BLUE CORAL HAS A GREAT VARIETY OF COBIA TOWERS

(Click on images for larger view)
 

Cobia Tower

Cobia Tower

Cobia Tower

Cobia Tower

Cobia Halftower

Cobia Halftower

Cobia Tower

Cobia Tower

Cobia Tower

Cobia Tower

Cobia Tower with Controls

Cobia Tower with Controls

The Cobia, Rachycentron canadum

In the water, Cobia look very much like sharks.  The usual color is brown or dark gray above, whitish on the underside, with a dark stripe running from gills to base of tail. The striped appearance is more vivid in juveniles. Several rather sharp finlets on the dorsal surface extend from behind the head to the dorsal fin. 

SIZE: Common from 20 to 50 pounds; sometimes up to 80 pounds, and possibly to 100 or more. World record 135 pounds, 9 ounces; Florida record 130 pounds, 1 ounces.

FOOD VALUE: Excellent, smoked or fresh.

HABITAT: All the way from shallow inshore waters to the deep sea. Most Florida Cobia winter in the southern reaches of the state or offshore, migrating northward in the Spring to cover both coasts. Dramatic runs occur along Panhandle beaches in April. Cobia love to hang around navigation markers, wrecks and artificial reefs, where they swim both at the surface and down deep. They also escort wandering Mantas and other large rays, and many are caught around those hosts. Juveniles are frequently caught incidentally by trout fishermen over many Gulf Coast grass flats—and some big ones too.