New to Texas (Military) and need help fishing

New to texas due to a military move(San Antonio) and looking to get some information on fishing in Corpus Christi, I have a 24 ft WAC with a 250 Yamaha...GPS, Fishfinder, and GPS linked VHF. From all the forums I've been reading it seems that you really need to know where to go to catch fish. Im looking to go anywhere from 5 to 20 offshore but no further.

Any help would be much appreciated. I grew up on the gulf in florida from what i can see here you really need to know some spots to get on the fish. I don't want to have my young sons get bored of fishing because we don't catch anything.

Thanks in Advance

There are plenty of guys on here who can recommend charts with lots of numbers for you. You could also go out on a party boat from Port Aransas for your first couple of trips?

Lots of close rigs within sight of the beaches where you can load up on kingfish, cobia and such. Also a great reef 21 miles out of Port A (Liberty Ship Reef) for red snapper but with only a couple of days of snapper season you gotta be into catch and release unless you are up for overnighting out there in which case you can load up on mangrove snapper after the sun goes down and sometimes some grouper. The ship anchorage is also a good producer on kings. The jetties at Port A are solid for spanish macks, kings, jacks, trout, reds and tarpon.
Lots of great shark fishing to if you're into them. Drop me a PM with your contact info if you want to talk CC/Port A area offshore sometime...I'd be glad to help as much as possible.

http://tpwd.texas.gov/gis/ris/artificialreefs/

This link is public information, so it's not as if I'm giving away deep dark TFF secrets here. The more accessible a nearshore artificial reef is, the more likely it gets heavily fished. But, it's helpful to start somewhere.

Thanks for all the feedback. not really sure how to fish for kingfish and cobia as they are not prevalent out of the gulf down by naples. Any recommendations there? Also, has anyone been out of the packery? I cant seem to find much information if that pass is open and accessible to boats 24'

Again thanks for the feedback.

Mark

charts and numbers would be great.

Packery is open. I stopped going out of there because the ramp was horrible. Sand would build up then props would wash out big holes in it. Spend almost an hour the last time I used it trying to get the boat on the trailer level. Also watch it going out of the end. With the right tide and wind I have seen more than 1 boat swamped and upside down there. It can be dangerous under certain conditions. There is a new reef between Packery and Port A that is starting to get better and better also. I will look for the numbers for you. There is a sunken ship there and a bunch of old concrete right next to it. It sits right at 9nm straight out from the beach.

For kingfish most troll ribbonfish or plugs like Magnum Rapalas and Halcos. Pull them around the rigs from June on into late Sept and you will be in business. Just make sure to use a wire leader cuz those teeth eat through mono like a razor. Or tie off to a rig, set out chum and drift live baits for them.

For ling keep some live baits ready around the rigs (piggy perch, mullet, blue runners, etc). I have also done we'll on curly tail grubs. The best bait though bar none is a small hardhead with the spines clipped (for your safety, the cobia don't care) lip hooked and live. They can't resist. Often when you catch some other fish around the rigs the cobia will come up to see what the commotion is.

Again...shoot me your contact info and I can fill you up with info on the area. I started out down here with a 21 Cape Horn and did a lot of close fishing. Not so much anymore. Upgraded to a 28 Pursuit and am set up mostly for marlin, sails and swords now.

Sir,

did you receive my PM with POC?

Thanks

Mark

Lmgreeri helped me out last year and followed him to liberty one day. Thanks again!

I haven't been back to Port A since last March, but I am trying to come back this March. I sure miss it down there.

lmgreeri how was your fishing this past year? It's been a while since I have been on here.

Hey Mark...I did get your PM. I have to bring the boat to the house this weekend and run the motors a bit on the hose. While I have it here I will get some of the close numbers from my GPS and send them to you.

j_mit...
Glad to help and we did well last year. Finally got our new carbon fiber outriggers on and set up. It was late in the season before we got them all mounted and rigged but even with just a couple of trips we hit a few sails and one nice blue marlin. Added a bunch of teasers and dredges thru the winter and are really looking to try them all out this season. We spent the night at a rig 40 miles offshore once this past season and it was an INCREDIBLE trip. We had the fish box filled to the top by day break. In fact we untied as the sun came up, found a shrimper still pulling, trolled in behind him and picked up a double on BF tuna and on the 2nd pull behind him is when we hooked the blue. Looking to do more of that this year. Already being out there and getting in the early troll while the rest of the fleet is still trucking out was SWEET.

Get on 2cool and find Ms. Mary in the blue water forum. Her late husband Rik published #s in his books all along the coast

Lmgreeri

That's awesome! My fishing was light last year in the lakes in dfw were flooded most of the summer last yr. Got to remember to hit you up this summer for a trip. I owe you dinner or something for the help, trying for March to bring the boat. Went to Cozumel this past summer and did some skinny water fishing and a little off shore. We also spear fished several days and that was a blast.

A few friends and I just got stationed in san antonio - im a newb but he has a lot of offshore experience. We've been looking at charters but if any of you guys need some extra hands or want the company, im sure we will gladly pay for fuel, bait, food, etc =)

Sir,

Did you have any luck with any of those numbers?

Really appreciate all the help!

Thanks,

Mark

I emailed them to you Saturday...did you not get them??

Sir,

Just went back and checked and didn't receive them. Could you try resending to mmilligan8@gmail.com

I just re-sent them to that email address.