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Saltwater

Atlantic croaker

Atlantic croaker, side view, silvery body with a spiny first dorsal fin and yellowish fins
SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory, NOAA/NMFS · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Recognition

Silvery with a pinkish-bronze tint, narrow dark lines or rows of spots on the back, a spotted dorsal fin and small barbels on the inner edge of the lower jaw. Average about 9 inches and half a pound.

SC DNR

Waters

Adults over mud and sandy bottom, oyster reefs and live bottoms. Young fish use the low-salinity upper reaches of estuaries.

SC DNR

Months

Year-round

Present in South Carolina waters year-round. Fish age one and older overwinter offshore and may leave estuaries as water cools in fall.

SC DNR

Months present, by species
SpeciesJanJFebFMarMAprAMayMJunJJulJAugASepSOctONovNDecD
Atlantic croakerJan: presentFeb: presentMar: presentApr: presentMay: presentJun: presentJul: presentAug: presentSep: presentOct: presentNov: presentDec: present
  • Present
  • Peak
  • Not stated

Notes

A South Carolina DNR October report lists croaker among good catches at piers and in the surf.

SC DNR

Size and bag limits