Croaker

Season

Peak months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

SCDNR: present year-round, older fish overwinter offshore. Local: lots of croaker at Cherry Grove in August; croakers from piers and surf in September. (Our inference)

Where to find them

Piers and troughs, warm months.

Bottom.

What to look for

Evening tides.

Bait

Shrimp, Bloodworms, Squid strips. Double-drop, #2 to 1/0 hooks, 2 to 3 oz.

Leader

20 lb.

Landing

Simple.

Handling and safety

• Sharp gill-cover and dorsal spines

Grip from behind, fold the dorsal down.

Keep or release

No size limit; within the 50-fish aggregate.

Recipes for croaker

Typical: About 9 in, 0.5 lb. Large: 2 lb and up. SC record 4 lb 9 oz (1979).

South Carolina limits

• Minimum: none
• Maximum: none
• Bag: 50 per person per day combined (Atlantic croaker + spot + whiting)
• Season: Open year-round
• Hook and line only

Last checked 2026-10-07. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. SC DNR fishing regulations.

Sources

• SCDNR species profile: Atlantic croaker (Official source)
• Fisherman's Post North Myrtle Beach / Little River reports 2025-2026 (Angler knowledge)
• Gregg Holshouser Grand Strand fishing reports, 2019-2020 (mirror) (Angler knowledge)
• SC finfish size and catch limits 2026-2027 (eRegulations, linked from SCDNR), last updated Aug 11, 2026 (Official source)

All the fish of Myrtle Beach