When Cobia Pass Clearwater
Cobia pass Clearwater on the spring and fall migration, and water temperature and bait set the timing more than the calendar does. The cobia species guide covers the fish itself, including biology and the full migration picture. This page covers what the pass looks like from a boat at the Clearwater end of it. The wider picture is in the cobia fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico region guide.
Spring and fall migration
There are two windows, one in spring and one in fall, as the fish move past. No month range is given here because the fish don’t keep one. If you kingfish out of this port in either season, you are already fishing the right water.
Water temperature and bait
Cobia school up on offshore wrecks and artificial reefs when water temperature and bait are right. No single number fixes the window. Check the water temperature at CWBF1 and look for bait on the structure before you commit to a reef.
Where Boats Run From Clearwater Pass
Every distance and bearing below is measured from Clearwater Pass. The named grounds lie 5 to 14.3 mi out, in 20 to 55 ft of water. The Clearwater port page covers the pass, ramps and conditions. Distances and bearings are for planning only. Chart layers are not for navigation, so confirm every mark on an official chart.
| Spot | Depth (ft) | Distance from Clearwater Pass (mi) | Bearing (degrees) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Key Reef | 20 | 5.0 | 194 |
| Clearwater Reef | 27-32 | 5.0 | 311 |
| Dunedin Reef | 27-33 | ||
| Loggerhead Ledge | 40 | 9.4 | |
| Rube Alan Reef | 50 | 12.0 | 260 |
| Veteran Reef | 45 | 12.8 | 300 |
| Gregs Ledge | 55 | 13.8 | 289 |
| Indian Shores Reef | 42 | 14.3 | 238 |
Reefs inside 5 miles
Three reefs sit closest to the pass:
- Sand Key Reef: 20 ft, 5.0 mi at 194 degrees
- Clearwater Reef: 27-32 ft, 5.0 mi at 311 degrees
- Dunedin Reef: 27-33 ft
Sand Key lies south of the pass and Clearwater Reef northwest.
Loggerhead Ledge
Loggerhead Ledge sits in 40 ft, 9.4 mi from Clearwater Pass. It is the middle step between the inside reefs and the 12 to 14 mile grounds.
The 12 to 14 mile reefs and ledges
Four grounds sit at the outer end of the run, listed in order of distance:
- Rube Alan Reef: 50 ft, 12.0 mi at 260 degrees
- Veteran Reef: 45 ft, 12.8 mi at 300 degrees
- Gregs Ledge: 55 ft, 13.8 mi at 289 degrees
- Indian Shores Reef: 42 ft, 14.3 mi at 238 degrees
Veteran Reef and Gregs Ledge bear within 11 degrees of each other, so they pair on one run. Indian Shores Reef lies furthest south and west of the four.
Reading conditions at CWBF1
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC station CWBF1 at Clearwater Beach, 27.978N 82.832W. It is also NOAA tide station 8726724. Before a run, read wind, wave height and period at CWBF1 and in the official NWS marine forecast, and make the go or no-go call from those numbers.
How Cobia Are Fished Here
Cobia often come to the boat while kingfishing over chum and live baits, so the king trip you already make doubles as the cobia trip. The coastal and offshore gamefish guides cover the king mackerel side of the spread.
Cobia on the king grounds
The chum and live baits that bring up kingfish also draw cobia up behind the boat. Captains who publish their methods, FishEye among them, say as much. You don’t need a separate trip, only a second rod ready.
The ready bucktail rod
- Keep a dedicated rod with a bucktail jig rigged while you fish for kings.
- Keep it within reach, not stowed in a rack or rocket launcher behind the console.
- Keep it separate from the king spread, so the spread stays fishing when a cobia shows.
Who Fishes Cobia Out of Clearwater
Two local charters list cobia, and both are worth reading before you run these grounds yourself.
Reel Deal Sportfishing
Reel Deal Sportfishing in Clearwater lists cobia among its targets. It runs Reel Deal and Reel Deal II, both 34 ft diesel sportfishers.
FishEye Sportfishing
FishEye Sportfishing cobia charters publish fishing reports authored by Capt. Brandon Fraley. FishEye says most fish average 30-45 lb, with a few over 60 lb each season.
FAQ: Cobia Fishing Out of Clearwater
When is cobia fishing out of Clearwater best?
During the spring and fall migration. Fish school on offshore wrecks and artificial reefs when water temperature and bait are right, so CWBF1 water temperature and bait on the structure tell you more than the date does.
How far do boats run from Clearwater Pass for cobia?
The named grounds lie 5 to 14.3 mi out. Sand Key Reef and Clearwater Reef sit at 5.0 mi, Loggerhead Ledge at 9.4 mi, and four grounds at 12.0 to 14.3 mi. Distances are for planning, so confirm every mark on an official chart.
What depths do the Clearwater cobia grounds sit in?
20 to 55 ft. Sand Key Reef is the shallowest at 20 ft and Gregs Ledge the deepest at 55 ft. Clearwater Reef and Dunedin Reef sit in 27-33 ft, and the outer grounds in 40 to 55 ft.
How big are cobia off Clearwater?
FishEye says most fish average 30-45 lb, with a few over 60 lb each season. That is the charter’s own report from its trips, not a survey of the fishery.
What should I check before running offshore?
Wind, wave height and period at NDBC station CWBF1, also known as tide station 8726724, plus the official NWS marine forecast. Check the FWC and federal rules pages before you keep a fish.
