Spot and croaker are closely related fish. They look alike, with light vertical bands, but the spot is named for a dark spot just behind its gill cover. All members of this group of fish make noises by rapidly contracting muscles along their air bladders. The air bladder resonates like a drumhead. The croaker makes the loudest noise of all. Both spot and croaker are highly favored food fish. The spot is more common, and is the most abundant bottom-feeding fish in South Carolina. The croaker breeds in winter, the spot in summer.
