Atlantic Croaker
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View Regulations
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Scientific Name
Micropogonias undulatus
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Common Names
Croaker, Hardhead
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Description
The Atlantic Croaker has a coloration ranging from silver with a pinkish hue or silver with a golden hue. Its upper body often has other markings and has a deeply notched dorsal fin. It can also occasionally have bands of color running down its sides. The mouth has a smaller lower jaw with barbels it uses for sensing prey.
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Habitat & Behaviour
The Atlantic Croaker can be found around muddy, sandy or shelled bottoms and is a migratory fish, choosing to move in shore in the spring and offshore in the fall. When offshore the Atlantic Croaker can be found near manmade structures such as oil rigs.
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Natural Prey
The Adult Croaker subsists on a diet of organic material sometimes called detritus as well as invertebrates and other smaller fish.
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Handling Tips
Smaller fish, easily netted. Gill plates semi-sharp.
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