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Three Buoys Fishing Tackle
Estuarine

Cobia

Inshore Ocean Missile • Brown Back & White Belly

A powerful, curious migratory predator that swims near surface buoys, turtles, and manta rays. Features a dark brown dorsal coloration, distinct white lateral stripe, and broad depressed head.

Season June – September
Where Lower Chesapeake Bay, Cape Charles, Smith Point, Ocean City Inlet
Salinity band Brackish Estuarine (5 - 20 ppt)
Status Native Chesapeake & Bay Species
Record MD Record: 79 lbs 0 oz (Ocean City)

How we fish for them

Sight-cast 2oz live eel rigs or 1.5oz white bucktails with 6-inch pink soft trailers directly to surface-cruising fish near channel buoys.

Rod: Susquehanna Striper Rod 7'6" MHF Reel: FAIRLEAD 3000 • 30lb Braid + 50lb FC

Gear for this in the catalog →

Gear that catches Cobia

Pulled from the shop by how Cobia is actually fished — not a fixed list, so it tracks the catalogue.

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Handle with care

Safe release: Wet hands or rubber net before handling to preserve protective slime layer.

Seasons & limits are the law's, not ours

Size, season and creel rules change; always verify with the official regulations before you fish. Maryland DNR regulations →

Profile last reviewed: August 2026

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