Hello! What a great forum you have here.
First I want to say that I am going to ask some questions that i'm sure you answer regularly. Also, I want to thank you in advance for your patience and responses. I understand that the topic of "coming to fish Texas for first time-where do I go, what do I do?" is probably something that you deal with quite frequently so I also apologize in advance for that.
My wife and I are coming to Corpus Christi on 3/15-3/19 to celebrate our 30th birthdays. We haven't taken a vacation since we started our business 9 years ago, so we're really excited. Unfortunately we can only leave for a few days. We're from Maine and salt/freshwater fish year round, mostly by boat, but definitely not exclusively (especially the 6 months of the year when there is ice). All we want to do is fish. I think we plan to fish the bay and ocean sides of PNS and bay side of Mustang Island-if it is accessible. Also looking to travel to Baffin, maybe Riviera fishing pier? Port Mansfield? Anywhere is possible, we're renting a car... That probably cannot drive on a beach.

#1- How do we avoid spring break? I don't know what to expect, but I think the places I listed are free of party people (Maybe not Mustang?).
#2- Can we rent a boat? Is renting kayaks going to be productive? I expect to spend the most time on shore, or wading.
#3- Poles: I was thinking of bringing reels and buying cheap poles? Or I've read about telescopic poles for airplane travel? What size would be most versatile. Or can I rent?
#4- Lures vs live bait- We're staying at an Air B&B. Thinking lures would be easiest instead of buying bait everyday and keeping it at our rental? Or what do you recommend for versatility of catch?
#5- Guides: Would hire a guide- good option, right? But who?
#6- Freshwater- Any rivers or anything like that to check out for exciting catches near where we'll be?

Thank you for your time and any help you can provide! Looking forward to visiting your great state.
Ryan

Spring break?
Stay away from the beaches.
Sure someone rents boats.
Bring your 2500 size spinning reel or bass size baitcasters.
6 1/2� light med light rods get at Academy in Corpus.
If you want to really enjoy the best fishing with the least spring break crazy head down to Baffin Bay or Port Mansfield
Or north to Rockport or Seadrift. Lots of choices.

Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it.

Here's a post from a year ago; it's geared more towards Rockport, but some info for Corpus as well: CLICK

That's a great help. Looking like Baffin Bay area will be where we will spend most of our time. Is access an issue there or can you find many places to fish roadside? What about up stream? Is it still productive?

Baffin would be a tough place to wade into without a boat.

If you're boatless, there's more places when you head north than south. A lot more.

Thank you. That's great info. Wonder about delta's boat policy...

If you decide to wade, remember the StingRay Shuffle. Move your feet along the bottom in a shuffling motion. That lets any Stingrays ahead of you know you are coming and they will probably swim away. Stepping down on them can be very bad. Shuffling should eliminate most of the issue. I've been wade fishing for many years and never had an issue, but I do shuffle.

I'd buy some inexpensive vinyl waders at Academy, or, at the very least, plan on wearing jeans for wading. Old gym shoes will work if they are big enough to fit over the waders. Or, stop by a thrift store and buy some used, old, big gym shoes when you get here.

You should be able to rent some kayaks and that can add to the places that you can fish. Tons of good fish are caught out of yaks every year.

A couple of 1/4 ounce Sprite Johnson Gold spoons, with swivels, will catch many species down here. Cast, and vary your retrieve.

Have fun.

Stingray are NOT a problem during the spring and spring break in the Rockport Bay system

The ol' SaltH2O has to warm up a bit before they invade the shallows of the bays.

This is just great! I'm really thankful for your responses. I really appreciate versatile lures, so that's a wonderful help. We're both looking forward to this, we run a slaughterhouse and getting away is not so easy. How cold will the water be? 50? That's almost like our water temperature in the summer! I've been checking out the Rockport area, places like behind the airport, goose island, maybe past that- around the "big oak tree"... Right track? Kayaks are definitely a great plan. How about kayaking in Baffin bay? Is that a good option? Thanks again for all this information!

to the forum!!

Thanks everyone for your responses and messages. What a great resource!