Species › North America · Saltwater › Atlantic Croaker

Saltwater

Atlantic Croaker

Micropogonias undulatus · Croaker, Hardhead, Golden croaker

Water temp
64–79°F
Peak season
May–Sep
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
8 lb 11 oz (3.94 kg)
Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus.jpg)

Photo: United States Fish Commission · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Atlantic croaker are silvery with a brassy or pinkish sheen, faint oblique bars on the back, small chin barbels and a slightly rounded tail. They get their name from the drumming sound they make with their swim bladder. Most caught by anglers run 10 to 14 inches and under a pound, though Chesapeake Bay produces 2–4 lb fish and the record is close to 9 lb. The species ranges from Massachusetts to Texas and Mexico, with the heaviest concentrations in Chesapeake Bay, the Carolina sounds and the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Croaker are bottom feeders that root along sand and mud for worms, shrimp, small crabs and clams, moving into estuaries and nearshore waters in spring and dropping back offshore to spawn in fall. They school by size, so finding one often means a limit is nearby. For pier, surf and small-boat anglers they are the definition of accessible: simple tackle, cheap bait and steady action, with the bonus of sweet, white meat that fries beautifully.

Typical size0.5–1.5 lb (0.2–0.7 kg); 10–14 in
Trophy3 lb+; 5 lb+ in Chesapeake Bay is exceptional
Table fareGood — sweet white meat, ideal for frying whole

Where & when

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Gulf croaker bite nearly year-round, the Carolinas peak April–October, and Chesapeake Bay fishing runs May through September with the biggest fish arriving in early summer as water passes 65 °F (18 °C).

Chesapeake Bay, VALargest croaker in the country; Mobjack Bay and the lower bay riversPamlico Sound, NCPier and small-boat fishing from spring through fallGalveston Bay, TXYear-round bottom fishing; peak in late summerMobile Bay, ALAbundant in the bay and Gulf surf; Dauphin Island piers

How to catch

Two-hook bottom rigFish a double-dropper rig with #4–#2 hooks and a 1–3 oz sinker on sand or shell bottom near channel edges. Bait with small pieces of shrimp, squid or bloodworm and keep the rod in hand; croaker peck fast and a slow lift sets the hook.
Fish-finder rig in the surfA sliding-sinker rig with a short leader and a pyramid weight holds in the wash where croaker patrol the trough behind the first bar. Cast just past the breakers, keep a tight line and lift on any tap.
Light jiggingTip a 1/4 oz jighead with a 2–3 inch soft plastic or a piece of shrimp and hop it slowly along the bottom from piers and bridges. Fun on ultralight tackle and sorts out the bigger fish.

Gear

Rod6'6"–7' light or medium-light spinning
Reel2000–3000 spinning
Line8–12 lb braid or mono with a 15 lb mono leader

Lures

Small jigheads with soft plasticsBucktail jigsSpoonsSabiki-style multi-hook rigs

Baits

ShrimpSquid stripsBloodwormsPeeler crabCut fish

Regulations

A saltwater fishing license or registration is required in every coastal state. Croaker rules are generally liberal, but a few states set minimum sizes or bag limits, so check the current list for your state.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: 8 lb 11 oz (3.94 kg) — New Point Comfort, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, 2007 (Norman Jenkins). State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

What is the best bait for croaker?

Fresh shrimp is the all-around winner, cut into thumbnail-size pieces so a croaker can take the whole bait in one bite. Bloodworms and Fishbites bloodworm strips are deadly in the mid-Atlantic, and squid stays on the hook longer when pinfish and other bait stealers are around.

Are croaker good to eat?

Yes. The meat is white, mild and slightly sweet, and because most fish are small they are usually scaled, gutted and fried whole or pan-dressed. Larger Chesapeake fish fillet nicely. Keep them on ice right away; the flesh softens quickly in summer heat.

Bite forecast — Atlantic Croaker

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Atlantic Croaker.

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