Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
Also called Ling, Lemonfish.
How to tell it
Broad flat head, dark lateral stripe, no true dorsal spines — often mistaken for a shark at boatside.
- Not a atlantic sharpnose shark? That one cobia has no shark tail; swims flat and slow. (Atlantic Sharpnose Shark)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 36 in fork length minimum | 1 per person, max 2 per vessel | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | 43 in min | 2 per day (max 2 per vessel) | Open year-roundDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 36 in fork length min | 1 per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 36 in fork length min | 1 per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Georgia | 36 in fork length | 1 per angler, max 6 per boat | Mar. 1 - Oct. 31GA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | 36 in fork length | 1 per person, no more than 2 per vessel | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | 43 in min | 1 per person; 2 per vessel | Jun 15-Sep 20; catch-and-release only Sep 21-Jun 14MD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 36 in fork length minimum | 2 per person per day | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Jersey | 43 in min | 1 per person, 2 per vessel | Open year-roundNJ DEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| New York | 43" | 1 per angler (max 2 per vessel) | Open year-roundNY DEC 2026 · checked | Open |
| North Carolina | 36" FL min | 1/person/day; private vessel 2/vessel/day May 1-Jun 30 then 1/vessel/day Jul 1-Dec 31; for-hire 4/vessel/day | May 1 - Dec 31, 2026NC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 36 in fork length | 1/day; max 3/boat south of 32°31.0'N, 6/boat north | Open year-round except May 1–31 closed in state waters south of 32°31.0'NSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | 40 in total length | 1 | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Virginia | 43 in min | 1 per person, max 2 per vessel | Jun 15 - Sep 20VMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 117 lb 7 oz | 1995 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Connecticut | 43 lb | 2022 · Long Sand Shoal | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 · Exotic Marine Species Category (Harvested); no ounces printed |
| Delaware | 89 lb 3.2 oz | 2022 | DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 130.06 lb | 1997 · Destin | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 88 lb 12 oz | 1985 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 149.75 lb | 1965 · Grand Isle Blk.69 | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 97.8 lb | 1969 · Middle Grounds | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Chesapeake division record |
| Mississippi | 106 lb 13 oz | 1996 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 90 lb 6 oz | 2019 · McCries Shoal | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 116 lb 8 oz | 2006 · Oregon Inlet | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 92 lb 10 oz | 2009 · Hilton Head Is. | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 108.44 lb | 1998 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 109 lb | 2006 · York Spit | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Excellent — firm, white, grill-ready.
In the app
Point the camera at a cobia and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about cobia
What is the size limit for cobia?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 36 in fork length minimum; Delaware: 43 in min; Florida (Atlantic): 36 in fork length min; Florida (Gulf): 36 in fork length min; Georgia: 36 in fork length; Louisiana: 36 in fork length; Maryland: 43 in min; Mississippi: 36 in fork length minimum; and more in the table above.
How many cobia can you keep?
Alabama: 1 per person, max 2 per vessel; Delaware: 2 per day (max 2 per vessel); Florida (Atlantic): 1 per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less; Florida (Gulf): 1 per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less; Georgia: 1 per angler, max 6 per boat; Louisiana: 1 per person, no more than 2 per vessel; Maryland: 1 per person; 2 per vessel; Mississippi: 2 per person per day; and more in the table above.
When is cobia season?
Georgia: Mar. 1 - Oct. 31; Maryland: Jun 15-Sep 20; catch-and-release only Sep 21-Jun 14; North Carolina: May 1 - Dec 31, 2026; Virginia: Jun 15 - Sep 20.
How do you tell cobia from atlantic sharpnose shark?
Cobia has this: Broad flat head, dark lateral stripe, no true dorsal spines — often mistaken for a shark at boatside.. Atlantic Sharpnose Shark cobia has no shark tail; swims flat and slow.
What is the record cobia?
149.75 lb in Louisiana (1965), Grand Isle Blk.69. Other states’ records are in the table.