UTERTarpon fishing in South Padre & Corpus Christi
In South Padre & Corpus Christi, tarpon peak May–September and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Tarpon in the surf and at the jetties; juveniles in the Brownsville ship channel.
The southbound run thins out ahead of the fronts.
Tarpon in South Padre & Corpus Christi, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingFirst fish roll off South Padre and the Brazos Santiago jetties when the surf passes 75.
- MayPeakTarpon in the surf and at the jetties; juveniles in the Brownsville ship channel.
- JunePeakGreen water to the beach: kings, tarpon, trout in the surf. Slow-troll ribbonfish for kings; wade the surf on calm days; snook in South Bay and the Brownsville channel.
- JulyPeakPeak: tarpon rolling off the jetties and in the surf on the calm, green days.
- AugustPeakPeak heat: tarpon, bull jacks and early bull reds. Jetties and passes at dawn; deep guts and the ICW edges at midday.
- SeptemberPeakFish moving south along the beach; big numbers at the Port Mansfield and Brazos jetties.
- OctoberLeavingThe southbound run thins out ahead of the fronts.
- NovemberAround
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tarpon 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 tarpon
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–8/0
- Jig head1–1 1/4 oz
- Braid40–65 lb
Feeds in 74–90°F water, best at 78–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tarpon in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Peak season is May–September. Tarpon are in South Padre & Corpus Christi April–November. May: Tarpon in the surf and at the jetties; juveniles in the Brownsville ship channel.
Where do tarpon hold in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, bridge, channel edge — around Port O'Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield.
What is the best bait for tarpon in South Padre & Corpus Christi?
Live bait: blue crabs, threadfin herring (greenbacks), pilchards (whitebait), finger mullet. Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–8/0, jig head 1–1 1/4 oz, braid 40–65 lb.
What are the rules for tarpon 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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