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I love to test new fishing gadgets and share my opinion.
Did you know that cobia can live between 10 years to 15 years? Cobia fish are fierce feeders who search for food from the surface to the sea’s depths.
Cobia is among the more alluring gamefish in the USA. Large in size, attractive, tasty, and nutritious. The cost per pound is pretty high but totally worth it.
However, Cobia is not an easy catch, and it gives anglers a worthwhile challenge. So, to hook it, you better get prepared and well-studied up on any cobia fishing tips. We’ll make things a bit easier for you, sharing some of the best baits for catching Cobia to add to your conventional tackle.
Comparison Table - The Best Cobia Lures
Editor's choice
LIVE TARGET Fishing Tackle
- Well made
- Looks realistic
- Good for cobia or other game fish
Most Popular
Last Cast Tackle
- Simple and efficient
- Attracts cobia with glowing tail hair
- Good weight-to-size ratio
Best Value
Tigofly Wounded Minnow Fly
- Low price
- Good quality
- Nice color variety
Table of Contents
Top 6 Lures for Cobia Fishing in 2023
1. LIVE TARGET Fishing Tackle – Editor’s choice for Cobia Lures
2. Last Cast Tackle – Most Popular Cobia Lure
3. Tigofly Wounded Minnow Fly – Best Valued Cobia Lure
4. Savage Gear Real EEL Jig – Best Plastic Eels Cobia Lures
5. Zuri 3D Inshore Twitchbait – Best Twitchbait Lure for Cobia
6. Z Man Hero – Best Soft Plastic Lure for Cobia
Expert Reviews of the Top Cobia Lures
#1 Editor's choice - LIVE TARGET Fishing Tackle
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Croakers have a well-deserved spot on this list and are well-known on many Atlantic Ocean coasts. As you probably figured, it’s a brilliant lure to use in saltwater environments. It’s one of the best bait for topwater cobia swim action. You can expect some serious action when you combine the lure with the best topwater rods.
- Size: One size
- Color Availability: Multicolored
- Fishing Technique: Casting
- Target Species: Atlantic Croaker
Pros
- Well made
- Looks realistic
- Swims very good
- Good for cobia or other game fish
Cons
- No rattle or sounds
- A bit pricey
- May not be suitable for all anglers
BUYING ADVICE: If visiting the Chesapeake Bay from spring through autumn, or the Gulf Coast from April to September, grab one of these Live Target artificial baits and go fishing for cobia.
In our opinion, it looks very good in the water when reeled in, and it does very well with toothy fish. It has a realistic look and swim motion; the fish may even confuse it for live bait. Cast and retrieve is a good method to use with this lure.
FEATURES: It’s made from high-quality materials, and the swimming action is authentic. The Live Target Croaker is pretty big on Florida’s East coast, and it’s one of the most popular live bait replacements for game fish and sight fishing for cobia.
#2 Most Popular - Last Cast Tackle
WHY WE LIKE IT: These bucktail jigs have a good size-to-weight ratio. The glowing hairs help improve visibility, make it stand out, and provide great results. It works well in fresh and saltwater and comes with a high-quality eyelet and construction.
- Size: 0.25 oz, 0.50 oz, 1.0 oz, 1.5 oz, 2.0 oz – 3 Pack
- Color Availability: White
- Fishing Technique: Long-Casting, Vertical Jigging
- Target Species: Multi-species/Bass, Fluke
Pros
- Simple and efficient
- Attracts cobia with glowing tail hair
- Good weight-to-size ratio
- Good price
Cons
- The tail can look a bit frail after a couple of bites
- Very aggressive bites may bend the hook
- May not be compatible with an angler's fishing technique
BUYING ADVICE: From our experience, this is one of the best bucktails jigs out there. It is simple enough and has great quality for its price. The color is good, and most importantly, catching cobia, even the larger fish, won’t be an issue for this lure. The hooks are sticky and sharp and can brace a lot of bites. There is an extra glowing tail that makes it fantastic for night fishing.
FEATURES: It has extra sharp hooks, 3D Eyes, and holographic strips in the bucktail hair. In addition, due to its good weight-to-size ratio, it does well with long casts and vertical jigging. It is a versatile lure, and many tackle shops recommend it.
#3 Best Value - Tigofly Wounded Minnow Fly
WHY WE LIKE IT: These flies are the fly rod fishing winners! They look really good and sink slowly. Very nice and vivid color selection to add to that realistic look. They have a nice sinking action with a fly rod when fishing for cobia.
- Length: 1.5 inches
- Quantity: 12 pcs per pack
- Color Availability: Multicolor
- Fishing Technique: Fly fishing
- Target Species: Salmon, Trout
Pros
- Very realistic, like live bait fish, mimicking a wounded minnow fish
- Low price
- Good quality
- Nice color variety
Cons
- Really small, just a little over an inch, which may be considered as both pro and con, depending on the fishing style and the target fish
- The fly might slide down the hook
- You may have to add some weight to your fishing line
BUYING ADVICE: According to our fishing experts, these flies have a low price, and in return, you get a high-quality fly. We loved how these looked swimming in the water, and so did the cobia fish.
They look very realistic, like live bait, or in this case, dead bait or dying minnow fish. Predators go crazy over them.
FEATURES: The Tigoflys are very small, and the smaller cobia fish will take the bait. The hook size is #8, and its length is around 1.5 inches.
#4 Best Plastic Eels - Savage Gear Real EEL Jig
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Real Eel jig is a game changer for many anglers, with the lifelike swimming action mimicking an eel. The movement and vibration of its oversized tail and the infused scent ensure this lure gets the bite. It has a heavy-duty jig hook, an authentic profile, and details all over the body.
- Size: One size, 8′, 12′
- Color: Albino Flesh, Olive Brown Pearl, Dirty Silver, Ghost Essence, Ghost Herring
- Fishing Technique: Casting
- Target Species: Bass
Pros
- Great dive, amazing at deep water
- Very attractive to bass, cobia, and other species
- Does well in freshwater as well as saltwater
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Not extremely durable with hard bites
- No hooks on the long tail
- Large for some anglers
BUYING ADVICE: This lure gave us fast action and a good sink. It’s amazing for deep waters. The hooks are good quality, making us think that you can use them for any fish, but they were very effective for cobia fishing.
Cobia love bottom feeders and the live eels’ action of these lures was really alluring to cobia and other fish species. We also liked the color and size options. It is incredible in calm waters, with a slower retrieve and a casual rod lift.
FEATURES: It has a durable PVC body, and this lure proved to do well even in saltwater. It’s versatile, and it gives out a nice play. Overall, a fun lure anglers use to test some waters and go fishing.
#5 Best Twitchbait - Zuri 3D Inshore Twitchbait
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Inshore Twithbait gives a sharp and darting action. It is very tough and durable. With its slow-sinking lipless design is a hard bait with dynamite balance. It is one of the most fitting baits for cobia fishing in shallow water. It is equipped with a treble power hook and a 3D prism finish.
- Size: 5-1/4 Inches
- Color Availability: Real Mullet
- Fishing Technique: Other/ Rolling, Twitching
- Target Species: Trout, Panfish
Pros
- Amazing inshore
- Stands out in the water with the 3D prism finish
- High-quality and durable
- Slow sinking
Cons
- On the pricey side
- It may be a little bigger than expected
- The lure could benefit from an upgrade of the hooks
BUYING ADVICE: In our experience, this lure came out to be a fish magnet due to its inner hologram that gives out flashes depending on how light hits it. It really stands out to cobia predators inshore or in glass flats.
In addition, the slow sinking allowed us to go with some cool rod and reel handlings. This lure has a great darting action and swims very nicely.
FEATURES: The quality of the 3D Twitchbait is over the top, and with its lifelike appearance, it can catch cobia anytime. What is more, it comes with fine high-pitch rattles. It has an inner hologram sheet and gives a quick response by a fixed weighted center.
#6 Best Soft Plastic - Z Man Hero
WHY WE LIKE IT: This USA-made soft-plastic bait gives first-rate action, and it has notable durability for its size. Due to its oversized and elongated shape, it serves great in catching cobia, especially larger fish.
- Size: 10 Inches
- Color Availability: 4 colors including Bubblegum, Green Lantern, Nuked Pilchard glow, and Sexy Mullet
- Fishing Technique: Casting/Jigging/Trolling
- Target Species: Multi-species/Cobia, Tarpon, Tuna, Muskie, and other fish
Pros
- Durability
- The versatility of fishing techniques
- It's a must when fishing for cobia
- The versatility of fish targets
Cons
- May be big for some fisherman's preferences
- You need to pair it with a jighead or similar
- Doesn't work well with smaller fish
BUYING ADVICE: The Z Man Hero is an ideal addition to the best cobia lures fishing list. We gave it a go, and we caught ourselves some pretty big fish predators. However, besides coastal cobia fishing, anglers use it in reefs, bluewater and northern lakes.
FEATURES: This lure is oversized 10″ fish-shaped jerk that has a tear-resistant and soft ElaZtech construction. It goes great with the weighted hook 12/0 ChinlockZ or the 8/0 jighead HeadlockZ HD. It adapts well to many fishing techniques like casting, jigging, and trolling.
Tips and Tricks for Cobia Fishing
A pro cobia fishing tip is always to have a selection of jigs and lures in different sizes, styles, and colors to add to your conventional tackle. Make sure to prepare yourself for various cobia-catching scenarios and styles.
As for the anglers into live baits, we recommend saving some bait like live eels and live crabs for some larger cobia. In addition, mullet or blue crabs are good live baits for cobia fishing.
Choose a braided line for cobia fishing from somewhere around 50lb to 65lb. It’s a good option to put some pressure on a big cobia yet maintain good castability.
It is also important to mention that Cobia swims typically close to certain water structures like artificial reefs, buoys, debris, and shipwrecks or some bigger species like manta rays, sharks, etc.
Water Temperature
Since cobia are a eurythermal species, they can survive in a variety of climates and water temperatures, though they do favor warmer waters. When the water reaches 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, they go more into inshore waters.
The Chesapeake Bay is a good spot for cobia fishing. Ideally, the best time to bait and hook up some great cobia is when the waters are slow. Sight casting and chumming are the most effective methods.
Look for rays
It’s essential to have the right sight fishing gear in addition to proper Cobia fishing gear and bait. You can see fish below the water’s surface better with the help of polarised glasses that will reduce the water’s glare while sight casting.