Cobia 365 



waters in early spring and throughout the summer. In 

 autumn they move offshore. Bluefish are very abundant in 

 some years and relatively scarce in other years. 

 Economic Importance: The Bluefish is an excellent food 

 fish and is subject to both extensive commercial and recrea- 

 tional fisheries. It is caught regularly by the offshore angler 

 trolling a feather or other artificial lure or by the bait 

 fisherman who attracts the fish to the boat by "chumming" 

 with ground menhaden. This species is also commonly 

 taken by the surf caster and in the "snapper" sizes by bank 

 and pier sport fishermen. 



Cobia 

 Rachycentron canadus (Linnaeus) 



Color: Black above; grayish white below. Young have a 

 black band on sides extending from the snout to the base 

 of the tail fin. 



Distribution: Cosmopolitan in warm seas. Common from 

 Chesapeake Bay south. It is an occasional visitor north of 

 Chesapeake Bay as far as Cape Cod. 



Size: Reaches a length of 5 feet. A fish of 84 pounds has 

 been reported. 



General Information: This species is uncommon north of 

 Chesapeake Bay. It feeds on fish and crustaceans and for 

 the latter reason is known in some areas as the "crab- 

 eater." 



Economic Importance: The Cobia is marketed for food in 

 the southern part of its range. 



