Atlantic Croaker Family Sciaenidae; DRUMS
Micropogonias undulatus
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).
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.
Size: usually less than 2 pounds.
*Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: during spawning becomes bronze or yellow in color; spawning apparently occurs OFFSHORE in fall; longevity 2 to 4 years.
"Lefty's Deciever"
"Jiggy's"
"Clousers"
"1/2 & Half"