Atlantic Croaker(Micropogonias undulatus)

Quick Facts

  • Size Range: The croaker grows up to about 8 pounds, but 1 to 2 is much more common.
  • Native Species?: Yes
  • Food Value: Croakers are edible with a white flaky meat.

State Record

  • Louisiana State Record: 8lbs
  • State Record Date: 8/1/1972
  • State Record Holder Douglas Bernard

The croaker is a golden colored bottom dweller with wavy iridescent lines on their sides. They have a down-turned mouth for rooting food out of the bottom. They have three to five barbels, or whiskers, on their chin. They also have sharp gill plates and make a drumming or croaking sound. They are highly prized by grouper fishermen for bait.

Croakers are generally found across the Gulf coast. They live offshore during the winter months and move into bays the rest of the year, and are commonly found in Louisiana inshore waters.

Small bits of dead bait like shrimp and clam fished on the bottom with fairly small hooks will catch these willing fish.

Related Habitats:
Other Bait Fish Species: Gulf Killifish Golden Shiner Striped Mojarra Round Scad Atlantic Mackerel Atlantic Thread Herring Pinfish Gulf Menhaden
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Related Fishing Methods

Dead bait consists of many different types of bait that is no longer alive. Dead bait is still attractive to many fish as they are normally feeding by smell and dead bait is the ticket for smell. Fresh cut fish, dead shrimp, half crab, shucked clam, cut squid and all popular examples of bait that will catch a wide variety of fish. Many sport fish that are predators, will gladly take the opportunity to slurp up a fresh dead bait. A redfish is equally happy to chase down a baitfish or slurp up a dead shrimp on the bottom. Dead bait has the benefit is being easy to obtain, maintain and transport, as opposed to live bait which takes livewells, quality water control and can be harder to obtain.

Drift fishing can encompass a variety of fishing methods. Bottom fishing over structure is often done while drifting. Timing the drop of your baits as you pass by the structures below is the trick. Also knowing when you have drifted beyond the fish is a key element to being succesful. Anglers also drift while live bait fishing and chunking for bluewater pelagic fish like tuna. The use of live bait or chunks is a slower presentation where the fish are drawn to the boat by smell or vibration of live fish. Inshore you can drift along while casting for trout and redfish with baits or lures. One of the main benefits of drift fishing is that you can quietly cover ground while searching for feeding fish.