Dispatch Method:

To maximise their eating qualities these fish should be killed humanely by iki jime, or a firm knock to the head, before being placed in an ice slurry after bleeding.

Fish Description:

• Atlantic croaker are silvery /gray with black spots forming irregular discontinuous wavy lines dorsally along each side, mostly above the lateral line and on the first and second dorsal fins. Other fins are pale to yellowish. As their name suggests, this species makes prominent croaking noises by vibrating its swim bladder when captured.
  
• A bottom dwelling species, adult fish forage over mud and sandy mud bottoms in coastal waters and in estuaries, feeding mainly on worms, crustaceans and smaller fishes.
  
• Juveniles frequent shallower brackish waters in estuaries, rivers and bays, maturing at 2 to 3 years old. Adult Atlantic croakers frequent deeper bays and spawn in late summer and autumn. Maximum age is around 7 to 8 years old.

Fish Distribution:

• Atlantic croaker occur along the eastern seaboard of North America south from Massachusetts, USA to northern Mexico. They may also occur along the east coast of South America from southern Brazil to Argentina.

Fish Size Common Length:

12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm) and 1-2 pounds (0.5-1 kg), maximum size around 24 inches (60 cm) and 8 pounds (3.5 kg).