UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in South Padre & Corpus Christi
In South Padre & Corpus Christi, Spanish mackerel peak April–October and are around March–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Jetties and the surf; Gotcha plugs or spoons.
Feeding hard on the fall bait before they leave.
Spanish mackerel in South Padre & Corpus Christi, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingFirst Spanish at the jetties.
- AprilPeakReds tail on the clearing flats; Spanish and cobia show. Sight-cast reds on the grass; watch the buoys and surf rips for cobia; first tarpon roll off South Padre.
- MayPeak
- JunePeakJetties and the surf; Gotcha plugs or spoons.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeakBull reds spawn in the passes; tarpon head south. Cut mullet on the jetties for bull reds; snook on the Mansfield jetties.
- OctoberPeakFeeding hard on the fall bait before they leave.
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Spanish mackerel 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 Spanish mackerel hold on.
What to use for Spanish mackerel
- Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Spanish sardinesNose-hooked and free-lined in a chum slick, or slow-trolled on a stinger rig.
- Leader30–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 64–84°F water, best at 68–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Spanish mackerel in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Peak season is April–October. Spanish mackerel are in South Padre & Corpus Christi March–November. June: Jetties and the surf; Gotcha plugs or spoons.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Port O'Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Live bait: glass minnows (bay anchovies), pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), spanish sardines. Glass minnows (bay anchovies): Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook. Tackle: leader 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for Spanish mackerel 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.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores Spanish mackerel for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about Spanish mackerel · The Lower Texas Coast, the whole year