Atlantic croaker fishing in Georgia Coast
In Georgia Coast, Atlantic croaker peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Croaker in the creeks and sound channels.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Atlantic croaker in Georgia Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeak
- JunePeakCroaker in the creeks and sound channels.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Atlantic croaker near Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill
Endless spartina marsh and tidal creeks behind the barrier islands — Tybee, Wassaw, Ossabaw, St. Catherines, Sapelo, St. Simons, Jekyll and Cumberland — cut by big sounds (Wassaw, St. Catherines, Doboy, St. Simons, St. Andrew), with shell rakes everywhere, artificial reefs nearshore and Gray's Reef and the Gulf Stream offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 14 dock / pilings, 1 bridge spots in the The Golden Isles map area — the kinds Atlantic croaker hold on.
What to use for Atlantic croaker
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 58–86°F water, best at 66–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Atlantic croaker in Georgia Coast?
Peak season is May–September. Atlantic croaker are in Georgia Coast April–October. June: Croaker in the creeks and sound channels.
Where do Atlantic croaker hold in Georgia Coast?
Look on channel edge, bridge, dock / pilings, pass / inlet — around Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, Darien, Brunswick, St. Simons Island.
What is the best bait for Atlantic croaker in Georgia Coast?
Live bait: live shrimp, bloodworms. Live shrimp: Under a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for Atlantic croaker in Georgia Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Georgia DNR) and change — read the current rule at https://coastalgadnr.org/RecreationalFishing before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes.
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All about Atlantic croaker · The Golden Isles, the whole year