UTERLadyfish fishing in South Padre & Corpus Christi
In South Padre & Corpus Christi, ladyfish peak April–October and are around March–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Skipjack in the Laguna and the passes under the birds.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Ladyfish in South Padre & Corpus Christi, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeak
- MayPeak
- JunePeakSkipjack in the Laguna and the passes under the birds.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeakPeak heat: tarpon, bull jacks and early bull reds. Jetties and passes at dawn; deep guts and the ICW edges at midday.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish ladyfish 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 ladyfish
- Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.
- 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.
- 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.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 64–90°F water, best at 72–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch ladyfish in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Peak season is April–October. Ladyfish are in South Padre & Corpus Christi March–November. June: Skipjack in the Laguna and the passes under the birds.
Where do ladyfish hold in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, grass flat, bridge, channel edge — around Port O'Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield.
What is the best bait for ladyfish in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Live bait: glass minnows (bay anchovies), live shrimp, pilchards (whitebait). Glass minnows (bay anchovies): Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for ladyfish 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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