Species profile
Atlantic Croaker
Micropogonias undulatus
At a glance
Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 25 (Georgia); the most generous is 100 (Florida).
Confirmed by 2,053 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for the loud croaking sound males produce by vibrating muscles against the swim bladder.
- Has small chin barbels used to detect worms and invertebrates buried in the seafloor.
- Typically reaches 12 to 15 inches and 1 to 2 pounds at maturity.
- Spawns offshore in fall and early winter, with larvae drifting into coastal estuaries.
- Ranges from Texas to Massachusetts and can live up to about 8 years.
Where Atlantic Croaker are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Atlantic Croaker
Background
The Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae and is closely related to the black drum (Pogonias cromis), the silver perch (Bairdiella chrysoura), the spot croaker (Leiostomus xanthurus), the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), the spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), and the weakfish (Cynoscion regalis). This fish is…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Croaker article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.