Projects - Captains For Cobia

Background

   Every May and June there is a huge migration of Cobia to the waters of Port Royal Sound and the Broad River.  This migration does not occur anywhere else in South Carolina and only a few other places on the Eastern Seaboard.  On a weekend afternoon, one might see a hundred boats anchored in the river and the sound targeting this frustrating fish.  Because the migration is as far inshore as the calmer waters near the Broad river Bridge, even small baot fisherman can get in on the action.  Every year there are more fisherman and the pressure on the cobia stock increases. 

   Traditionally this has been a federally regulated fishery and little concern has been given to it by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.  The Hilton Head Island Sportfishing Club, recognizing what an important fishery this is to Beaufort County recreational and charter boat fisherman felt.  To the club it was clear that more attention was needed in order to maintain the health of the cobia stocks.  Through its affiliation with the Port Royal Sound Conservancy, the club committed to raising sufficient funding to conduct a multi-year study.  

Purpose

The purpose of the study over the next few years is:

1. Establish baselines on size, quantity and gender.
2. Determine where the cobia go after they leave the Port Royal system. 
3. Determine the role of Port Royal Sound in cobia spawning habits.
4. Determine an affordable, quick response stock enhancement program.
5. Determine the economic impact of the cobia fishery on Beaufort County, the number of
    fisherman targeting them and their relative success.
6. Assess the success of various fishing methods and their impact on release mortlity. (i.e.
    the use of circle hooks.)

Partners

   Other partners in the study will be USC-Beaufort, SCDNR-Waddell Mariculture Center, Friends of the Rivers, and The Lowcountry Institute.  the departments of Natural Resources in Maryland and on the Gulf Coast will be sharing information with the SCDNR.

Program Schedule