Croaker
Published on
January 23, 2014
The Atlantic croaker is the smallest member of the Sciaenidae family of drums. The species gets its name from the croaking sound it makes from the voluntary contraction of muscles attached to the air bladder, which acts like a resonance chamber. It’s unclear whether the croaking is a form of communication within a school of fish, a means of depth sounding or a mating expression, but croakers tend to make the sound most often during breeding season. Though some 3- to 5-pound croakers are available, market size is 3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds. Atlantic croaker is found in the Atlantic and Gulf, from Cape Cod to Texas. The Chesapeake Bay region and Mississippi Delta are particularly productive areas. Croakers are caught with gillnets, pound nets and fish traps. In parts of the Gulf, Atlantic croaker is a bycatch of shrimp trawlers.
Micropogonius undulatus
Croaker
Croaker, Atlantic croaker, hardhead
Tambour
Atlantischer Adlerfisch
Nibe
Corbina
The Atlantic croaker is the smallest member of the Sciaenidae family of drums. The species gets its name from the croaking sound it makes from the voluntary contraction of muscles attached to the air bladder, which acts like a resonance chamber. It’s unclear whether the croaking is a form of communication within a school of fish, a means of depth sounding or a mating expression, but croakers tend to make the sound most often during breeding season. Though some 3- to 5-pound croakers are available, market size is 3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds. Atlantic croaker is found in the Atlantic and Gulf, from Cape Cod to Texas. The Chesapeake Bay region and Mississippi Delta are particularly productive areas. Croakers are caught with gillnets, pound nets and fish traps. In parts of the Gulf, Atlantic croaker is a bycatch of shrimp trawlers.
Raw croaker meat is usually snow white but may have a reddish tint. The cooked meat is white.Croaker is lean and full flavored, with an almost sweet taste. The flesh is firm, similar to that of black drum. The skin is edible.
| Calories: | 104 |
| Fat Calories: | 29 |
| Total Fat: | 3.2 g |
| Saturated Fat: | 1.1 g |
| Cholesterol: | 61 mg |
| Sodium: | 56 mg |
| Protein: | 17.8 g |
| Omega 3: | 0.3 g |
A popular pan fish, croaker is often breaded or dusted with cornmeal or flour and pan-fried. It can also be marinated and grilled or sautéed, roasted and broiled. For a Southern favorite, dip a dressed, scaled croaker in water, milk, egg or a combination of the three, then roll in corn flour and cook in hot grease. The meaty fish also can be steamed whole.
Porgy, Mullet, Whiting
- Bake
- Boil
- Broil
- Fry
- Grill
- Pate
- Poach
- Saute
- Smoke
- Steam
Fresh (most common): Whole, head off, Steaks, Fillets
Value-added: Breaded portions
United States
