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Corpus Christi Bay is one of Texas’ best fishing grounds in the state. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at how often you see people out on the water or wading the shallows. The fishing here can happen 365 days (usually only delayed for thunderstorms or hurricanes) with some of the largest catches in the state.
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Located along the Texas Gulf Coast, Corpus Christi Bay is near the town that shares its name, as well as Mustang Island and Ingleside on the Bay. The bay is an estuary, a mixture of freshwater from the Nueces River and Oso Creek and saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico. It’s one of seven major estuaries in Texas, all found along the Gulf Coast. Other notable Texas bays include Matagorda Bay and Laguna Madre.
The current size slot limit of 15 to 23 inches for red drum would remain unchanged. There were two versions of the bill under consideration, one in the House, which also had designs on a ban on. A slot-type limit is enforced by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on black drum. The minimum length is 14 inches and the maximum length is 30 inches, with a daily bag of five. Slot Limit: 14-24' with one fish over 24' Daily Bag Limit: 5 per harvester per day (can include one over 24') Season: Open year-round. Gear Requirements: Legal Gear: hook and line, cast net, seine, spear or gig; Illegal Gear: Cannot harvest using any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; Snatching prohibited. Anglers can catch a black drum upto 50 pounds with the right kind of bait (usually shrimp or oysters). Once again, check the regulations for bag and slot limits, which are currently five per angler per day between 14 and 30 inches long.
Anglers enjoy fishing this large bay that has almost 107,000-acres of surface area. It averages almost 10 feet deep and is home to several species of fish. Among the species found in Corpus Christi Bay are black drum, red drum (or redfish), speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead, tripletail, ladyfish, jack crevalle, and catfish just to name a few. The area is also home to hundreds of species of birds and waterfowl.
Fishing Corpus Christi Bay
When it comes to fishing the bay, anglers have plenty of options in techniques to use and species to target. If you’re unfamiliar with any of these techniques or species, we recommend hiring a local Corpus Christi fishing guide. They know the area, the fish, and the techniques with the highest success rate.
Many anglers will fish Corpus Christi from a bay boat, a shallow-hull vessel that allows anglers to access shallow waters. If you’re fishing the north side of the bay (near Ingleside) these vessels are a great option. Or you can consider kayak fishing the bay. The waters are much calmer than the gulf, and anglers carry all their fishing gear on the kayak. This is a physically demanding way of getting to the fish, but a fun and different way to experience fishing the bay.
A third option for fishing Corpus Christi Bay is wade fishing. Whether you first use a boat before wading, or just enter from the shore, you must be certain about the area and your footing. There are holes and drop-offs in the bay that can prove disastrous if you’re unprepared. However, wade fishing gives anglers an advantage when fishing the Texas Gulf Coast bays. You can sneak-up on the schools of fish with ninja-like silence and harvest quite a few before they even know you’re there.
Corpus Christi Bay Fish
No matter what technique you employ, your Corpus Christi Bay fishing trip will probably be all about the top three fish of the area: redfish, speckled trout, and flounder.
Redfish (also known as red drum) are a bronze or tan color with distinct black dot(s) near the tail. They are in the drum family, known for the grunting noises when pulled from the water. In the fall months they begin their migration to the gulf, and in the cuts near Mustang Island is where you want to be. Just look for their tails and fins breaching the top water and cast your shrimp or crab among the school. Each angler is allowed to harvest five redfish per day within the 14-30” slot limit.
Speckled trout are found in the same areas as redfish and can often be caught with the same tackle and bait. Speckled trout are also known as spotted seatrout; the multiple black dots along their back explains the name. Winter months are a great time to fish for this inshore species, and anglers can keep any trout within the 15-25” slot limit. If you’re looking for larger trout, consider trying larger bait in deeper waters.
The third favorite inshore species in Corpus Christi Bay is flounder, a flat fish that lives along the bottom of the bay. The flounder is brown on the top and white on the bottom, blending in with its surroundings in order to ambush their prey. Anglers will drift live or cut bait along ledges or drop-offs to entice flounder to the line. Get ready to set the hook as flounder are known to strike quickly. There is a state-wide limit of five per day for flounders over 14”; except for November 1-30 when there is a two fish limit.
Hiring a Local Corpus Christi Bay Guide
Corpus Christi Bay is one of our favorite places to fish. We love the beauty of the area, the healthy fishery, and the people who call this place home. If you’re looking for a great family vacation destination, consider Corpus Christi. It’s the perfect blend of city-living with access to outdoor adventure. For the successful day of fishing, hire a local Corpus Christi fishing guide. Let FishAnywhere help you find the perfect trip at the best price, and get your family’s adventure started today!
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Search Trips“Laguna Madre” translates to Mother Lagoon. Early 16th century Spanish explorers named it after encountering the beautiful and bountiful waters. The lagoon is located at the southern tip of the Lone Star State and is protected from the Gulf of Mexico by Padre Island (“Father Island’). We can appreciate the sentiment: Mother and Father taking care of the needs of several fish species, birds, and wildlife throughout this marvelous place.
Nowhere else in the United States will you find an estuary as complex and unique as Laguna Madre. The salinity of the lagoon is similar to only a handful of other estuaries in the world and is considered “hypersaline.” In fact, it has more saltwater than the oceans (basically, it’s “saltier”). For this reason, most of the water and shoreline are protected by the Padre Island National Seashore and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.
Laguna Madre is typically referred to in two sections: Upper Laguna Madre and Lower Laguna Madre. In total the lagoon is about 130 miles long and between 4 to 6 miles wide in certain areas. Upper Laguna Madre includes Baffin Bay and Bird Island, both excellent fishing grounds. Then pass through the Saltillo Flats, the general dividing point between the two sections, and you enter Lower Laguna Madre. Here you’ll find the King Ranch shoreline, a private ranch that is a popular place to find year round redfish and trout.
Many anglers visit the lagoon throughout the year; it is by far one of the most productive fisheries in the state and offers some of the best fishing grounds in the country. Fishermen and women from far and wide come to enjoy the opportunities found in Laguna Madre.
Fishing Laguna Madre
The various seagrass found in Laguna Madre not only helps to keep the predatory fish camouflaged to unsuspecting prey, it also leads anglers right to some of the best fishing of their lives. Schools of redfish are found among the grassbeds feeding on shrimp and crab. All you have to do is get the bait close enough without tangling up your line.
The TPWC (Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission) has done a fantastic job of managing the spotted seatrout population. Slot and bag limits are now in effect throughout the lagoon with different requirements for Upper Laguna Madre and Lower Laguna Madre; make sure to check what you’re allowed to harvest before setting out. Many anglers will visit Laguna Madre with eyes only for trout. And we don’t blame them, especially during spawning seasons in the spring (April and May) and early fall (August and September). Again, they’ll be found in the structures of the grassbeds looking for food such as crab and shrimp.
Flying under the radar in Laguna Madre is the black drum. At one time, the population of black drum was about four times the amount of spotted seatrout (according to this TWPD monitoring program). The fishing grounds of Upper Laguna Madre from Corpus Christi to Port Isabel has some of the best fishing around several access points to get you in on the action. Anglers can catch a black drum upto 50 pounds with the right kind of bait (usually shrimp or oysters). Once again, check the regulations for bag and slot limits, which are currently five per angler per day between 14 and 30 inches long.
Visiting Laguna Madre
The 130 mile long lagoon has several access points for anglers, whether you are wade fishing, shore fishing, or actually on the water in a bay boat or kayak.
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Wade fishing in Laguna Madre is possibly the most popular technique among anglers. The water is shallow enough throughout the lagoon and you can get to remote grassbeds easier. Oftentimes anglers will boat out into the lagoon, then climb out of the boat and wade fish the ledges. This allows for ninja-like angling, sneaking up on the schools of fish and getting your line closer than ever.
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Kayak fishing is similar to wade fishing in its quiet approach. Kayaks typically fit one angler per vessel, and you’re paddling your way to the fishing grounds. All your tackle and gear fits on the kayak and is easily within reach. Anglers who opt for kayak fishing will either harvest just a few of their catch, or practice catch-and-release. It’s an athletic adventure for sure, but the rewards make the work worthwhile.
Laguna Madre Charters
Get your crew to Laguna Madre to truly experience this unique and wonderful fishing opportunity. If you are unfamiliar with the area, we recommend hiring a local professional charter captain or guide. They will know the area, the fish, and how to get you in on the action. With FishAnywhere you can reserve your trip with a deposit or the full amount. You’re just a few clicks away from the adventure of a lifetime, book your Laguna Madre fishing charter today!
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