Meagre / Croaker on a lure boat

The Meagre / Croaker is a predator that can reach 2 meters in length and weigh around 100 kg. The average size is around 50 cm. It lives in abundance on the coasts of North Africa and migrates in part up the Spanish and Portuguese coasts to come and breed in the Gironde estuary. The breeding season runs from mid-May to the end of July. Once reproduction is complete, the fish disperse, and it is at this time that large Meagre / Croaker are caught in Brittany. It is fished inshore, but can live at depths of up to 200 meters. It prefers sandy/rocky areas, wrecks and drop-offs. Most of the time, it sticks to the bottom, sheltered from the current. Its diet is almost identical to that of Sea bass (sardines, shrimp, crab, squid). In some regions, it is common to catch Meagre / Croaker while fishing for Sea bass, as they share the same spots. Meagre / Croaker respond very well to shad-type soft lures, and more specifically with flashy colors in areas where the water is murky, as can be the case in Gironde. We generally use lures between 14 and 20 cm with lead heads heavy enough to stick to the bottom and get the lure through the smallest step. The lure is most often hit on the way down, so line control is very important. You can recognize it by its large scales, pinkish highlights, yellow mouth and the growling sound it makes when you catch it (it also does this when spawning). It really looks like a prehistoric fish!