Marley Creek Crabbing

Type:
Region: Southern
Location: Marley Creek

I took the kids and a friend from work crabbing down Marley Creek, where the big fish kill was in May. I figured I would give it a go and see what is biting at my favorite spot. I put out a few traps and we hand lined in the water adjacent to the dock. As soon as the tide changed the crabs started biting everywhere. We had a dozen and a half in about hour and forty-five min. Big nice crabs too, only 3 throw backs and they where only quarter inch small.

Also I caught what I think is a spot, someone said no it's a croaker. Can you tell me which one I caught in one of our traps?? Also how to tell the difference between them, i'd like to catch some spot for live-lining and I don't want to make the mistake of keeping small croakers.

DNR Response: You caught a spot. MD DNR has been notified that some anglers may be confusing the two species and mistakenly using undersize croaker as bait while live lining. The minimum size limit for Atlantic croaker in Maryland is 9 inches, with a 25 fish/person/day creel limit. There is no size or creel limit for spot. The quickest way to distinguish the two species is the tail. Spot have a traditional forked tail while Atlantic croaker does not. In addition, spot have a dark circle just behind the gill while croakers do not.