Just got back from Rockport. Fishing wasn't the greatest,but the weather & the water was great & it beats going to work.Fished Copano Bay & Estes Flats. My questions are. When fishing with croacker I know to hook them through the lips,should I use a rattling cork or just freeline? Do I throw the croacker out & just let it sit( bail open or closed) or do I reel it in slowly twitching it or what? Thanks!

The answer is yes. Use them all tell you find one that works for that day. Tomorrow, it might not work. We rig thru lips or tail, free line, popping cork and Carolina rig. Everybody does something different till we find what works. Copano and Estes work well with the corks. If you are on a channel edge, like Packery, Carolina rig works great.

The best method I've found is to tightline with about a 4/0 croaker or Kahle hook. Add a small split shot if needed for casting. Once you have the croak on the bottom(without the birds picking him off) remove the slack from your line. Not super tight, just a slight bow in the line so you can still feel. I get best results with my rod almost pointing straight up. Once in a while give him a little tug and you should feel him croaking. When you get bit it will be a sharp pop, press your bail and lower your rod tip, the fish should be swimming out slowly. Give it a three count, reel down to him and cross his eyes. Once you get a feel for it, it can be deadly this time of the year.

Oh yeah, I usually have best results standing on a bar next to a gut with plenty of grass. Cast into the gut.

got to agree with lovntexas, key point is to hook in tail and once the fish hits be sure to give a good three count or longer before setting the hook. you got to give the trout time to swallow the bait. you also should use circle hooks, this gives you the best chance of hooking the trout in the lips and not in the organs!