Fishing along the shoreline sometimes brings unexpected surprises. While most catches may be familiar species, there are occasions when a fish appears that we rarely see in Maldivian waters.
One such encounter happened on a quiet evening near the jetty on the northern side of Malé. I was beach fishing with my friend Niyaz. We were using pieces of bigeye scad, locally known as mushimas, as bait, with lead sinkers weighing around 65 grams and monofilament fishing line.
Suddenly, Niyaz began reeling in his line. He had hooked a fish.
When he brought it ashore, we found that it was a cobia. Its broad, flattened head and unusual body shape made it easy to distinguish from many of the fish we commonly encounter.
A fish with a distinctive appearance
The cobia (Rachycentron canadum) belongs to the family Rachycentridae. It is known locally as Koabiya, while Muranga Mas is another name used for the fish. It is also known as black kingfish and black salmon.
The cobia has a long body, a broad head and a large mouth. Its short dorsal spines are set apart from one another, giving its back a distinctive outline. The most noticeable feature of an adult is its crescent-shaped tail, with the upper lobe longer than the lower. Young cobia have rounded tails, with the central rays extending noticeably.
The fish is dark on its upper side, with brownish flanks marked by two pale bands. Its belly is yellowish. It commonly grows to around 1.1 metres, although larger individuals may reach two metres.
Although the cobia resembles a remora, it does not have the suction disc that remoras use to attach themselves to larger marine animals.
Where it lives and what it eats
Cobia are found in warm seas around the world, except in the eastern Pacific. They mainly inhabit open water but can also be found around shallow coral reefs, rocky shores and, occasionally, estuaries.
They feed on crustaceans, squid and other fish. Cobia are also sometimes seen swimming alongside large marine animals.
A catch made possible by changing fishing techniques
Cobia were once an uncommon catch for many Maldivian anglers. However, with the growing use of different fishing techniques, including jigging, anglers now catch this species more often than before.
My encounter with Niyaz near the northern jetty of Malé remains a memorable fishing experience. We had gone out expecting an ordinary catch, using a simple bait-and-sinker setup. Instead, we landed a fish that stood out from the species we usually caught from shore.
For anglers, the cobia is a reminder that trying different fishing methods can bring unfamiliar species within reach, even in waters they know well.
