Cobia fishing out of Jupiter runs spring through fall, mostly on wrecks and structure in about 30-70 ft. Do Stay gives the season as spring through fall. The nearest named reef, Andrew "Red" Harris No Shoes Reef, sits about 1.5 miles off Jupiter Inlet, according to Coastal Angler. For the fish itself, see the cobia species guide.
When cobia are off Jupiter
Do Stay lists cobia spring through fall, so plan around that window. For how fish move along the coast, see how fish move along the Southeast coast (see also the Atlantic Southeast region guide).
- Spring, summer and fall: all three seasons are listed by Do Stay
Where boats run and how deep
Depth is the first filter for cobia out of Jupiter. Choose the band, then choose the ground.
The 30-70 ft band
Do Stay puts cobia on wrecks and structure in about 30-70 ft. The grounds below are sorted against that band.
Reef and live-bait grounds
Blue Heron lists cobia in its reef catches. Seek The Deep lists cobia under live baiting.
| Source | Where cobia are listed |
|---|---|
| Do Stay | Wrecks and structure, about 30-70 ft |
| Blue Heron | Reef catches |
| Seek The Deep | Live baiting |
Named grounds near Jupiter Inlet
Check each ground against the 30-70 ft band before you plot a run.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Position note |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew "Red" Harris No Shoes Reef | 40-59 | About 1.5 miles offshore of Jupiter Inlet |
| Jupiter Inlet Step Reef | 35-45 | Inside the cobia band |
| 120-foot ledge | 120 | Off the Juno Beach and Jupiter Inlet stretch |
| Push Button Hill | 200-300 | Blackfin bite depth |
| Juno Ledge | Depth not listed | Named structure near Jupiter |
The Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint helps you trace the 30-70 ft band along this coast. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Andrew "Red" Harris No Shoes Reef
Coastal Angler places the reef about 1.5 miles off the inlet. It was built in cells, and each one falls inside the band:
- The original 2015 cell sits at about 40 ft.
- The 2016 cell sits at 55 ft.
- The 2017 boulder reef sits at 59 ft at the base and 43 ft at the top.
Jupiter Inlet Step Reef
The reef sits in 35-45 ft, inside the band.
120-foot ledge
The ledge sits at 120 ft, off the Juno Beach and Jupiter Inlet stretch, which is deeper than the cobia band.
Push Button Hill
Push Button Hill is a blackfin depth of 200-300 ft, well outside the cobia band. Treat it as a landmark on the run rather than a cobia ground.
Juno Ledge
Juno Ledge is named structure near Jupiter.
How cobia are fished here
Local captains match the method to what the fish are doing.
Live eels and bucktails on sighted fish
Do Stay slow-trolls live eels or throws bucktail jigs on sighted fish.
Jigging over wrecks
Do Stay also jigs over wrecks in the 30-70 ft band.
Drifting live bait
Seek The Deep drifts live bait, which suits the reef grounds named above.
| Method | Local source | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Slow-trolled live eels | Do Stay | Sighted fish |
| Bucktail jigs | Do Stay | Sighted fish |
| Jigging | Do Stay | Wrecks |
| Drift live bait | Seek The Deep | Reef grounds |
Who fishes cobia out of Jupiter
The local fleet shows what works here. Four operations list cobia:
- Do Stay Sportfishing Charters: Captain Lou Mauro. Bertram, twin Yanmar 315 hp.
- Seek The Deep Charters: Captain Luke Faulkner. Contender 31, twin Yamaha 300s.
- Country Club Drift Fishing: Captain Jim Barton and Captain Jimmy.
- Blue Heron Fleet (Blue Heron Fishing): founded 1955 by Capt. Harry Nagel and now in its third generation.
If you fish the same structure for other species, see the wider coastal and offshore gamefish.
FAQ
When is cobia season off Jupiter?
Do Stay gives the season as spring through fall. That is the window for cobia fishing out of Jupiter.
How deep do cobia hold off Jupiter?
Do Stay puts cobia on wrecks and structure in about 30-70 ft.
How far is No Shoes Reef from Jupiter Inlet?
Coastal Angler places it about 1.5 miles offshore. Its cells run from about 40 to 59 ft.
What baits do local captains use for cobia?
Do Stay uses slow-trolled live eels or bucktail jigs on sighted fish, plus jigging over wrecks. Seek The Deep drifts live bait.
Is Push Button Hill a cobia spot?
No. It is a 200-300 ft blackfin bite depth, outside the cobia band.
Where are the cobia regulations?
FWC rules are on the Florida regulations page, and the federal rules cover water past state lines. Check both before fishing.
