Species profile
Atlantic Croaker
Micropogonias undulatus
Identify Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 4 jurisdictions.
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
Frequently asked questions
What is Atlantic Croaker?
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.
What is the scientific name for Atlantic Croaker?
Atlantic Croaker is Micropogonias undulatus.
Is Atlantic Croaker regulated for fishing?
Yes — Atlantic Croaker has fishing regulations in 4 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Atlantic Croaker?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Atlantic Croaker along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.