Cobia fishing out of Fernandina Beach centers on the spring migration, which Big Fin Charters fishes April through June. Boats work buoys, navigation markers and ray pods on the nearshore Atlantic, then move to structure and floating debris in about 30 to 70 ft. Farther out, a Gulf Stream break holds weed lines. The sections below cover the window, the run, and the published positions, so you can plan before leaving the dock for cobia.
When cobia are off Fernandina Beach
Cobia run off Fernandina Beach April through June, with spring and fall shoulder seasons on either side. For the coastwise spring migration (see also the wider Atlantic Southeast guide), this port sits in the middle of the Atlantic Southeast picture.
| Window | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Spring migration | April through June | Big Fin |
| Shoulder seasons | Spring and fall | Pipe Dream |
Spring migration
Big Fin Charters fishes the spring migration April through June, the core window for planning a trip from this port.
Shoulder seasons
Pipe Dream Charters lists cobia in the spring and fall shoulder seasons. These are the edges of the run rather than the peak.
How far and where boats run
The grounds step out from the inlet: surface marks first, then bottom structure, then the Gulf Stream edge.
- Nearshore: buoys, navigation markers and ray pods
- Midrange: structure and floating debris in 30 to 70 ft
- Offshore: Gulf Stream temperature break and weed lines
Nearshore marks and ray pods
Pipe Dream Charters runs buoys, navigation markers and ray pods on the nearshore Atlantic. Cobia trail rays, so a pod on the surface is worth a look.
30 to 70 ft structure
Big Fin, via Guidesly, fishes structure and floating debris in about 30 to 70 ft. Most of the named reefs below fall in or near this band.
Gulf Stream break
Pipe Dream fishes the Gulf Stream temperature break and weed lines in 100 to 1,000 ft, 50 to 70-plus miles out of the inlet. It is the longest run on the page.
Grounds and structure that hold cobia
The table orders the published sites by depth. Blank cells mean no figure is listed. Load these positions as waypoints before you run and check them against the chart, since they are for planning only.
| Site | Depth | Position |
|---|---|---|
| FB-6 culverts site | 60 ft | About 30 39.9 N, 81 11.0 W |
| BA reef sites (BA Reef, BA Site) | 60 to 65 ft | |
| Captain Daddy (CD-06-#01) artificial reef | 67 ft | 30 25.920 N, 81 15.953 W (FWC) |
| Captain Daddy (CD-06-#02) artificial reef | 67 ft | |
| Fernandina Banks Barbett (wooden boat) and 1989 culverts | 70 ft | About 30 36.6 N, 81 10.6 W |
| Fernandina Snapper Banks culverts (FC sites, 1988 to 1991) | 70 to 83 ft | Concrete culverts at about 30 36 to 30 38.7 N, 81 11 W |
| The Ledge |
Captain Daddy reefs
Both Captain Daddy reefs sit in 67 ft. The #01 position, 30 25.920 N, 81 15.953 W, comes from the FWC artificial reef guide. CD-06-#02 is the second reef under the same name.
Snapper Banks culverts
The Fernandina Snapper Banks culverts are concrete, placed at the FC sites from 1988 to 1991. They sit in 70 to 83 ft at about 30 36 to 30 38.7 N, 81 11 W, deeper than the general 30 to 70 ft band.
Barbett and 1989 culverts
The Fernandina Banks Barbett, a wooden boat, and the 1989 culverts sit in 70 ft at about 30 36.6 N, 81 10.6 W.
FB-6
The FB-6 culverts site sits in 60 ft at about 30 39.9 N, 81 11.0 W.
BA reef sites
BA Reef and BA Site sit in 60 to 65 ft.
The Ledge
The Ledge is a named ground fished from this port.
How cobia are fished here
Big Fin sight-casts a bucktail jig when cobia follow rays or turtles: find the ray pod or the mark, spot the fish, then cast.
This ties back to the marks above. Pipe Dream looks at buoys, navigation markers and ray pods, and Big Fin via Guidesly works floating debris. Rays, turtles and debris are the same marks you scan on the way between reefs, and they matter for other nearshore gamefish too.
A typical run goes like this:
- Run to the nearshore marks and scan buoys, markers and surface pods.
- Look for a host animal, a ray or turtle with cobia following.
- Sight the fish and cast the bucktail jig.
- Move to the next mark if nothing shows.
Who fishes for cobia out of Fernandina Beach
Four local charters list cobia:
- Pipe Dream Charters, Captain Scott Thompson
- HooDoo Sportfishing Charters, Captains Tim Altman and Chris Altman, father and son
- Big Fin Charters offshore fishing
- Amelia Island Sport Fishing, Captain Billy
The Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo in Fernandina Beach is usually held in May and is listed for cobia.
FAQ about cobia fishing out of Fernandina Beach
When is cobia season in Fernandina Beach?
April through June, with spring and fall shoulder seasons. Big Fin Charters fishes the April through June spring migration, and Pipe Dream Charters lists cobia in the spring and fall shoulder seasons on either side of it.
How deep do you fish for cobia off Fernandina Beach?
About 30 to 70 ft, per Big Fin via Guidesly. The Snapper Banks culverts sit deeper, in 70 to 83 ft. The Gulf Stream break is a separate run, in 100 to 1,000 ft, per Pipe Dream.
Where do boats look for cobia out of Fernandina Beach?
Pipe Dream looks at buoys, navigation markers and ray pods on the nearshore Atlantic. Big Fin via Guidesly fishes structure and floating debris in 30 to 70 ft. Captain Daddy and FB-6 are published positions you can load as waypoints.
What is the position of the Captain Daddy reef?
Captain Daddy CD-06-#01 sits at 30 25.920 N, 81 15.953 W in 67 ft, per the FWC guide. Use the position for planning and check it against the chart before you run.
Who offers cobia fishing out of Fernandina Beach?
Pipe Dream Charters (Captain Scott Thompson), HooDoo Sportfishing Charters (Captains Tim and Chris Altman), Big Fin Charters, and Amelia Island Sport Fishing (Captain Billy) all list cobia. The Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo, usually in May, is also listed for cobia.
