UTERBlacktip shark fishing in South Padre & Corpus Christi
In South Padre & Corpus Christi, blacktip shark peak May–September and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Blacktips in the South Padre surf on the bait schools.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Blacktip shark in South Padre & Corpus Christi, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeakBlacktips in the South Padre surf on the bait schools.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberAround
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish blacktip shark 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 blacktip shark hold on.
What to use for blacktip shark
- 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.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- 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 68–90°F water, best at 74–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch blacktip shark in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Peak season is May–September. Blacktip shark are in South Padre & Corpus Christi April–November. May: Blacktips in the South Padre surf on the bait schools.
Where do blacktip shark hold in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Look on beach / surf, pass / inlet, grass flat, artificial reef — around Port O'Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield.
What is the best bait for blacktip shark in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Live bait: finger mullet, menhaden (pogies), blue runners (hardtails), cut ladyfish. Finger mullet: Lip-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. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
What are the rules for blacktip shark 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 blacktip shark · The Lower Texas Coast, the whole year