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Atlantic Croaker

Atlantic Croaker

Atlantic Croaker are bottom-dwelling members of the drum family, abundant in Alabama's coastal waters with Alabama historically harvesting 77% of the Gulf's croaker catch.

Scientific Name: Micropogonias undulatus

Physical Characteristics:

Recognizable by their three to five chin barbels, inferior mouth, and characteristic croaking sound produced during spawning.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

They prefer muddy and sandy substrates in shallow waters and are considered habitat generalists, utilizing oyster reefs, submerged grass beds, marsh edges, and deeper channels.

Key Locations

Alabama's coastal waters including Mobile Bay, Mississippi Sound, Perdido Bay, Wolf Bay, and Little Lagoon. Effective locations include Mobile Bay oyster reefs, around bridge pilings, inshore artificial reefs, tributary river mouths, and along channel ledges. In murky waters like those around West Point.

Specific Spots

Target areas with muddy bottoms near structure like crab pot lines and oyster beds.

Atlantic Croaker FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What flies work for Atlantic Croaker in Alabama?

2-4 inch Clouser Minnows in bright colors - yellow/white, all white, pink/yellow/chartreuse with flash. In murky waters add scent strips or small pieces of squid to flies to help croakers locate them through smell.

When is the best time to fish for Atlantic Croaker in Alabama?

Most productive from April through October, with peak fishing during late spring and summer. Avoid the October-March spawning period when fish move offshore to deeper waters.

How do you catch Atlantic Croaker in Alabama?

Bottom fishing is the primary technique, using cut bait, dead shrimp, squid, and small pieces of crab fished on or near the bottom in 8-15 feet of water. For fly fishing, bottom-bouncing techniques work best, allowing flies to drag along the substrate with very slow retrieves.

What do Atlantic Croaker eat?

Atlantic Croaker are opportunistic bottom feeders with a diet dominated by polychaete worms (especially Nereis succinea), followed by crustaceans like amphipods (Corophium louisianum, Ampelisca abdita), mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis almyra), penaeid shrimp, blue crabs, and bivalves like Mulinia lateralis.

Where do Atlantic Croaker live in Alabama?

They prefer muddy and sandy substrates in shallow waters and are considered habitat generalists, utilizing oyster reefs, submerged grass beds, marsh edges, and deeper channels.

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