Maryland state waters, out to 3 miles
MD DNR 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.
Maryland state record
MD DNR Sport Fish State 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 Maryland?
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 Maryland?
1 per person; 2 per vessel.
When is cobia season in Maryland?
Jun 15-Sep 20; catch-and-release only Sep 21-Jun 14. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is closed.
What is the Maryland record cobia?
97.8 lb, Middle Grounds (1969).
How current is this Maryland cobia rule?
Source: MD DNR 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.
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