Bield: fish

Single-species migration calendar

Cobia in Chesapeake Bay (Lower) june fishing.

  • Rachycentron canadum
  • Migratory
  • Peak

Peak Chesapeake cobia season — sight fishing on flats and bridge structures.

Verify with the agency before fishing

Fishing regulations change every season. This page is a summary maintained by Bield — bag limits, exact dates, and species-specific rules must be verified with Virginia Marine Resources Commission before each trip.

Year-round calendar

Cobia · 12-month view.

Each month encodes typical migration status. The current month is outlined in gold. Hover a cell for the month-specific note and typical water temperature.

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JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Wintering off FL. Typical water temp: 44–52°FFeb — Absent Same. Typical water temp: 46–52°FMar — Absent Spring migration not yet here. Typical water temp: 50–58°FApr — Possible Earliest fish at the mouth of the Bay. Typical water temp: 58–64°FPossibleMay — Peak Cobia run begins — fish following rays into Chesapeake. Typical water temp: 64–72°FPeakJun — Peak Peak Chesapeake cobia season — sight fishing on flats and bridge structures. Typical water temp: 72–78°FPeakJul — Good Resident fish through summer. Typical water temp: 76–82°FGoodAug — Good Same — fish on buoys and structure. Typical water temp: 78–82°FGoodSep — Fair Fall departure begins. Typical water temp: 72–78°FFairOct — Possible Most fish gone south. Typical water temp: 64–72°FPossibleNov — Absent Departed. Typical water temp: 56–64°FDec — Absent Wintering south. Typical water temp: 50–56°F

Migration pattern

The Chesapeake cobia run is one of the iconic spring saltwater migrations on the East Coast. Fish arrive following cownose rays into the Bay in May and stay through summer; depart by October.

Best locations

  • Bay Bridge Tunnel structure
  • Mouth of the Potomac
  • Fisherman's Island
  • Buoys 36/42

Top lures

  • Live eels
  • Bucktail jigs
  • Whole crab on bottom
  • Live menhaden
  • Topwater plugs

Cobia in other regions

Chesapeake Bay (Upper) →North Carolina Outer Banks →Florida Panhandle →Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend →Tampa Bay & Charlotte Harbor →Alabama & Mississippi Coast →All cobia regions →

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Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data and water-temperature readings to species arrival windows so you're on the water the day they arrive in Chesapeake Bay (Lower).

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