UTERFlounder fishing in South Padre & Corpus Christi
In South Padre & Corpus Christi, flounder peak May and October–November and are around March–December, spawning in November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Sand pockets and drains along the Laguna shorelines; gig them at night on the flats.
The run builds at Brazos Santiago and the Mansfield cut on the outgoing tide.
Flounder in South Padre & Corpus Christi, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingFlounder come back into the bays from the Gulf; drag a mud minnow along the drains.
- AprilArrivingReds 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.
- MayPeakSand pockets and drains along the Laguna shorelines; gig them at night on the flats.
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArrivingFish start sliding toward the passes.
- OctoberPeakThe run builds at Brazos Santiago and the Mansfield cut on the outgoing tide.
- NovemberSpawningStacked at the passes on the way to the Gulf to spawn — Texas closes harvest for the run; check TPWD.
- DecemberLeaving
Where to fish flounder 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.
What to use for flounder
- Mud minnows (killifish)Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait.
- 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.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore 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.
- Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–2/0
- Jig head1/4–1/2 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 54–82°F water, best at 60–75°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch flounder in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Peak season is May and October–November, with fish spawning in November (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Flounder are in South Padre & Corpus Christi March–December. May: Sand pockets and drains along the Laguna shorelines; gig them at night on the flats.
Where do flounder hold in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Look on channel edge, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Port O'Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield.
What is the best bait for flounder in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Live bait: mud minnows (killifish), finger mullet, live shrimp, pinfish. Mud minnows (killifish): Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait. Tackle: leader 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–2/0, jig head 1/4–1/2 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for flounder 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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