COBREPRO Tags- Cobia reproduction in Florida

Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) support a popular and growing recreational fishery in the southeastern United States and Gulf of Mexico. In 2015, the stock boundary between the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and South Atlantic (ATL) migratory groups was moved from the Dade/Monroe county line in Florida to the Florida/Georgia border- effectively moving the east coast of Florida from the ATL to within the GOM bounds. Contention from early closures of the ATL group has heightened interest in the spatial ecology and reproduction of Cobia in Florida.

From an assessment standpoint, partial migration can have significant effects on stock delineations and status determinations and therefore management recommendations. The overall goal of our project is to utilize reproductive condition and movement studies to identify spawning activity for the Gulf of Mexico stock of Cobia around the Florida peninsula to fill data gaps identified during prior research efforts and recommended in SEDAR 28 and 58.