Freshwater Fishing at Lake Corpus Christi: A Texas State Park

Freshwater fishing in Texas is excellent at many of the Texas State Parks. One of which provides excellent fishing is Lake Corpus Christi which is located near the town of Mathis. Freshwater fishing at Lake Corpus Christi is excellent for catfish and is rated as good for largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and sunfish.

Up until August 31, 2006, there is no need for a fishing license. Park gate fees apply.
Lake Corpus Christi participates in special family oriented fishing events. Prizes can include fishing equipment. Contact the park for detailed information and schedule.

Angling Opportunities:

Largemouth bass are abundant with reports of fish reaching 5 pounds. Blue catfish are the most abundant catfish species although flathead and channel catfish also present. White bass provide excellent angling opportunities in the Nueces River channel during the cooler months and in the main reservoir during summer. Crappie fishing has been improving.

Tips:
Catfish anglers can find channel, blue and flathead catfish throughout the reservoir. Cheesebait and cutbait produce impressive catches of blue catfish, while the larger flathead and blue catfish prefer live bluegill and shad. Experienced flathead fishermen concentrate on creek channels and the main Nueces River channel. Trotlines and juglines account for many of the larger catfish caught every year at Lake Corpus Christi.

Largemouth bass anglers are most successful on Lake Corpus Christi during the spring, fall, and winter months. Popular spring baits include spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, rattletraps, and crankbaits. Summer bass fishing on Lake Corpus Christi can be difficult. Flipping jigs, plastic worms, or tube baits in heavy shaded cover are often productive when nothing else seems to work.

Crappie are very popular with the local anglers. A lighted fishing pier provides an ideal location to fish for crappie and other fish within the park. Most anglers use live minnows. Small crappie jigs often out-produce live bait under the lights.

White bass congregate in the Nueces River channel from December through February. Live minnows are popular baits although many anglers catch their limit using small rattletraps, shad raps, small spinnerbaits, small grubs, and other minnow imitating artificial baits. As the weather warms, white bass will often congregate in deeper water located in the lower portion of the reservoir. Jigging spoons or small rattletraps trolled deep near main lake points and humps are popular baits.

Camping:

Camping facilities include restrooms with showers, large shaded sites with electricity, water and sewer, picnic stations with water, lighted fish cleaning tables, screened shelters and piers. There are two boat launches.