Fishing, Gulf of Mexico

Cobia, also known as ling and lemonfish, are swimming along the Alabama coast en route to spawning grounds amid the numerous petroleum platforms off the Louisiana and western Mississippi coasts.

Sight fishing is the most common practice for cobia, especially during the spring. To take advantage of this migration, Alabama anglers will head out and cruise up and down the coast at 4 or 5 knots to try to spot the dark brown, torpedo-shaped fish that can weigh more than 100 pounds but most often fall in the 40- to 50-pound range. Alabama has a two-fish per person daily creel limit with a minimum size of 33 inches fork length, which is measured from the fork of the tail to the tip of the nose.

Weather and water conditions determine how well you can spot migrating cobia. Many cobia boats will utilize “tuna” towers to get up high for a better vantage point. If you spot a cobia, or a group of cobia, it’s time for action. If you’re heading toward the fish, cut the engine and drift. Have a rod rigged with live bait if possible and toss it in front of the fish. If you are going the same way as the cobia, ease past the fish and set up to make a cast when you’re well past the fish.

Whether the cobia will take the bait is anybody’s guess. Most the time, if the bait is alive, the cobia will eat it, but I’ve seen fish absolutely turn up their noses at anything tossed their way, whether brightly colored cobia jigs to a fresh, live eel. If the fish won’t eat a live eel, it’s probably not going to eat at all, so head out and try to find another fish.

Charter Fishing Orange Beach

If you can’t find live eels, cobia will also eat saltwater catfish (hardheads), cigar minnows or large live shrimp. Some people have a great deal of luck with a live blue crab hooked in the corner of the shell. If the fish are particularly hungry, you can toss out a cobia jig with a feathered skirt and try to imitate an injured baitfish. Occasionally it works, but it’s best to have live bait when you head out.

When rigging for cobia, most anglers prefer an 8-foot rod with decent backbone and a reel capable of holding a couple of hundred yards of 30-pound test main line. Tie on a barrel swivel and add about 3 feet of leader material, either 60- or 80-pound, depending on water clarity. When the fish get skittish later in the season, it’s wise to use fluorocarbon leaders. Hook size should be 7/0 for traditional hooks and 7/0 or 8/0 for circle hooks. If you’re using circle hooks, give the fish plenty of time to get the bait and just reel down on the fish to hook the fish in the corner of the mouth. Never jerk a circle hook or you’ll likely jerk it out of the fish’s mouth.

Be patient when you hook the fish and give it a little time to tire itself out. You don’t want a freshly caught cobia thrashing around in the back of the boat.

If it’s your lucky day, cut the fish into steaks and throw it on the grill. Baste regularly with a lemon-garlic-butter sauce. When the fish starts to flake, take off the grill and enjoy one of the best-eating fish around.

Share This

Start planning your vacation

eNewsletter icon
Subscribe to our Fishing E-Newsletter
Vacation Guide Icon
Order a Free Vacation Guide
Lodging icon
Places to Stay

You May Also Like

See All Blog Posts
Red Snapper Fishing Orange Beach

Red Snapper Season in Alabama

Off-Shore Fishing Orange Beach

Fishing Coastal Alabama: Do I Need a Fishing License for That?

Fishing Gulf State Park Pier

11 Record-Breaking Catches from Alabama Fishing in 2022

Redfish Fishing Gulf Shores

Find Abundant Redfish on Your Next Fishing Trip to Alabama’s Gulf Coast

Fishing Sheepshead

Sheepshead Fishing in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

Blue Marlin Grand Championship

Big Game Fishing Tournaments in 2023

Order a Vacation Guide Subscribe to our Enewsletter
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism Logo
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tik-Tok
  • Trip Ideas
  • Press
  • Partners
  • Responsible Tourism
  • 1-800-745-SAND
  • [email protected]
  • Privacy Policy
  • Employment Opportunities
Copyright 2023 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. All rights reserved.
  • Subscribe to Enews
  • Vacation Guide
  • Chat With Us