"Flounder season is closed! What can I catch? What should I do?"

The time frame of the flounder this year of 2002 is July 25th through Aug
11th. Though not the best scenario if this is your week of vacation, it is
certainly not the end of the world. The good news is that the summer
flounder closer happens during the annual "croaker run." During this time
frame we usually have croaker up to 17 inches running almost all over the
bay. (If it makes you feel any better, this is the time of year when most
of the small throwback flounder are caught anyway.)

"I have a boat and want to catch some of these croaker. What bait should I
use and where should I fish?"

Croaker, which are related to the puppy drum, have a relatively small mouth
and like worms, squid, shiners, shrimp, and cut bait. We find that the very
best bait to use is a combination bait of worm and squid. Thread a quarter
of an inch piece of worm on a size #4 hook and then add a small strip of
squid to the hook. The squid needs to be only about an inch long and
quarter of an inch thick. If you are using the pre-cut strips of squid, you
will need to cut them in half lengthwise to get a thinner piece of squid.

Since croaker are bait stealers, it is a good idea to use a two-hook rig.
The best rig to use is a simple wire top and bottom rig and attach two size
#4 spinner hooks to the rig. I like spinner hooks because they attract the
fish to the baits. It is not necessary but it is helpful, especially if you
are fishing in the upper bay and the water is cloudy.

You will also find that the smaller croaker definitely prefer the worm and
squid combination, while the larger croaker go after just about any kind of
cut bait and shrimp. Croaker are easy to catch once you find a school of
them. If you have a depth finder, you can see the massive schools on your
screen. Keep drifting over that same area.

"I don't have a fish finder?"

When the croaker first start running, one can usually find them around the
pilings of the Route 90 Bridge. You can also catch Norfolk spot, blowfish,
stripers, and trout there using that same combination bait of bloodworm and
squid on small hooks. Drop down to a size #6 spinner hook if you are
interested in catching the big Norfolk spot. Cast or drift close to the
channel on either side of the Rt. 90 Bridge near the cluster of big wooden
pilings. Please don't fish right in the middle of the channel. Stay to the
side of the channel and cast. Slowly bring in your rig back towards the
boat. You will find that it is deeper close to the pilings, but shallow
directly beneath the bridge. You want to fish the deeper holes, (6 to 8
feet) close to the bridge, but not directly beneath the bridge. If you
start dragging up oyster toads, you are fishing beneath the bridge! Shorten
your cast!

Once the croaker run begins in earnest, the croaker will be all over the
bay. One of the best places to fish is just north of the Thorofare. That
whole channel from the grassy spots along the western shore to half way
across the channel is great for croaker. The 25 foot hole close to the Dog
and Bitch Island will still hold a few big flounder, so if you don't have
the heart to catch and release a big flounder, stay away from that hole and
stick to the shallower 6 to 12 foot of water where most of the croaker are.
(Working that deep hole with peeler crab or live eel may catch you trout or
stripers however.)

Croaker will bite in the main east channel as well, though maybe not as
consistently. Where the townhouses jut out near 33rd Street and slightly
inside that "Convention Hall" area is pretty consistent croaker territory.
The whole channel from 9th Street to the Route 50 Bridge can have some very
good runs of large croaker periodically. Drift near the big island close to
9th Street for consistent catches. (There's some nice blowfish here as
well.) There is rough bottom there and you can feel your sinker and hooks
bounce over mussel beds.

You can also catch croaker in the inlet, or in the bay behind Assateague.
The bay behind Assateague is usually pretty consistent in it's croaker
catches from buoys #8 through #13. Drift until you find the fish and then
you can anchor if you wish. You can also catch spot, trout, black drum and
blowfish in the rough bottomed areas near buoy #10.

If you like to go slightly offshore of the inlet, croaker should be readily
available. Fish just outside the inlet, Little Gull Shoal, and the
artificial reef just offshore of 22nd Street; these areas should hold plenty
croakers. This action will get even better as the season turns into late
summer and fall. Croaker will remain offshore, even after the croaker leave
the bays. Offshore, you need not bother with worms. Save your money.
Croaker are very happy with squid strips in the ocean.

"I don't have a boat but want to catch croaker!"

The very best places to catch croaker from the shore is 41st Street behind
Convention Center on the high tide, 9th Street Pier, the end of 6th Street,
and the bulkhead along 2nd through 4th Streets. The later two areas will
also see lots of catches of small sea bass as well. The Oceanic Pier, Route
50 Bridge, and Shantytown Pier see schools of croaker that come through
periodically. Usually the whole incoming tide is good for croaker (between
low and high tide.) The beginning of the outgoing will also see some
croaker catches. At night, the croaker can come through and bite anything,
even lures!

"How about 127th Street Pier behind the North Side Park?"

You will catch some croaker there and also Norfolk spot. The fish may not
be as large there, but it is a safe convenient place to take the little
ones. Use a size #6 hook there so the kids can also catch spot. Always try
to fish the high tide here. If you go all the way to the end of the pier
during a high tide, you may be surprised what you can catch.

"What kind of rod and reel do I need for croaker?"

Pound for pound, croaker are one of the hardest fighting fish there are. A
medium to medium-light weight outfit with a reel spooled with 8 to 12 pound
test will give you lots of action. Some anglers like to use ultra-light
outfits to catch croaker. These fish are easy to catch, and have hard
mouths, so you won't have to worry about losing the big ones. Just sling
them over the side! Find a rod and reel, just a tad lighter than your
typically flounder rod and reel, and you will be set to have a good time.

Croaker are more fun to catch then clean, so keep that in mind when keeping
a whole cooler full. Most people simply scale, and then "head and tail" the
croaker. They are delicious to eat fresh but do not freeze as well as
flounder. You can keep the croaker frozen for a couple months, but I wouldn'
t try to save them for an extended period of time. You can fillet them, but
since they are bony, it will take some time. They seem to have an extra row
of belly bones you need to cut out when filleting. The best rule of thumb
is to keep the larger ones, and release the smaller ones if you get into a
"mess" of croaker.

Croaker fishing. lots of fun. good fishing.