UTERGreat hammerhead fishing in South Padre & Corpus Christi
In South Padre & Corpus Christi, great hammerhead peak June–August and are around May–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Big hammerheads in the passes — release fast and keep it in the water.
Not in South Padre & Corpus Christi this month.
Great hammerhead in South Padre & Corpus Christi, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakBig hammerheads in the passes — release fast and keep it in the water.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberLeaving
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish great hammerhead 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 6 artificial reef spots in the The Lower Texas Coast map area — the kinds great hammerhead hold on.
What to use for great hammerhead
- 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.
- Cut ladyfishA whole ladyfish or a head on a 9/0 circle hook and wire for sharks; chunks on the bottom for redfish and drum. The best shark bait in Florida.
- Bonito (cut)Whole on cable for tiger and bull sharks; fillets and chunks on the bottom for grouper and snapper; strips trolled for wahoo.
- Leader80–150 lb mono
- Hook8/0–16/0
- Braid65–150 lb
Feeds in 68–88°F water, best at 72–84°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch great hammerhead in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Peak season is June–August. Great hammerhead are in South Padre & Corpus Christi May–September. June: Big hammerheads in the passes — release fast and keep it in the water.
Where do great hammerhead hold in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, grass flat, artificial reef — around Port O'Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield.
What is the best bait for great hammerhead in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), finger mullet, cut ladyfish, bonito (cut). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
What are the rules for great hammerhead 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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All about great hammerhead · The Lower Texas Coast, the whole year