UTERLittle tunny fishing in South Padre & Corpus Christi
In South Padre & Corpus Christi, little tunny peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Bonito on the nearshore rigs and the jetties.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Little tunny in South Padre & Corpus Christi, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeak
- JunePeakBonito on the nearshore rigs and the jetties.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberAround
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish little tunny 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 little tunny hold on.
What to use for little tunny
- 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.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 66–86°F water, best at 70–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch little tunny in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Peak season is May–September. Little tunny are in South Padre & Corpus Christi April–October. June: Bonito on the nearshore rigs and the jetties.
Where do little tunny hold in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf, wreck — around Port O'Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield.
What is the best bait for little tunny in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Live bait: glass minnows (bay anchovies), 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 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for little tunny 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 little tunny · The Lower Texas Coast, the whole year