Cobia regulations in Delaware

Additional Nearshore and Occasional Nearshore Species · Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? A cobia is a keeper today if it measures at least 43 inches, with a daily limit of 2.

Cobia size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
State waters	Open year-round	43 inch minimum	2 per angler or 2 per vessel

Exact DNREC wording

Season: Open Year-Round
Size: 43 inches minimum length (total length)
Limit: 2 per angler or 2 per vessel

Source: DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-09-20 (2026 season).

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More additional nearshore and occasional nearshore species

American Eel Atlantic Cutlassfish Atlantic Needlefish Atlantic Spadefish Atlantic Sturgeon Atlantic Tripletail Bluefish Butterfish

About the cobia

Species of ray-finned fish

The cobia is a species of marine carangiform ray-finned fish, the only extant representative of the genus Rachycentron and the family Rachycentridae. Its other common names include black kingfish, black salmon, ling, lemonfish, crabeater, prodigal son, codfish, and black bonito.

Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Cobia in Delaware?

43 inch minimum in Delaware state waters.

How many Cobia can you keep per day in Delaware?

2 per angler or 2 per vessel.

When is Cobia season in Delaware?

Open year-round.

Is my Cobia a keeper today?

A cobia is a keeper today if it measures at least 43 inches, with a daily limit of 2.