UTERKing mackerel fishing in South Padre & Corpus Christi
In South Padre & Corpus Christi, king mackerel peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Peak nearshore; slow-troll a live mullet or ribbonfish.
No note for October — see the months around it.
King mackerel in South Padre & Corpus Christi, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArrivingKings move onto the nearshore reefs and the Port Mansfield and Brazos jetties.
- JunePeakPeak nearshore; slow-troll a live mullet or ribbonfish.
- JulyPeakDawn trout, tarpon off the jetties, blue water offshore. Fish the first two hours; tarpon on calm green days; offshore for sails, mahi and blue marlin.
- AugustPeakPeak heat: tarpon, bull jacks and early bull reds. Jetties and passes at dawn; deep guts and the ICW edges at midday.
- SeptemberPeakSmokers on the nearshore rigs before they head south.
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish king 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 191 wreck, 6 artificial reef spots in the The Lower Texas Coast map area — the kinds king mackerel hold on.
What to use for king mackerel
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Spanish sardinesNose-hooked and free-lined in a chum slick, or slow-trolled on a stinger rig.
- Speedos (redtail scad)Bridled through the nose on a kite or slow-trolled for sailfish, kingfish and blackfin.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–6/0
- Braid30–50 lb
Feeds in 66–82°F water, best at 68–76°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch king mackerel in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Peak season is June–September. King mackerel are in South Padre & Corpus Christi May–October. June: Peak nearshore; slow-troll a live mullet or ribbonfish.
Where do king mackerel hold in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Look on artificial reef, wreck — around Port O'Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield.
What is the best bait for king mackerel in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), threadfin herring (greenbacks), cigar minnows, menhaden (pogies). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–6/0, braid 30–50 lb.
What are the rules for king 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.
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