The closest major lake to Corpus Christi, 18,000-acre Lake Corpus Christi is about 40 minutes from downtown and accessible through Lake Corpus Christi State Park. The lake offers excellent fishing, particularly for catfish, and the state park includes a fishing pier, boat ramp and ample shoreline access. Other features in the park include a swimming beach -- no lifeguards are provided -- picnic areas, a fish cleaning station and a scenic bird watching area. You can spend the night at the park's campground, which includes more than 100 sites for tents and RVs. Water is available at all sites, and many also offer sewer and electrical hookups. Most sites are shady and secluded, though some are a bit more open and grassy.
Choke Canyon State Park sits on a peninsula that extends into the waters of 25,600-acre Choke Canyon Reservoir, a little more than an hour northwest of Corpus Christi. A small section of the park sits at a separate location at the east end of the lake. The lake's deep water and ample submerged cover provide excellent fishing for largemouth bass and catfish. You can fish from shore, or launch a boat at either of the park's two sections. Camping for tents and RVs is provided at a 40-site campground with water and electricity. If you prefer a more rustic camping experience, you can choose one of the primitive walk-in tent sites. You can also explore the park on several miles of hiking trails or take a dip at the unsupervised beach. Most of Choke Canyon Reservoir's shoreline is undeveloped, making it one of the most scenic lakes in the area.
Located in the city of Laredo, a little more than two hours from Corpus Christi, Lake Casa Blanca State Park encompasses much of the southern and western shore of 1,600-acre Lake Casa Blanca. The lake features catfish and hybrid stripers, though largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie are also present. The park offers a designated swim area, boat launch facilities, a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier, several secluded hiking and mountain biking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and camping options that range from primitive walk-in tent sites to RV sites with water and electrical hookups.
Known as Lake Texana State Park until management was transferred to the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority in 2012, Texana Park and Campground offers all the amenities of the former state park. One of the best crappie fishing lakes in the region, Lake Texana also yields excellent catches of bass and catfish. Texana Park offers four fishing piers -- two of them lighted for night fishing -- as well as boat ramps and canoe and kayak rentals. Camping facilities include both electric and non-electric sites for tents and RVs. The park also has an extensive trail system, with more than 5 miles of secluded hiking routes that explore the dense woodlands around the west shore of Lake Texana. Many additional recreation opportunities are available at the adjoining Brackenridge Recreation Complex.
Camping reservations are available through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department website. Campsites are often available on a first-come, first-served basis, but the campgrounds can fill up quickly, especially on weekends and during the busy summer months, so it's wise to book a site in advance. Statewide fishing regulations apply, and a current Texas fishing license is required to fish at all Corpus Christi area lakes. Licenses are available at most bait shops and sporting goods stores across the state, as well as through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department online licensing system.
