Fishing in Port Aransas

Nestled on Mustang Island along the Gulf of Mexico, Port Aransas (known affectionately as “Port A”) offers a rare blend of beachfront charm and exceptional fishing access. With clear flats, lush estuaries, and deep sea canyons all within an easy boat ride, it stands out among Gulf Coast destinations. Your fishing options range from chasing billfish with heavy tackle around offshore canyons to serene sight-fishing in Redfish Bay to cruising around the coastline in a golf car (seriously) and anything in between. No wonder Port Aransas has been officially recognized as the fishing capital of Texas!

Port Aransas is surrounded by water everywhere you look. The inshore ecosystem—Redfish Bay, Aransas Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, and nearby flats and estuaries—is a tapestry of shallow grass beds and waterways between 1 to 4 feet deep. These vibrant zones are ideal for spotting redfish tailing, drifting for trout, or quietly poling through calm flats. Just a few miles offshore, the seabed plunges into structured reefs zones, natural “rocks”, and artificial structures—including oil rigs turned marine nurseries—that attract snapper, amberjack, grouper, and kingfish. These reef havens lie within range of both short and extended day trips. The shoreline also offers excellent surf and jetty fishing: the jetties, beaches, and shorelines of Port Aransas hold redfish, trout, flounder, and black drum, with the Gulf just beyond them.

Port Aransas delivers unmatched variety across its environments. On the flats and inshore bays, expect excellent action with redfish(red drum), speckled trout, flounder, and black drum, especially in Redfish Bay and Aransas Bay.Offshore, anglers target an enviable variety of species—red snapper, kingfish, cobia, amberjack, mahi-mahi, tuna, wahoo, and even marlin, depending on the season (most big pelagics are present in these waters from June-July to September).

On the flats and bay, sight-fishing and drifting light tackle over grass and oyster beds are standard techniques, often yielding redfish or trout on shrimp or soft plastics. Jetty and surf anglers enjoy success using croakers, shrimp, or mullet to target reds, trout, and flounder. Reef fishing involves bottom rigs near ledges, reefs, or rigs, with jigs or bait attracting bottom-dwellers like snapper and grouper. Offshore, spread trolling, live baiting, or chumming are deployed for pelagic species like tuna, marlin, or mahi-mahi.