New Jersey state waters, out to 3 miles
NJ DEP 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.
New Jersey state record
NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04
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 New Jersey?
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 New Jersey?
1 per person, 2 per vessel.
When is cobia season in New Jersey?
Open year-round.
What is the New Jersey record cobia?
90 lb 6 oz, McCries Shoal (2019).
How current is this New Jersey cobia rule?
Source: NJ DEP 2026, last checked Sep 7, 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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