Atlantic Croaker

Credit: Illustration by Diane Rome Peebles

Family Sciaenidae

Description: inferior mouth; 3 to 5 pairs of small barbels on chin; silver-gray or bronze body with dark oblique wavy bars or lines; iridescent especially on head; preopercle strongly serrated

Similar fish: spot, Leiostomus xanthurus (has no chin barbels and has a dark blotch on shoulder)

Size: usually less than 2 pounds

Where found: generally found north of Tampa Bay on the west coast, and north of Cape Canaveral on the east coast; young fish found in estuaries; older fish (2 to 3 years) inhabit deep offshore waters during the winter months and move into bays and estuaries during the spring, summer, and fall

Remarks: during spawning becomes bronze or yellow in color; spawning apparently occurs offshore in fall; longevity 2 to 4 years