<figure id="attachment_4855" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4855" style="width: 482px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Senator-Catfish-Larry-Jarboe-photo-for-The-Chesapeake-Today-by-Bill-Davis.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-4855" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Senator-Catfish-Larry-Jarboe-photo-for-The-Chesapeake-Today-by-Bill-Davis-1024x515.jpg" alt="Catfish Larry Jarboe photo for The Chesapeake Today by Bill Davis" width="482" height="242" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4855" class="wp-caption-text">Catfish Larry Jarboe photo for The Chesapeake Today by Bill Davis</figcaption></figure>
<p dir="LTR" style="text-align: left;" align="CENTER">The Atlantic Croaker that is also locally known as a Hardhead is one of the most fun to catch and good to eat migratory fishes that move up the Chesapeake Bay and into rivers in Maryland each spring.</p>
<p dir="LTR" align="JUSTIFY">Right now, on our Potomac border, you can expect to catch the larger two or three pound croakers in the Wicomico River from one of three public landings in St. Mary’s County. A phone call to Quade’s Store confirmed that the croakers have indeed arrived at Bushwood Wharf as well as good numbers of Blue and Channel Catfish. Further up the river, croakers can also be caught at Chaptico Wharf and the Wicomico Shores Public Landing. These are three of the finest fishing piers that you will find in May and early June. The price cannot be beat. Free to the public is a very good deal.</p>
<p dir="LTR" align="JUSTIFY"><a href="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Fishtackular-column-header.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-204" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Fishtackular-column-header.jpg" alt="Fishtackular Fishing Advise by Cap'n Larry Jarboe THE CHESAPEAKE " width="448" height="292" /></a>On the Patuxent side, there is a shore fishing croaker hot spot off the beach at <strong>Myrtle Point Park.</strong> You can surf cast into water that is over a hundred feet deep right from the point of the beach. However, the best fishing is usually found along the upper slope of the drop-off where fish position for food during a moving tide. During the week, there is no charge to enter the park. Remember, to release Striped Bass until the river season opens on June 1.</p>
<p dir="LTR" align="JUSTIFY">Though most people use cut squid for bait, fresh shrimp or steamed cocktail shrimp is killer bait for croakers. The<strong> steamed cocktail shrimp</strong> stay on the hook well and seem to attract more croaker bites than any bait I have thus far tried. I have to thank Paulie Thompson at Thompson’s Seafood in Mechanicsville for this tip. I can’t think of a better place to pick up both bait and dinner.</p>
<p dir="LTR" align="JUSTIFY">The trusty old double hook bottom rig with 1/0 hooks and an ounce of lead is the standard rig for hooking croakers. In the Wicomico, I’d probably put a bigger hook on the top wire hanger baited with cut fresh alewife. That combo of shrimp and alewife will tempt bites from either croaker, perch, or catfish.</p>
<p dir="LTR" align="JUSTIFY">Croaker fishing from a pier is quite productive. But, you can increase your odds by taking a boat to the edge of a channel and fishing along that edge. Also, oyster beds are particularly good feeding grounds for <strong>croakers</strong> to dine upon. Drift fishing will help you cover a lot of bottom till you find a good area to anchor.</p>
<p dir="LTR" align="JUSTIFY">The croaker limit of 25 per angler is quite generous. Make sure you keep those noisy fish chilled or iced down well. No sense spoiling that delectable salt water taste that croakers are known for. <strong>Fresh fried croaker</strong> is fine eating. Freezing the fillets diminishes the flavor greatly.</p>
<p dir="LTR" align="JUSTIFY">Also, make sure you learn the difference between an <strong>Atlantic Croaker</strong> and a <strong>Red Drum</strong>. A croaker 9 inches long is legal to keep but a Red Drum under 18 inches long or over 27 inches will earn you a costly citation from the DNR officer tasked with checking out your catch.</p>
<p dir="LTR" align="JUSTIFY">However, should you catch a <strong>jumbo croaker</strong> 18 inches or over, you can check it in at the Tackle Box in Lexington Park for a better kind of citation that you can frame and put on your wall. The Fishing in Maryland Citation is issued at no cost to you and proclaims to all that you caught a big fish.</p>
<p dir="LTR" align="JUSTIFY">And, you can still eat the one that did not get away. Catch ‘em up!</p>
<p>Larry Jarboe &#8211; bass21292@yahoo.com</p>
<div id="metaslider-id-3609" style="max-width: 750px;" class="ml-slider-3-100-1 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-3609 ml-slider ms-theme-default" role="region" aria-label="Advertisers" data-height="500" data-width="750">
 <div id="metaslider_container_3609">
 <div id="metaslider_3609" class="flexslider">
 <ul class='slides'>
 <li style="display: block; width: 100%;" class="slide-11695 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2016-08-03 00:11:16"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lindascafelpcity/" target="_blank" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Lindas-On-The-Go-side-604x403.jpg" height="500" width="750" alt="" class="slider-3609 slide-11695 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">Croaker fishing from a pier is quite productive. But, you can increase your odds by taking a boat to the edge of a channel and fishing along that edge. Also, oyster beds are particularly good feeding grounds for croakers to dine upon. Drift fishing will help you cover a lot of bottom till you find a good area to anchor.

The croaker limit of 25 per angler is quite generous. Make sure you keep those noisy fish chilled or iced down well. No sense spoiling that delectable salt water taste that croakers are known for. Fresh fried croaker is fine eating. Freezing the fillets diminishes the flavor greatly.
</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-1464 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2011-04-03 01:26:27"><a href="http://allpawnandguns.com/" target="_blank" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/All-Pawn-March-2011-Ches-750x500.jpg" height="500" width="750" alt="" class="slider-3609 slide-1464 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">Croaker fishing from a pier is quite productive. But, you can increase your odds by taking a boat to the edge of a channel and fishing along that edge. Also, oyster beds are particularly good feeding grounds for croakers to dine upon. Drift fishing will help you cover a lot of bottom till you find a good area to anchor.

The croaker limit of 25 per angler is quite generous. Make sure you keep those noisy fish chilled or iced down well. No sense spoiling that delectable salt water taste that croakers are known for. Fresh fried croaker is fine eating. Freezing the fillets diminishes the flavor greatly.
</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-15651 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2019-05-28 19:45:10"><a href="https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07S8F7WF6&;preview=newtab&;linkCode=kpe&;ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_NqC7CbPH5FBPA&;tag=stmarystodaonlin" target="_blank" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/MurderUSA_AUDIO-750x500.jpg" height="500" width="750" alt="" class="slider-3609 slide-15651 msDefaultImage" title="boy screams opening the mouth" /></a></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-16578 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2021-05-07 14:29:41"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Buzzs-Marina-2019-750x500.jpg" height="500" width="750" alt="" class="slider-3609 slide-16578 msDefaultImage" title="Buzzs Marina 2019" /></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-16742 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2021-10-24 22:51:01"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lindascafelpcity" target="_blank" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lindas-Cafe-Now-Open-at-new-location-750x500.jpg" height="500" width="750" alt="" class="slider-3609 slide-16742 msDefaultImage" title="Lindas Cafe Now Open at new location" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption"><div>Linda's Cafe new location now open</div></div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-16901 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2022-01-15 22:19:57"><a href="http://floridafishingkayaks.com/" target="_blank" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Wavewalk-Kayaks-1-750x500.jpg" height="500" width="750" alt="" class="slider-3609 slide-16901 msDefaultImage" title="Wavewalk Kayaks" /></a></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-17596 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2023-08-11 22:30:44"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Press-pass-OConnor-email-750x500.jpg" height="500" width="750" alt="" class="slider-3609 slide-17596 msDefaultImage" title="Press pass O&#039;Connor email" /><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption"><div>WHISTLE BLOWERS WANTED</div></div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-17916 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2024-08-03 21:43:22"><a href="https://www.huntplumbingheatingandairconditioning.com/" target="_blank" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HUNT-Plumbing-Heating-and-Air-Conditioning-750x500.jpg" height="500" width="750" alt="" class="slider-3609 slide-17916 msDefaultImage" title="HUNT Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption"><div>Click to website for Special Offers</div></div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-28836 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2024-11-06 20:52:51"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D17J3VS7?binding=kindle_edition&;ref_=dbs_s_ks_series_rwt_tkin&;qid=1730944414&;sr=1-2" target="_blank" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/32-Book-Series-THE-CHESAPEAKE-TODAY--381x254.png" height="500" width="750" alt="" class="slider-3609 slide-28836 msDefaultImage" title="32 Book Series THE CHESAPEAKE TODAY" /></a></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-28898 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2025-05-12 08:27:53"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FITZIES-IS-BACK-FOR-2025-556x370.jpg" height="500" width="750" alt="" class="slider-3609 slide-28898 msDefaultImage" title="FITZIES IS BACK FOR 2025" /></li>
 </ul>
 </div>
 
 </div>
</div>
<p> ;</p>
<figure id="attachment_4852" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4852" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://smile.amazon.com/The-Chesapeake-Legends-Yarns-Barnacles/dp/B00LMLVU28/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_dnr_2"><img class="wp-image-4852 size-full" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-Chesapeake-Legends-Yarns-and-Barnacles.jpg" alt="The Chesapeake Legends Yarns and Barnacles" width="300" height="300" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4852" class="wp-caption-text">The Chesapeake Legends Yarns and Barnacles</figcaption></figure>
<p> ;</p>