...went fishing out at our favorite wading spot on sunday morning. Wasnt catching much just a few 12-16 inch reds and undersize drum. Baited a new shrimp threw out and BAM! my reel was screaming and i was just about to crap my pants. Had a good fight for about 10 min didnt wanna lose it till i could finally see it on the top looked like a big red. I got it closer and in the net when i found out it was a 30 inch atlantic croaker! I showed my friends i was fishing with saying "This is a monster croaker i didnt know they got that big!" and of course the original "This might be a state record!" we were only joking though as i though the record would be a huge 50 inch plus croaker caught in the open water not a bay. So i released it and it came to mind as i was on the computer to look up the state record and from what i found the "World Record" was 28 inches and about 5.8 pounds....*sigh* :'(

Wow, I have never even heard of an atlantic croaker. We catch what we call golden croaker and they don't get that big. They look just like a little redfish but with a purple and gold color. I am going to have to look those up.

i catchem up to 25 or so inches in the st. johns when they run up river to spawn, they might be one of the only fish inch for inchwho can fight with a red, a big croker is a great fight.

"A big croaker is a great fight" Agreed! even small ones have me thinking that they are keeper drum or reds it was a good one =)

The added bonus is they're mighty tasty.

Seriously? I catch tons never thought of cooking them though! How do you like to cook it?

We catch Atlantic Croakers in the St. Johns all the time. But not 30 inches long.

well if i had to make a list of biggest croakers i have caught it would be like...

1. the 30 inch beast

2. 7 inches

3-5. 5 inches