Hey Guys, I'm taking the family down to Corpus for a vacation toward the end of July. Were staying in a canal condo and I'm bring the boat down to do a little fishing. I plan on mostly hitting the upper Laguna area but if I can catch a flat day I would like to shoot out the channel and see what we can catch offshore. I have a 20' Fishmaster CC that I know has been 20 miles out before I owned her so I know the boat is capable but I'm no ocean captain and would like to know if there are any wrecks, reef or platforms that are reasonable close that we could shoot out to safely and maybe hook up to some nice fish. I have decent electronics with a charplotter that has the bays and gulfs in it so finding them shouldn't be a problem. I'm starting me research early as I can prepare myself if I can catch the right weather. Also what would you carry for bait (live/ dead and or artificial) Thanks in advance!!

Hit the liberty ships if you can. Ribbon fish and jigs tipped with squid is what I would run. I have never ran out of Packery so I cannot comment on that. Good luck though and be safe

There's a few rigs just south of Packery. One is only a mile or out and a few more between 5 and 7 miles out. Watch here for surf forecast. https://magicseaweed.com/Bob-Hall-Pier-Surf-Report/361/

Stop by Roys Bait and Tackle in Corpus and they'll get you what you need with the correct leaders and I believe the have ribbons there too. If you want to troll lures I've seen Rapala X rap and Rapala X rap magnum or something similar work well. I've seen Halco's work well too. For just one trip I'd stick with ribbons though.

Let us know how you do.

Oh and make sure you have a marine radio in case your electronics go bad, blow a fuse, etc. Safety first

Navionics app downloaded to your phone with the map saved is cheap and easy back up to your navigation.

Check the fuses and wires on the back of your motor prior to going offshore. Make sure you have extra fuses. I too had a Fishmaster CC that I took offshore. Got 5 miles out and blew a fuse. Everything was dead but the motor. Turned off the motor to investigate. BIG mistake. No electrical to get it started again. This was my worst nightmare. I was actually able to pull start it. Not too bad since the engine was still warm. Then I limped my way back to dock slowly because I couldn't adjust the trim. Took engine cover off and realized it was a loose exposed wire that was touching the engine block and blowing the fuse. Luckily I had launched from a marina and was able to fix the wire and replace the fuse. Stayed in the channel and fished the jetties after that. I was too chicken shhh to go offshore.

Thanks for the input guys, Oddly enough the previous owner has that same thing happen to him on his last trip out. Blew a fuse and a relay. He replaced the fuse but did not have trim when he came back in. I plan on doing going over all the electrical thoroughly before we go down. I have had it on the bay several times and fished and trolled just outside of the jetties at Port A last summer. I'm excited and anxious all at the same time.

What he said.

I appreciate the info guy's !!

You owe it to yourself to buy the new Navionics West Gulf of Mexico Card 635p+ and get it registered. They have a new SonarChart Shading feature that will blow your mind and it's free from their website once you register the card. If you have an old card you can trade it in, I think they have the forms online at www.navionics.com and also at West Marine, Bass Pro and Cabelas. Depending on what you buy you can get either $50 or $75 back from the company.

I'm interested in any tips as well. We will be out there the last week of July trolling kings. Would love to get to some rigs and try to jig up some toads. What is best handheld radio for a trip like this?

I�d make sure the surf is glass, I�ve seen some smaller boats barely make it back.

I love Roy's Bait and Tackle. They have so much selection. My wallet is much thinner every time I leave that shop.

If it is flat there is a sunken ship called the Kinta S that should have snapper all over it. It is about 10 miles from the jetty. You can get the location off the web. The ship was sunk in 2006.