Atlantic croaker fishing in Delaware Bay and Ocean City

In Delaware Bay and Ocean City, Atlantic croaker peak June–August and are around May–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Croakers in Delaware Bay and the inland bays on bloodworms.

1. JanuaryNot here
2. FebruaryNot here
3. MarchNot here
4. AprilNot here
5. MayArrivingThe Delaware Bay black drum run — and tiderunner weakfish. Fresh surf clams off Slaughter Beach and the Broadkill Slough at dusk for drum; squid-and-Gulp at night for weakfish; post-spawn stripers and big blues in the surf; bull reds on Virginia's barrier islands.
6. JunePeakFluke in the back bays; school tuna and makos offshore. Drift the Ocean City and Indian River channels for fluke; troll bars on the Jackspot and Hambone for school bluefin; chum the 20-fathom line for makos (release them).
7. JulyPeakCroakers in Delaware Bay and the inland bays on bloodworms.
8. AugustPeak
9. SeptemberLeaving
10. OctoberNot here
11. NovemberNot here
12. DecemberNot here

Delaware Bay's big, shoaly estuary with the lumps and sloughs off Slaughter Beach and the Coral Beds; the Delaware, Maryland and Assateague surf; the inland bays and back bays behind them (Rehoboth, Indian River, Assawoman, Sinepuxent, Chincoteague); Virginia's wild seaside barrier islands; and the offshore lumps (Jackspot, Hambone) out to Baltimore, Poor Man's and Washington canyons.

• 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.

All about Atlantic croaker · Delmarva & Delaware Bay, the whole year