Author: (Linnaeus, 1766)
FBname: Cobia
Comments: Adults occur in a variety of habitats, over mud, sand and gravel bottoms; over coral reefs, off rocky shores (Ref. 10948) and in mangrove sloughs; inshore around pilings and buoys, and offshore around drifting and stationary objects; occasionally in estuaries (Ref. 9739).  Form small groups and may pursue small pelagic inshore (Ref. 48635).  Feed on crabs, fishes, and squids (Ref. 5213, 10948, 13442).  Form spawning aggregations during  the warm months in the western Atlantic; eggs and larvae planktonic (Ref. 12459). Caught in small quantities due to its solitary behavior (Ref. 9626). Caught mainly with handlines, and by trolling pelagically offshore over the continental shelf (Ref. 10948). Good food fish; marketed fresh (Ref. 5284), smoked, and frozen (Ref. 9987).  Also caught for sport (Ref. 26938).