Southern Kingcroaker
The Southern Kingcroaker — known along the Brazilian coast as betara — is a native demersal fish that shows up from Sergipe in the northeast down through the estuaries and sandy beaches of Paraná and Santa Catarina in the south.
It's a staple of artisanal and recreational shore fishing, taken from beaches, river mouths, and estuarine flats where it roots through sand and mud for shrimp and crabs. Not a large fish, but a reliable and table-worthy target.
Scientific Name: Menticirrhus americanus
Also known as Betara, Betara lisa, Betara preta
- Slender, elongated body; silvery-grey with a coppery or brownish-bronze sheen along the sides and a white belly — can flash metallic pink in certain light.
- Snout overhangs the mouth, with a small barbel on the lower lip — a clear sign this fish feeds along the bottom.
- Tail fin is distinctive: slightly concave upper lobe, rounded lower lobe — not the forked tail of a typical drum.
- Most fish run 25–35 cm (10–14 in) and under 700 g; individuals reaching 45–50 cm exist but are uncommon.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Brazil's Atlantic coast, confirmed from Pirambu in Sergipe northeast through to the Bombinhas peninsula in Santa Catarina in the south.
- Lives on sandy and muddy bottoms in shallow coastal waters — surf zones, sandy beaches, and tidal flats are its core habitat.
- Juveniles tolerate low salinity and move freely into estuaries; the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex in Paraná is a documented nursery area.
- Both young and adults use the same estuarine and nearshore habitats throughout their lives — they don't make dramatic offshore migrations.
Key Locations
- Paranaguá Estuarine Complex, Paraná — a documented nursery and feeding area with both artisanal and recreational fishing pressure.
- Bombinhas peninsula, Santa Catarina — confirmed occurrence on the southern coast.
- Pirambu, Sergipe — recorded in shrimp trawl surveys, marking the northeastern extent of its Brazilian range.
- Baía de Guanabara and Baía de Santos — coastal bays in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo where croaker species including betara are regularly caught by shore anglers.
Specific Spots
- Sandy beach troughs and gutters just beyond the first breaking wave — betara work these depressions at all tide stages, rooting for invertebrates in the disturbed sand.
- River mouths and estuarine channels where tidal current stirs up the bottom and concentrates shrimp and small crabs.
- Shallow muddy flats inside estuaries, especially on an incoming tide when the fish push up onto the flat to feed.
- Drop-offs from sand to mud near estuary margins — a transition zone that holds forage and draws feeding fish.
Southern Kingcroaker FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Southern Kingcroaker?
Fresh or frozen shrimp is the go-to bait, fished whole or in pieces on a bottom rig, it directly imitates the betara's primary food source. Cut fish (sardinha, manjuba) and squid strips also work well, especially when shrimp isn't available; the scent trail in moving water draws fish from a distance.
When is the best time to fish for Southern Kingcroaker?
Late winter through spring (August–November) coincides with the spawning period in southern Brazil, when fish are most active in estuaries and nearshore areas. Summer months (December–February) see continued fishing, though males become more dominant in catches during February in documented Paraná studies.
How do you catch Southern Kingcroaker?
Shore fishing from sandy beaches and estuarine banks is the most common approach, with a bottom rig carrying shrimp or cut bait cast into troughs and channel edges. Artisanal fishers also take betara incidentally in gillnets and trawls along the Paraná and Santa Catarina coasts.
What do Southern Kingcroaker eat?
Shrimp and small crabs are the primary forage, the downturned mouth and bottom-facing lips are built for picking crustaceans off the seafloor. Natural shrimp or crab pieces fished on the bottom are the most direct imitation. Also takes mollusks, amphipods (small crustaceans), and will scavenge cut bait and carrion.
Where do Southern Kingcroaker live?
Native to Brazil's Atlantic coast, confirmed from Pirambu in Sergipe northeast through to the Bombinhas peninsula in Santa Catarina in the south. Lives on sandy and muddy bottoms in shallow coastal waters, surf zones, sandy beaches, and tidal flats are its core habitat.
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