Names
Scientific name: Rachycentron canadum
Internationally, it is referred to as Cobia. Other common names include Black Kingfish, Black Salmon, and Lemonfish. In the UAE, it is known as Sechel or Sekel (سكل/سچل).
Cobia
19th Jul 2020
Shape and color
The Cobia has an elongated, spindle-shaped body and a broad, flattened head. It is brown in color with a whitish belly and two darker brown horizontal bands on the flanks. Its body is smooth with small scales.
Habitat
Cobia are not usually found in schools and sometimes congregate at reefs, wrecks, harbours, buoys, and other structural oases. However, they are also encountered in the open sea and near islands.
Feeding
For scavenging, it often follows other species such as Sharks and Turtles. It feeds primarily on crabs, lobsters, squid, and other fish.
It is targeted by some species such as the Mahi-Mahi and Shortfin Mako Shark.
Fishing season
It is an uncommon fish in the waters of the UAE, and it prefers winter months, especially from earlier November to the end of February. It is unlikely -though not impossible- to encounter during the warmer months of June, July, and August.
Fishing method
It can be caught using various fishing techniques including gillnetting and fishing rods. When using fishing rods, cobia seems to prefer live sardines but is also occasionally caught on jigs and squid slices. Cobias are more often encountered on big-game fishing trips.
Fun facts
- Cobias are considered quite smart. They often avoid attempts by fishermen to lure them using bait and jig when they are seen swimming next to the boat.
- They are curious fish with little fear of boats.
- They are desired all around the world and are considered by many to be the tastiest fish in the UAE!
Minimum legal length: 60 centimeters.
Fishing status: Not banned.
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Cobia
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u class="x-el x-el-span c2-3i c2-3j c2-3 c2-5a c2-3r c2-3o c2-5b c2-5e" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><strong class="x-el x-el-span c2-3i c2-3j c2-3 c2-5a c2-3r c2-2b c2-5b" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; line-height: inherit;">Names</strong></u></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Scientific name: Rachycentron canadum</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Internationally, it is referred to as Cobia. Other common names include Black Kingfish, Black Salmon, and Lemonfish. In the UAE, it is known as Sechel or Sekel (سكل/سچل).</span></p>
Shape and color
The Cobia has an elongated, spindle-shaped body and a broad, flattened head. It is brown in color with a whitish belly and two darker brown horizontal bands on the flanks. Its body is smooth with small scales.
Habitat
Cobia are not usually found in schools and sometimes congregate at reefs, wrecks, harbours, buoys, and other structural oases. However, they are also encountered in the open sea and near islands.
Feeding
For scavenging, it often follows other species such as Sharks and Turtles. It feeds primarily on crabs, lobsters, squid, and other fish.
It is targeted by some species such as the Mahi-Mahi and Shortfin Mako Shark.
Fishing season
It is an uncommon fish in the waters of the UAE, and it prefers winter months, especially from earlier November to the end of February. It is unlikely -though not impossible- to encounter during the warmer months of June, July, and August.
Fishing method
It can be caught using various fishing techniques including gillnetting and fishing rods. When using fishing rods, cobia seems to prefer live sardines but is also occasionally caught on jigs and squid slices. Cobias are more often encountered on big-game fishing trips.
Fun facts
- Cobias are considered quite smart. They often avoid attempts by fishermen to lure them using bait and jig when they are seen swimming next to the boat.
- They are curious fish with little fear of boats.
- They are desired all around the world and are considered by many to be the tastiest fish in the UAE!
Minimum legal length: 60 centimeters.
Fishing status: Not banned.