The first croaker of the year was checked in by Tracy Brooks of Avenue, on the morning of April 14 . Brooks and a party of four fished early Tuesday morning before sun up and found croaker in abundance in eight feet of water in the Wicomico River near Bushwood.
The total catch was well over 50 fish, all of good size, with the largest measuring 21 inches with a 14 inch girth. The croaker (locals in St. Mary’s call them Hardhead) bit eagerly on shrimp and bloodworms. The croaker will now be here until September in good numbers for shore fishermen and boaters who venture out in the evenings and early mornings.
Good crappie fishing is available at St. Mary’s Lake and in local ponds. Live minnows and small jigs and Beetle spins will make a fine fish dinner. The spring rockfish season opens Saturday, April 18. The rockfish are here in great numbers and many are between 36 and 50 inches long and weighing up 50 pounds. Maybe a Chesapeake Bay record or world record is lurking in the depths waiting to take your lure!