Ive fished cats all my life in many states. I grew up in WI fisbing the Mississippi river.

Tx has skunked me, and i cant figure out why. Heres the bait i have used to date:
Several store bough dougb baits like Magic bait, Berkeley, dip baits,etc
Plain hotdogs (in cheesey,beef, chicken,turkey flavored)
Chicken livers, hearts, and chunks
Worms, crickets, grubs
Cut up bluegill
A homemade mix containing- Garlic, ansie oil, red food coloring,chicken liver,chucked chicken, hotdogs, and chicken hearts.
Cubed mild, sharp,and extra sharp cheese

The most action i got was on a cube of white, extra sharp cheddar (whatever it was snapped my 18lbs braided line), and the home mix chicken chunks.

What am i doing wrong? I live in the San Antonio area also

Things i have yet to try is chicken gizzards plain, in a homemade brew of garlic, etc, headon shrimp, beef liver deer liver, some old wild turkey i shot last yr, or soaking the bait in any blood (huge chiken slaughter house down the road from me.

To be honest, probably not what you're using, but where you're fishing!

I like peeled large shrimp on a single medium-sized hook, with about a foot of leader, tied to a barrel swivel, with an egg sinker in front and a slack line.

Where are you fishing at?

And when?

Get you some Benny Roberts sure shot or some Stubbys for bait and sour some milo to chum. If you are in a fishy location you will defignitly get bit. Texas cats are smarter than those kitties your used to. Lol

If your fishing down around San Antonio, my fishing buddy goes down to Calaveras Lake and use CJ's punch bait shad. He keeps his freezer full. Myself, I use CJ's and Stubby's when I can get a hold of it.

you need to get some shad and use it first of all.

as most have said (any bait can be good), but location location location. don't know south Texas Hot spots, but this Form will get you pointe din the right direction.

You didn't say if you had a boat or not.

At Caleveras and Braunig, you can't keep the cats off your line. From the bank or boat. I simply used the ole fresh shrimp with garlic powder. I am from SA and I have a million spots I could share from the bank. But the two lakes I mentioned, will produce enough eaters with the simplest baits and tactics.

I caught a lot of cats from my boat 2005-2009. I used mostly free lining shrimp often dipped in a bowl of veg oil and strawberry koolaid powder. I used the heads-on shrimp from HEB and peeled the body shells first. I also used Marv's baits for a while and had good luck, if it is still available. All of the rest of the shelf baits were wholly fully lacking.

Bait cast for shad...thread fresh ones on the hook, exposing the belly a little, and you will catch all you want.

I have fished from the bank (only, cause i dont access to a boat unless i rent it from fort sam huston): max Starke park(seguine), Landa park, Cypress bend park, camp hauco springs (new braunfels), cibolo creek (Sutherland springs), Calaveras lake, Espada Park (SA area).
On calaveras i have fished towards the damn, anf at the dock by the enterence, and a few places in between.

As for hooks i use 99% circle type hooks from eagle claw, and that Jap brand Gimasua (sp?).

A couple more questions: has anyone tried thia fish sauce or the dried shrimp they sell in the fish section of Heb? I have a few jars of the fish sauce on hand, and got the shrimp in little bags, and they have a STRONG smell even through the bag

I just got a bait net, but havent fished a place to try it yet

When it comes to bait for catfish there is shad, and then there are other baits.
If shad are hard to get, then cut perch, or crushed up minnows can be good.

Well im going to have to try out this cast net then, and try the shad.