IMHO - late evening to about midnight is best for larger Croakers.
They feed on lots of little shrimp / crabs that go into hiding during daylight but come out at night. The Croaker come up into shallow water to feed.
Shell bottom is best but some of the new reefs offer a decent chance.
Just before daybreak can also be good - kind of a last minute hurray.
One very good area is a touch south of South River - the Stone piles off Sharps Island light house- mouth of Choptank.
The area off #1 green can at West River is also good.
The bigger Croaker don't seem to come much farther north in numbers - one or two now / then but not enough to target. I've lucked into a few 18 inchers off Podickery - accidently - as we were chumming with cut bait on bottom.
Eastern Bay has some decent Croaker fishing - look for oyster bars in 12 to 25 feet.
The really best chance is off Solomons or PLO at night. Not uncommon to get a limit of 15 inchers and bigger.
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