Croaker

Season in Southern NC

Peak months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

FishOS's Myrtle Beach chart for this species (same Carolina beach type, about 60 to 150 miles south) carried north with slightly cooler water: NCEI averages at Wrightsville Beach are 52 to 58 F December to February and 78 to 83 F June to September. Night croakers at Johnnie Mercer's Pier in July 2021 (Carolina Sportsman). (Our inference)

Season by region

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

• Sharp gill-cover and dorsal spines

Grip from behind, fold the dorsal down.

Keep or release

Good eating. Check state rules.

Recipes for croaker

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 NC limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the NC Division of Marine Fisheries before you keep a fish.

Sources

• NC Division of Marine Fisheries species profile: Atlantic Croaker (citing Miglarese et al. 1982) (Official source)
• Carolina Sportsman: King mackerel on fire at Johnnie Mercer's Pier (July 2021) (Angler knowledge)
• NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide: monthly average water temperatures, all stations (Official source)
• Fisherman's Post North Myrtle Beach / Little River reports 2025-2026 (Angler knowledge)
• SCDNR species profile: Atlantic croaker (Official source)

All the fish of Southern NC