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Bait & Hooks Used to Catch Croakers

Croakers are a feisty fighting fish, are tasty when eaten fresh and may be caught year-round. Though they can be found along the U.S. Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico, they are especially popular targets in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. Though they are small and adept at stealing bait, croakers travel in such large schools that you are likely to come home with a catch. Since their schools are massive, once they begin to swim under your boat, remain in the same spot in order to get the greatest haul.

Small Bait
- The croaker's small mouth is suitable to thin, small, live bait. Croakers respond well to bait made up of small marine life, such as shrimp, and small fish, such as shiners. Croakers also respond to other generally used organic bait, such as worms. When combined with worms, smaller croakers will also respond more eagerly than usual to squid.
Large Bait
- Larger marine life, such as squid, and cut bait are useful if made small enough for a croaker to eat. When cutting squid to size for a croaker, cut it lengthwise into thin strips; the piece of squid must be thin enough to fit into the croaker's mouth. Cut bait and squid are likely to attract larger croakers than it will small ones.
Rig
- Croakers are adept at stealing the bait from the hook, so a two-hook rig makes it more likely that you will be able to keep the croaker on the line once he takes your bait. A rig that works well to catch croakers might have a top and bottom made of wire -- simpler is better -- and has two size No. 4 spanner hooks attached to it.
Hooks
- Spinner hooks are preferable, because the hook acts to attract the croaker to the bait. Since croaker are a bay fish, and their native water is likely to be cloudy, the spinner's relative ability to catch the fish's eye is useful. A small hook -- of about size No. 4 -- is preferable because it will be small enough to hold the croaker's thin bait.

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