Port Aransas sits where the Gulf of Mexico meets a network of bays and channels, offering year-round fishing opportunities. You can walk onto a pier, wade grass flats, fish the jetties, or launch a boat—all within a few miles of downtown. This guide covers the most productive fishing spots, what you’ll catch at each location, and what you need to know before heading out.
For details on when each species bites best, see our Port Aransas fishing calendar.
The South Jetty
The south jetty extends over 5,000 feet into the Gulf from the tip of Mustang Island. It’s the most productive shore fishing spot on the Texas coast. The granite boulders create a structure that holds baitfish, which attracts everything from redfish to king mackerel.
What You’ll Catch: Redfish and black drum work the rocks year-round. Speckled trout hold along channel edges during tide changes. Sheepshead stack around barnacle-covered rocks from December through April. Spanish mackerel show up in spring and fall. Bull redfish push into the jetties from September through November.
Offshore species work the jetty tips. King mackerel cruise just beyond the rocks, May through September. Cobia swim through in the spring. Tarpon roll along the beachfront in summer.
Access and Tactics: Park at the beach access and walk about half a mile over granite boulders. Wear shoes with good traction—wet rocks are slick. The outer half produces better but requires more effort to reach. Most anglers work the middle section.
Live shrimp work for redfish, trout, and drum. Cut mullet produces for bull reds and black drum. Bring a long-handled net—you can’t lift fish straight up from the rocks. A five-gallon bucket with a rope works for lowering catches between boulders.
Regulations: Texas saltwater fishing license required for anyone 17 and older. Watch the tide—spring tides and strong winds can push waves over the jetties.
Horace Caldwell Pier
This 1,240-foot lighted pier extends into the Gulf from the Port Aransas beach. It’s the easiest fishing access in town—drive up, walk out, and start fishing. The pier has a bait shop, cleaning stations, and lights for night fishing.
What You’ll Catch: Speckled trout and redfish are year-round catches. Sheepshead work the barnacle-covered pilings in winter and early spring. Spanish mackerel show up in late spring and fall. Tarpon roll near the surface from May through September, especially at night under the lights. Black drum run in winter and early spring. Pompano cruise through during spring and fall migrations.
Fishing the Pier: Live shrimp under a popping cork works for trout and redfish. Free-line shrimp near pilings on moving tides. Night fishing under the lights produces well, May through October—trout, redfish, Spanish mackerel, and tarpon all feed actively after dark.
Details: Pier admission costs $12 for adults. No fishing license required when fishing from public piers in Texas. Rod rental available if you’re traveling without gear.
Mustang Island Surf Fishing
The beach stretches 18 miles south from Port Aransas. You can drive onto the beach at multiple access points and fish anywhere along that stretch. Four-wheel drive is recommended but not always required.
Reading the Surf: Fish concentrate where structure creates feeding opportunities. Look for the first gut (trough between beach and first sandbar), the second gut (between first and second sandbar), and cuts where water flows through sandbars. Color changes indicate depth changes or current lines. Birds working the surface mark baitfish schools.
What You’ll Catch: Redfish work the guts year-round. Fall brings bull redfish into the surf during their spawning migration. Speckled trout hold in troughs on calm days. Black drum show up in winter and spring. Pompano cruise the surf during spring and fall. Spanish mackerel and jack crevalle chase bait pods in warmer months. Tarpon roll through in summer. Sharks are common in summer when water temperatures climb above 78°F.
Surf Fishing Techniques: Long rods (9-12 feet) cast farther and keep the line above the breaking waves. Live shrimp on a Carolina rig works for trout, redfish, and drum. Cut mullet produces for larger drum, bull reds, and sharks. Wade fishing the first gut puts you closer to the fish. Shuffle your feet to avoid stepping on stingrays that bury in sand.
Bay Fishing Spots
The bay systems—Corpus Christi Bay, Aransas Bay, and Redfish Bay—offer protected water when the Gulf is rough. Water depths range from inches to 15 feet.
Roberts Point Park
Roberts Point Park sits on Corpus Christi Bay with a boat ramp, fishing pier, and shoreline access. Wade fishers work shallow flats on either side of the ship channel in 2-4 feet of water. Speckled trout and redfish cruise grass beds and shell substrate. The lighted pier extends into deeper water where trout hold along drop-offs.
Charlie’s Pasture
This shallow grass flat on the Lydia Ann Channel averages 18-24 inches deep. Redfish push onto the flat on higher tides to feed. You can sight-cast to tailing reds as they root in grass. Trout suspend over potholes and along edges where grass meets sand. Popular with fly fishing anglers for sight-casting opportunities. Access requires a boat or kayak—no public road access.
Ship Channel Edges
The Corpus Christi ship channel and Aransas Pass channel create edges where shallow flats drop into deep water (20-50 feet). Fish stack along these edges. Speckled trout hold there year-round. Black drum work deeper edges, especially in winter. Flounder position along drop-offs to ambush prey. Vertical jigging produces well—drop a jig or live bait to the bottom and work it slowly up the slope.
Offshore Fishing
Offshore means running past the jetties into the Gulf. Nearshore structure starts about 10 miles out. Major reefs sit 20-40 miles offshore. Deep water and oil rigs begin around 50 miles from the jetties.
Nearshore Reefs
Natural reefs close to Port Aransas include Aransas Bank (17 miles), Hospital Rock (27 miles), and Big Southern (42 miles). Red snapper are the primary target. Federal red snapper season for for-hire boats typically runs June through September. Texas state waters (0-9 miles) stay open year-round for red snapper.
King mackerel work the reefs from spring through fall. Lane snapper and vermilion snapper provide action when the red snapper season is closed. Amberjack holds around deeper structure, though regulations are currently restrictive.
Oil Rigs and Platforms
Platforms 30-100+ miles offshore hold every major offshore species at some point during the year. King mackerel, cobia, and mahi-mahi work in the upper water around platforms in summer. Snapper and grouper hold near the bottom. Tuna (yellowfin and blackfin) stack around deeper rigs in fall and winter.
Wahoo cruise temperature breaks near offshore structure, October through February. Marlin and sailfish show up in blue water during the summer months.
Trip Planning: Offshore fishing requires capable boats and weather awareness. A 6-hour trip reaches nearshore reefs in state waters. An 8-hour trip into federal waters is allowed when snapper season is open. A 10-12-hour trip puts you on deeper structure for tuna, wahoo, and pelagic species.
For anglers without boats, a deep-sea fishing charter provides access to productive water with experienced captains who know current regulations and where fish are biting.
Kayak Fishing
Kayaks access shallow water that larger boats can’t reach. Popular launch points include Roberts Point Park and boat ramps along the Lydia Ann Channel. Redfish, trout, and flounder are primary targets. Shallow grass flats around Port Aransas are ideal for kayak access in 1-3 feet of water.
Safety considerations: wear a PFD (required by law), carry a whistle, bring a paddle leash, and check the weather before heading out. Wind creates chop quickly in the bays.
Fly Fishing Opportunities
Fly fishing works well for species that feed aggressively in shallow water. Redfish, trout, and tarpon are primary targets.
Redfish on the Flats
Shallow grass flats with clear water create ideal conditions for sight-casting to redfish. You can see fish tailing or cruising in 12-18 inches of water. An 8-weight rod handles most redfish situations. Higher tides push redfish onto flats they can’t access at low water.
Tarpon in the Surf
Tarpon migrate along the coast from May through September. Port Aransas sees fish in the 40-150 pound range. A 10-12-weight rod is a minimum. All tarpon caught in Texas must be released immediately.
Charlie’s Pasture, flats around Roberts Point, and shallow grass areas in the bay systems work for fly fishing. Guided bay fishing trips can put you on sight-casting opportunities.
Fishing Regulations and Licensing
Texas Parks and Wildlife manages state waters (0-9 nautical miles). NOAA Fisheries manages federal waters beyond 9 miles.
License Requirements
Anyone 17 and older needs a Texas saltwater fishing license. Available online through TPWD or at retail locations. A one-day non-resident license costs around $16. Charter boats with guide licenses cover passengers—you don’t need a separate license on fishing charters.
Public fishing piers don’t require a license.
Key Bag Limits (2025-2026)
- Redfish: 3 fish, 20-28 inches
- Speckled Trout: 5 fish, 15-inch minimum (only one over 25 inches)
- Flounder: 5 fish, 14-inch minimum
- Black Drum: 5 fish, 14-30 inches
- Red Snapper (State Waters): 4 fish, 15-inch minimum, year-round
- Red Snapper (Federal Waters): Check NOAA regulations for current season dates
Some species are catch-and-release only. Tarpon cannot be kept in Texas.
Best Times to Fish
Port Aransas produces fish year-round. Water temperature drives fish behavior more than any other factor.
Spring (March-May): Water warms to mid-70s. Cobia and king mackerel arrive. Speckled trout and redfish feed heavily. One of the most consistent periods.
Summer (June-August): Water peaks in the low to mid-80s. Offshore fishing hits a peak. Red snapper season opens in federal waters. Mahi-mahi move within range. Tarpon roll along the beachfront.
Fall (September-November): Water cools to the upper 60s. Bull redfish migrate through jetties and surf. Flounder stage near passes. Wahoo and blackfin tuna fishing improves. Local favorite for variety.
Winter (December-February): Water bottoms out at 58-65°F. Blue-water species concentrate along temperature breaks. Sheepshead and black drum remain active around structures.
For detailed monthly breakdowns, see our complete fishing calendar.
Daily Timing
Tides matter more than time of day. Moving water triggers feeding. Two hours before and after tide changes often produce the best action. Early morning and late evening tend to be more productive than midday, especially in summer.
Essential Gear
For Any Trip:
- Texas saltwater fishing license (except on charters or public piers)
- Polarized sunglasses
- Sunscreen (SPF 50+)
- Hat with a brim
- Water and snacks
- Closed-toe shoes with good traction
Inshore Tackle: Medium-action 7-foot spinning rod with 3000-4000 reel. Spool with 10-15 pound monofilament or 15-20 pound braid. Soft plastics, topwater plugs, and spoons. Live shrimp is the most versatile bait.
Additional Gear: Long-handled net for jetty fishing, rod holders for surf fishing, PFD and paddle leash for kayak fishing, wading boots for flats fishing.
Getting Started
Port Aransas offers fishing access whether you own a boat, hire a guide, or fish from shore. The jetties, surf, and piers provide access to productive water. Kayaks and small boats access flats and backcountry areas. Charters eliminate the need to own a boat or figure out where fish are biting—the captain handles everything.
For detailed information on each species, including identification and habitat, see our Gulf of Mexico fish species guide. To plan around what’s biting now, check the seasonal calendar. And if you’re wondering what to do with your catch, our guide to the best-tasting fish covers preparation.
Ready to get on the water? Book your trip online or call (361) 850-0909 to discuss timing and target species.