Species guide · North Carolina
Cobia fishing in North Carolina
Rachycentron canadum, a nearshore species also called ling, lemonfish and crabeater. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Off season, about 17 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Currituck Sound at 35, one of 9 North Carolina bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Off seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
South Atlantic
Off season, about 17 more weeks- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Peak season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Off season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: Apr to Jun. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Sep.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
Fish pass Florida's east coast in spring, fill Port Royal and St. Helena sounds in South Carolina to spawn April through June, and reach North Carolina inlets in May and June. SCDNR has closed state waters south of Jeremy Inlet during May; check current rules.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 9
North Carolina bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's cobia score this hour.
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 1 AM (35) · 75 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 12 AM (35) · 260 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 12 AM (35) · 134 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 12 AM (35) · 331 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (34) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 7 AM (35) · 21 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (33) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 12 AM (35) · 7 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 12 AM (35) · 49 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 12 AM (35) · 1 named spot
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (34) · Best day Sat, Oct 31 at 12 AM (35) · 26 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 66°F to 86°F, best between 68°F and 80°F.
- Water depth
- 3 to 120 ft of water.
- Structure
- Inlet, wreck, pier, beach, reef, bay and open water, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and moving water, with moderate current.Inshore fish in sounds, inlets and the Chesapeake feed on a moving tide, and anglers chumming at inlets usually favor the incoming. Sight-casting along beaches depends more on calm, clear water and high sun than on tide stage.
- Light
- Little tied to dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 3 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Cobia cruise inlets, beaches, buoys, wrecks and the backs of rays in 5 to 100 feet of water. On calm, sunny days sight-cast bucktails or live eels to fish near the surface. Otherwise anchor up-current of structure, chum, and fish live eels, crabs or menhaden near the bottom.
- Methods
- sight casting, anchoring and chumming, bottom fishing with live bait, drifting, jigging
- Lures
- bucktail jigs, soft plastic eels, jigs tipped with plastic tails, large spoons
- Bait
- live eels, live crabs, menhaden, pinfish, croaker, squid, shrimp
Regulations
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Oct 31, 2026.
No reviewed cobia rule for North Carolina is on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep one.
Other North Carolina species
- Black sea bass
- Bluefish
- Florida pompano
- Gag grouper
- Little tunny
- Red drum
- Southern flounder
- Spotted seatrout
- Wahoo
- Weakfish
- Atlantic bluefin tuna
- Atlantic croaker
- Black drum
- Crevalle jack
- Greater amberjack
- King mackerel
- Red snapper
- Sailfish
- Sheepshead
- Spot
- Striped bass
- Summer flounder
- Yellowfin tuna
- Atlantic tarpon
- Gray snapper
- Gray triggerfish
- Mahi-mahi
- Red grouper
- Spanish mackerel