Saltwater
Atlantic Croaker
Where to find them, how to catch them and the tackle to use.
01Introduction
The Atlantic croaker is a silvery-pink, bronze-spotted member of the drum family, famous for the loud croaking sound it makes, and one of the most abundant bottom fish in Atlantic and Gulf estuaries. Most are about a foot long and half a pound to 2 pounds, but big "hardheads" reach 18 to 24 inches. They're easy to catch on bait, fight well for their size and are good to eat.
02Where to Catch
Range: the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Florida, though uncommon north of New Jersey, and throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat: mud, sand and shell bottoms, from shallow bays, tidal rivers and estuaries to deeper channels and nearshore ocean waters, including oyster reefs. Young croaker grow up in the low-salinity upper reaches of estuaries.
Seasons: in the Mid-Atlantic, croaker move up bays and estuaries in spring and head back to sea in fall, with the best fishing from summer into fall. In the Southeast and Gulf, they're present year-round. Their numbers swing widely from year to year.
03How to Catch
Croaker feed on the bottom, sucking worms, shrimp, crabs and clams out of the sediment with their downturned mouths. Fish a two-hook bottom rig with small to medium hooks and just enough weight to hold bottom, baited with bloodworms, shrimp (fresh or dead), squid strips, peeler or soft crab, or clam. Fish from piers, bridges, banks, the surf or an anchored boat over mud and shell bottom. In many places, small croaker are also used as live bait for bigger fish.
04Tackle
A light to medium spinning rod with a two-hook rig, small to medium hooks and a few sinkers. Croaker limits vary by state; check your state's regulations.
05Questions anglers ask
Why is it called a croaker?
It makes a loud croaking sound by vibrating its swim bladder with special muscles, and it's the loudest member of the drum family. You'll often hear one croak after you land it.
How do I tell a croaker from a spot?
Croaker have small whisker-like barbels on the chin and brassy spots that form wavy bars on the back. Spot have no chin barbels, slanting dark bars and a single dark spot behind the gill cover.
Why are croaker plentiful some years and scarce in others?
Croaker numbers swing widely from year to year, probably because cold winters kill many of the young fish in their nursery areas.