Atlantic Croaker

     Atlantic Croaker or Micropogonias undulatus are in the croaker family. Croaker gets its name from the sound it makes with its gills when it comes out of the water. Croaker have a distinct split in the middle of the dorsal fin. The average Croaker weighs under 1 pound (Louisiana Fisheries 1). The largest Croaker ever caught weighed 8 pounds 11 ounces. 
     The best way to catch Croaker is by fishing the bottom of the ocean. A standard high and low hook with a weight to make your bait sink is the best way to fish for Croaker. Croaker feed on tiny pieces of food from the ocean floor, so bloodworms and shrimp are the best choices of bait. There is no special technique to use when fishing for Croaker, just throw your line out and wait for the fish to bite (Weeks 1).
     When fishing for Croaker look no further than the surf. The surf offers the most amount of Croaker without a long travel. From Maryland to Florida Croaker are abundantly found in the surf. While fishing in the surf you will rarely catch a Croaker over 1 pound. 4 pound Croaker are known to be found about two miles out in the ocean (Weeks 1). 
     Many of the Croaker you will catch in surf are not big enough to eat, but if you are lucky enough to catch a large one their meat has a very good taste. Here is a recipe courtesy of "Cooks.com"


   Ingredients

4 lg. whole croaker) dressed
1/4 c. soy sauce
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp. fresh ginger, minced
2 tbsp. orange peel, julienned finely
2 tbsp. orange juice
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 tbsp. butter, melted
4 scallions, sliced

 Directions

Place fish in a bowl. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over fish. Marinate 1 hour. Place fish on a grill, about 5 inches from heat for about 10 minutes per inch thickness of fish, turning once half-way through cooking time and basting often with the marinade. When fish is tender and flakes easily, remove from grill and serve hot.Fish can also be cooked indoors by placing it on a broiler pan and broiling about 5 inches from the heat for 10 minutes per inch of thickness, turning once halfway through the process. Serves 4.

Works Cited

"Cooks.com - Recipe - Grilled Oriental Croaker/Spot." Cooks.com - Recipe Search and More. Web. 05 Nov. 2010. <http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1718,159186-241195,00.html>.

"Louisiana Fisheries - Atlantic Croaker." Louisiana Fisheries. Web. 05 Nov. 2010. <http://www.seagrantfish.lsu.edu/biological/drum/atlanticcroaker.htm>.

"Portsmouth Fisherman Hauls in World-record Croaker." HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com. Web. 05 Nov. 2010. <http://hamptonroads.com/node/312171>.

Weeks, Jeffrey. "How to Catch Croaker." Associated Content - Associatedcontent.com. Web. 05 Nov. 2010. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1776812/how_to_catch_croaker.html?cat=14>.