Cobia, commonly referred to as ling in Texas, is distributed worldwide in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters.  They are considered low in overall abundance and are primarily caught recreationally, frequently around floating or submerged structures.  Reaching weights over 100 pounds, cobia are an excellent sport fish and can be found both near shore and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.  Recently, there has been considerable interest in both the US and several Asian countries in raising cobia as an aquaculture species or possibly for future stock enhancement. 

   Research with cobia began at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute Fisheries and Mariculture Laboratory (FAML) in Port Aransas, Texas around 1990.  Several groups of broodstock cobia have been raised and maintained in recirculating aquaculture systems in an effort to spawn this fish.  Spawning was achieved by conditioning the fish in a controlled environment through photoperiod and temperature manipulations that simulate the natural seasons. 

   In April and May of 2001, cobia caught as juveniles two years earlier spawned naturally in a 9,000 gallon recirculating broodstock system at FAML.  This is the first reported spawn of cobia raised from sub-adult to sexual maturity in a recirculating tank system using photoperiod and temperature cycles.   

   In April and May of 2002, those same cobia have spawned three times, and the hope is that in their controlled environment, there will be subsequent spawning this year. 

   In 2002, FAML will be researching nutrition and early weaning procedures and evaluating high density larval rearing.