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Caught a Southern Kingcroaker Offshore in Riviera Beach
Southern Kingcroaker in Riviera Beach, FL
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The Southern Kingcroaker (Menticirrhus americanus) is a member of the drum family, known for its distinctive barbel on the chin and beautiful silver coloration with dark stripes. This fish inhabits sandy bottom areas along the Atlantic coast, where it uses its sensitive barbel to detect prey. - Typically measures 12-20 inches in length and weighs 1-3 pounds. - Popular catch for both food and sport in the Riviera Beach area. - Often caught using bottom fishing techniques with fresh bait.
Fishing Charter by Captain Rich Adler in December
Meet your Captain Rich Adler
- Palm Beach Sportfishing - Tuna, Wahoo and more!
Summary
Hot bite and happy crew on this Thursday November offshore fishing charter in Riviera Beach! Jeff joined Captain Rich Adler for an early morning fall trip aboard Tuna Wahoo Charters, heading out with partly cloudy skies and storms brewing on the horizon. Working a mix of drift fishing, kite fishing, and bottom fishing techniques, we targeted different species in the productive Palm Beach waters. Jeff picked up a nice Southern Kingcroaker along with some solid American Eel and White Grunt action during our 4-Hour Fishing Adventures trip. The offshore bite was steady all morning, with switching between techniques keeping the lines tight throughout. Looking for serious offshore action? Come fish with us at Tuna Wahoo Charters for your next Family-Friendly Palm Beach Fishing Charter experience!
Fishing Charter with Rich Adler – Rates & Booking
Captain Rich Adler of Tuna Wahoo Charters on Thursday November offers a 4-Hour Fishing Adventures trip designed for families and anglers of all experience levels. This offshore fishing charter accommodates up to 5 guests, making it perfect for small groups looking to enjoy Riviera Beach's productive waters. You'll get to try various fishing techniques like drift fishing, kite fishing, and bottom fishing for species like Southern Kingcroaker, American Eel, and White Grunt. Captain Rich's local knowledge and professional approach ensure you'll have the best possible chance at a memorable day on the water. Remember to bring cash to cover live bait costs and mate tip, though your fishing license is included in the price. Food and beverages are welcome aboard for your comfort throughout the trip.
Highlights of Family-Friendly Palm Beach Fishing Charters
Our 4-hour offshore fishing trips give you plenty of time to work the productive waters around Riviera Beach using proven techniques. The fall bite has been consistent, with great mixed bag action featuring Southern Kingcroaker, American Eel, and White Grunt showing up regularly. Whether you're new to fishing or just looking for a good time on the water, Captain Rich adapts the experience to match your skill level.
Starting early means more chances at that trophy fish, and with our local knowledge of the best spots, we'll put you on the bite quickly. The waters off Palm Beach offer year-round fishing opportunities, with different species available based on seasonality and fish migrations. From Sailfish and Mahi Mahi to Wahoo, Tuna, Snapper, and Grouper – our versatile approach to fishing techniques gives you the best chance at finding active fish.
Local Species Insights: Southern Kingcroaker
The Southern Kingcroaker (Menticirrhus americanus) is a prized catch in Riviera Beach waters. These fish typically run 12-20 inches in length and 1-3 pounds in weight. They prefer onshore areas and river mouths where they can feed along sandy bottoms. When targeting these fish, bottom fishing techniques work best with fresh shrimp, cut bait, or small jigs. Fall is actually a great time to target them as they tend to school up in deeper nearshore waters. The fight is surprisingly strong for their size, making them a fun catch on light tackle. Their distinctive barbel under the chin and beautiful silver coloration with dark stripes make them easy to identify once you've landed one.
Plan Your Fishing Charter Day
Our fishing charters depart early morning from Riviera Beach, giving you the best shot at active fish. The boat is equipped with quality fishing gear, including rods, reels, and tackle appropriate for the target species. For your comfort, there's shade available and storage for any personal items you bring along. We recommend wearing weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen, and bringing a hat and polarized sunglasses. Motion sickness medication is advisable if you're prone to seasickness. Our 4-hour trips provide the perfect balance of fishing time without being too long for beginners or families with children. Captain Rich prioritizes both fishing success and safety on every trip, ensuring an enjoyable experience regardless of your fishing background.
Fishing in West Palm Beach: Southern Kingcroaker
The Southern Kingcroaker (Menticirrhus americanus) belongs to the Sciaenidae family in the order Perciformes. This distinctive fish features a slender body with two dorsal fins, a small anal fin, and a characteristic barbel under its chin. In Riviera Beach waters this November, these fish are particularly active near sandy bottoms and river mouths.
Southern Kingcroaker Overview
Southern Kingcroaker is a member of the drum family, also known as Southern Kingfish or whiting in some regions. They're highly regarded by anglers for their delicious white meat and the sporting fight they provide on light tackle. Unlike their larger drum relatives, they don't make the characteristic croaking sound but instead produce a subtle drumming noise when caught.
Southern Kingcroaker Habitat and Distribution
These fish prefer sandy or muddy bottoms in coastal waters, often found near beaches, piers, jetties, and river mouths. They range from the Chesapeake Bay down through the Gulf of Mexico, with Riviera Beach offering excellent habitat along its sandy shorelines and near inlet structures. They typically stay in relatively shallow waters under 30 feet deep.
Southern Kingcroaker Size and Weight
Southern Kingcroaker typically measure between 12 and 20 inches in length, with weights ranging from 1 to 3 pounds. Trophy specimens occasionally reach the 4-pound mark, though these are increasingly rare. The average catch in Riviera Beach waters tends toward the middle of this range.
Southern Kingcroaker Diet and Behavior
These bottom-feeders use their sensitive chin barbel to detect prey items in the sand and mud. Their diet consists primarily of small crustaceans, marine worms, small mollusks, and tiny fish. They feed most actively during moving tides, especially early morning and evening hours when light conditions are low.
Southern Kingcroaker Spawning Season
In Florida waters, Southern Kingcroaker typically spawn from spring through early fall, with peak activity during summer months. They move to nearshore waters during this period, making them more accessible to anglers fishing from piers, jetties, and beaches. Water temperatures between 68-80°F seem to trigger peak spawning activity.
Southern Kingcroaker Fishing Techniques
The most effective approach is bottom fishing with light to medium tackle. Fresh shrimp, sand fleas, cut clam, or small pieces of squid work excellently as bait. A simple fish-finder rig with a 1-2 oz weight and a #2 or #1/0 circle hook is ideal. In November, anglers around Riviera Beach find them near deeper cuts along beaches and around inlet structures where they seek slightly warmer water temperatures as cooler weather approaches.
Southern Kingcroaker Is It Good to Eat?
Southern Kingcroaker is prized for its excellent table qualities. The meat is white, flaky, mild, and sweet with no fishy taste. It's perfect for pan-frying, broiling, or baking. The fish offers good nutritional value with lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids while being low in mercury. Many coastal restaurants feature this fish as 'whiting' on their menus.
Southern Kingcroaker Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best bait for Southern Kingcroaker?
A: Fresh shrimp is the top bait choice, followed by sand fleas, small pieces of clam, or cut squid. They respond best to fresh, not frozen, bait that's cut into appropriately sized pieces.
Q: Where can I find Southern Kingcroaker near Riviera Beach?
A: Look for them along sandy beaches, near piers, around inlet structures, and in deeper cuts along the shoreline. They prefer depths between 5-30 feet with sandy or muddy bottom composition.
Q: Is Southern Kingcroaker good to eat?
A: Absolutely! They're considered one of the best-tasting fish in the drum family, with sweet, white, flaky meat that's excellent for a variety of cooking methods.
Q: When is the best time to catch Southern Kingcroaker?
A: Early morning and evening hours typically produce the best results. In Riviera Beach, fall through spring offers consistent action, with November being an excellent month as they school up in slightly deeper water.
Q: What size hook should I use for Southern Kingcroaker?
A: A #2 or #1/0 circle hook works best. Circle hooks help prevent gut-hooking these fish and improve hook-up rates when they take the bait.
Q: Do I need heavy tackle to catch Southern Kingcroaker?
A: No, light to medium tackle is perfect. A 7-foot medium action rod paired with a 3000-4000 size reel spooled with 10-15 lb test line is ideal for these sporty but manageable fish.
