New York state waters, out to 3 miles
Shore: 1 per angler; vessel: 1 per angler, max 2 per vessel.
NY DEC 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.
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 ask4
What is the size limit for cobia in New York?
43". Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many cobia can you keep in New York?
1 per angler (max 2 per vessel).
When is cobia season in New York?
Open year-round.
How current is this New York cobia rule?
Source: NY DEC 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 New York and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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