Fish guide
Croaker
Micropogonias undulatus.
Showing the fish for Middle Texas coast, Corpus Christi.
Season in Middle Texas
Peak months: Aug, Sep, Oct.
TPWD: in estuaries and bays spring and summer, offshore in fall to breed; best fishing summer into fall. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Myrtle Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| North Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| South Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Delmarva | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Virginia Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Outer Banks | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southern NC | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Georgia | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Northeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Space Coast | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Big Bend | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Panhandle | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Alabama | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Mississippi | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Louisiana | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Upper Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Middle Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Lower Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Bays and estuaries spring and summer, on dead shrimp on the bottom (TPWD).
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
- Sharp gill-cover and dorsal spines
Grip from behind, fold the dorsal down.
Keep or release
Do not eat raw (TPWD). Texas rules apply.
Typical: About 9 in, 0.5 lb. Large: 2 lb and up. SC record 4 lb 9 oz (1979).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the TX limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department before you keep a fish.
Sources
- TPWD species profile: Atlantic croaker (Official source)
- NC Division of Marine Fisheries species profile: Atlantic Croaker (citing Miglarese et al. 1982) (Official source)
- Fisherman's Post North Myrtle Beach / Little River reports 2025-2026 (Angler knowledge)
- SCDNR species profile: Atlantic croaker (Official source)
Is croaker worth it today?
The planner rates it for your exact time with the live tide, weather and water temperature.
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