Cobia fishing out of Hernando Beach runs spring into fall, on the grass flats along the Hernando coastline and over the artificial reefs offshore. This page covers the season, the grounds, the local methods and the charters that list cobia.
When the fish are here
Cobia show up along the Nature Coast from spring into fall, and both the flats and the reefs hold them.
For the fish’s general habits, see the cobia species guide. For the wider picture, see the Gulf-wide cobia overview (see also the wider Gulf of Mexico guide).
Where boats run and the grounds that hold them
Boats work the grass flats up and down the Hernando coastline. This is the shortest run from port and the place where sight-casting happens.
Farther out, boats run to a set of named artificial reefs and rock structure. The table lists them from shallowest to deepest, ending with the Bendickson Army tanks, about 20 nautical miles west of Hernando Beach.
| Ground | Structure | Depth (ft) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.H. Richardson Reef | Concrete culverts | 18 | |
| Richardson Reef | Skyway concrete rubble | 20 | |
| Jim Champion Reef | Sites 1 to 4 | 20 | |
| Reef Ball Reef | Reef balls | 25 | |
| Bendickson Reef | Concrete culvert sites | 25 | |
| Bendickson Reef | Army tanks | 26 | About 20 nautical miles west of Hernando Beach |
Chart layers are not for navigation.
Ghost Ship
Ghost Ship is a decommissioned concrete sailboat sitting as reef structure, one of the named wreck grounds off this coast.
Gomez Rocks
Gomez Rocks has a north site and a south site, both described as pilings with rocks between them.
How cobia are fished here
Four methods cover most of the cobia fishing out of Hernando Beach: live pinfish or chubs, chum blocks, sight-casting to fish following stingrays, and 5-inch white soft plastic flukes on dark jig heads. Local anglers match the method to the ground. Sight-casting belongs to the flats, while chum blocks and live bait go with the reef structure. For other coastal gamefish you may run into on the same trip, see the gamefish guides.
Live pinfish or chubs
Live pinfish or chubs are the standard live baits here, fished over structure such as the reefs. Put one out and let the fish find it.
Chum blocks
A chum block goes over the side above structure and works as a scent trail that draws fish to the boat. It pairs with live bait on the reef sites.
Sight-casting to rays
Cobia follow stingrays on the flats. Watch for rays, look for a cobia tracking one, and cast to the fish with the ray. The shot is visual, so most of the work is spotting the pair.
White flukes on dark jig heads
The local lure is a 5-inch white soft plastic fluke on a dark jig head, cast to fish you can see.
Who fishes for them out of this port
These local charters list cobia:
- Angling Adventures charter in Hernando: Runs a Sea Fox 256, a 26-foot offshore boat with twin 150 HP Yamaha outboards.
- Chase N Tails Fishing Charters: Lists cobia among its trips out of Hernando Beach.
FAQ: cobia fishing out of Hernando Beach
When are cobia around Hernando Beach?
Spring into fall.
Where do boats run for cobia?
Boats run the grass flats up and down the Hernando coastline, and the artificial reefs farther out. The Bendickson Army tanks are about 20 nautical miles west of Hernando Beach.
What depth are the reefs?
The named reefs run from 18 ft at A.H. Richardson Reef to 26 ft at the Bendickson Army tanks. Richardson Reef (Skyway rubble) and Jim Champion Reef sit at 20 ft, and Reef Ball Reef and the Bendickson culvert sites at 25 ft.
What lure do locals use?
A 5-inch white soft plastic fluke on a dark jig head. Locals also fish live pinfish or chubs.
Which charters list cobia?
Angling Adventures, which runs a Sea Fox 256, and Chase N Tails Fishing Charters LLC.
