UTERCobia fishing in South Padre & Corpus Christi
In South Padre & Corpus Christi, cobia peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Nearshore rigs and the weed lines; a live eel or a big jig.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cobia in South Padre & Corpus Christi, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingCobia follow the warming surf up from Mexico; watch the buoys and the surf rips off South Padre.
- MayPeakSpawning trout, tarpon at the jetties, kings move in. Topwater trout at first light on the spoil banks; tarpon and snook at the Brazos Santiago jetties.
- JunePeakNearshore rigs and the weed lines; a live eel or a big jig.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeakLast fish around the platforms.
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish cobia near Port O'Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas
The Laguna Madre — the hypersaline, gin-clear lagoon behind Padre Island — plus Baffin Bay's rock reefs, the Aransas and Corpus Christi bays, the Land Cut, and passes at Port Aransas, Packery, Port Mansfield and Brazos Santiago. Wade-fishing country; the Gulf beaches of Padre run 100 miles.
Fish Scouter charts 191 wreck, 6 artificial reef spots in the The Lower Texas Coast map area — the kinds cobia hold on.
What to use for cobia
- Live eelsHooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–7/0
- Jig head1–1 1/4 oz
- Braid30–50 lb
Feeds in 66–84°F water, best at 68–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch cobia in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Peak season is May–September. Cobia are in South Padre & Corpus Christi April–October. June: Nearshore rigs and the weed lines; a live eel or a big jig.
Where do cobia hold in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, beach / surf — around Port O'Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield.
What is the best bait for cobia in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Live bait: live eels, pinfish, blue crabs, blue runners (hardtails). Live eels: Hooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–7/0, jig head 1–1 1/4 oz, braid 30–50 lb.
What are the rules for cobia in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and change — read the current rule at https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses.
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