Cobia, Rachycentron canadum
Introduction: Cobia, Rachycentron canadum, is the only species of the family Rachycentridae. Other common names for cobia include black kingfish, black salmon, lemonfish, and sergeant fish as well as cobie and bonito (in Spanish) and mafou (in French). Cobias are a popular recreational and commercial species. They reach lengths of 50-120 cm, with a maximum of 200 cm.
While cobias are more common at weights of up to 20s kg, there could be few heavier specimens which could reach up to 60 kg. Cobias grow quickly and have a moderately long life span. Cobias are intensely curious fish and show no fear of boats. Both cobia sexes have moderately long lives of 15 years or more.
Distinctive Description: The family name Rachycentridae, from the Greek words rhachis meaning "spine" and kentron meaning "sting," is an allusion to
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Their food consists of crabs (their favorite food), crustaceans, cephalopods, and small fishes such as mullet, eels, jacks, snappers, pinfish, croakers, grunts, and herring.
Their predators of cobias are dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus) that is known to feed on immature cobia. Also, the shortfin mako sharks are known to feed on adult cobia.
Reproduction and life history: Cobias are pelagic spawners. During spawning which takes place diurnally, cobia broodstock release eggs and sperm into offshore open water and/or in estuaries and shallow bays? Eggs are buoyant, spherical of (1.2 mm in diameter). Fertilized eggs float freely with water currents until hatching that takes place after 24-36 hours after fertilization. The planktonic larvae develop their mouth and eyes in about 5-7 days and by then they become active feeders.
Cobia females are batch spawners whereas females are capable of spawning up to 20 times during the spawning season with intervals of about one to two weeks. The fecundity estimates range from about 400,000 – 2 million eggs per