Delaware state waters, out to 3 miles
2 per angler per day or trip, whichever is longer; vessel limit 2.
DE DNREC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Atlantic sharpnose sharkCobia has no shark tail; swims flat and slow. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Delaware state record
DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Broad flat head, dark lateral stripe, no true dorsal spines — often mistaken for a shark at boatside. More on the cobia page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for cobia in Delaware?
43 in min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many cobia can you keep in Delaware?
2 per day (max 2 per vessel).
When is cobia season in Delaware?
Open year-round.
What is the Delaware record cobia?
89 lb 3.2 oz (2022).
How current is this Delaware cobia rule?
Source: DE DNREC 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a cobia in Delaware and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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