Fishing Corpus Christi Bay

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. Located along the Texas Gulf Coast, Corpus Christi Bay is near the town , 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. 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 . Let FishAnywhere help you find the perfect trip at the best price, and get your family’s adventure started today!