Every Day in Port A

Although feeding the gulls is not recommended, beachgoers are always tempted to treat them. FISHING

Charters

Deep Sea Headquarters, 416 W. Cotter, 749-5597. Three party boats with concessions are available for group fishing, private charters for one to six anglers. Mostly offshore fishing trips made, usually for eight hours. Shorter trips available if demand warrants them. Guides available for bay fishing charters. Reserve private charters for bay or offshore trips in advance. Tackle and bait provided. Bring your food and drink on private charters.

Dolphin Dock, 300 W. Cotter, 749-6624. Fishing for one to 100 for private or company charters. Fish the Gulf for kingfish, shark, snapper and more or head for the bays for redfish and trout. Bait, ice and tackle provided. Ask about food and drink availability. Twentyfour and 40-hour snapper safaris available. Reserve in advance.

Fisherman's Wharf, 900 N. Tarpon, 749-5448. Two party boats take anglers snapper and king fishing for four, six, eight and 12-hour trips. Private charters accommodate one to six people with bait, ice and tackle provided. Bring your own food and drink. Gulf and bay charters available. Reserve in advance. Take the Jetty Boat to San Jose Island.

Mix kids, water and sun and you'll get fun. Island Moorings Marina, Island Moorings Parkway across from the airport, 749-4100. Private charters for two to six for half and full day excursions. By appointment 24 hours in advance. Bait, ice, tackle, food and drink provided for Gulf or bay charters.

Offshore Adventures, 2200 State Hwy. 361 at Crabman Marina in Aransas Pass. (361) 758-6900, 800-567-5132. Fishing on 85' Adventurer available daily.

Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc., city marina. This association of local guides rents a dock at the city marina. Just walk the dock, check out the boats and talk to the captains that happen to be on the dock. Call them at the telephone numbers posted on their boats, or call 749-6339.

Woody's Sports Center, 114 W. Cotter, 749-5252. Charters for one to six people for bay or Gulf fishing. Bait, tackle, ice provided. You bring food and drink.

On your own

South/north jetties, marking the entrance to the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, these granite jetties provide ample room for anglers to set up for a day of fishing. The south jetty is accessible by car from the beach. Take the Jetty Boat from Fisherman's Wharf to get to the north jetty where there are no amenities - you're on your own. Bring your trash back with you and deposit in trash can at the jetty boat dock or at Fisherman's Wharf. Hourly trips made, so you can stay for an hour or the day.

Ancel Brundrett (Station Street) Pier, at the north end of Station Street. Cast out into the Corpus Christi Ship Channel for redfish, trout, mackerel, sheepshead and flounder. Free, restrooms.

Charlie's Pasture Pier (May be temporily closed for repairs. Call city hall for information), at the end of Port Street on a spot of land locally referred to as "Charlie's Pasture". Fish the ship channel for reds, trout, drum, flounder. Free, no amenities. Please don't litter.

Horace Caldwell Pier, on the beach at the end of Beach Street. ee per person and per rod. Catch trout under the lights, redfish, whiting, pompano, blacktip shark and black drum.

J.P. Luby Pier, at Roberts Point Park. Fish the Corpus Christi Ship Channel for drum, redfish, sheepshead, croaker, flounder and more depending on the season. Free. Restroom facilities at harbormaster's office.

Surf fishing presents itself on all of Mustang Island where it does not interfere with swimmers. Best, least populated areas for fishing without fear of hooking a human are south of the city limits from access Road 1 south to the Fish Pass jetties. Trash cans are available at intervals along the beach. Please use them.

By boat any angler can fish the Gulf or bays. Exercise customary safety precautions and use charts available at many locations. Keep trash on board and deposit properly when returning to shore.

BIRD WATCHING

Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Ross Avenue off Cut-off Road. Part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, the Center is a "must see" for all nature lovers. Brochures listing the birds likely to be seen are available at the Chamber of Commerce-Tourist Bureau.

Scott and Joan Holt Paradise Pond Birding Center, Cut-off Road. More than 100 species of birds frequent this two-acre tract next to the Shark Reef Motel.

Port Aransas Wetlands Park, SH 361 South, about one-quarter mile south of Avenue G. A boardwalk and observation gazebo, indigenous landscaping. Part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.

Birding on the Boardwalk, guided nature tour every Wednesday at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, 9 a.m. Call 749-4158 by 8:30 a.m. if weather is questionable. Free.

Lynn Gavit Marsh Bird Exhibit, Civic Center foyer, Avenue A at Cut-off Road. An exhibit of marsh birds donated in memory of Gavit by his family.

Shorebird boat trips aboard the shallow draft Kohootz. Travel into the mangroves and wetlands. (361) 779-3188, www.birdingportaransastx. com.

SURFING

Miles of the Gulf of Mexico await those who want to face the challenge of riding the surf on traditional surfboards or sail boards. Surfboards and boogie boards are available for rent in Port Aransas. A favorite surfing spot is just south of the Horace Caldwell Pier.

Texas Surf Camps offers daily and weekly surf camps, private lessons and parties. (361) 749-6956 or www.texassurfcamps.com

BOATING/TOURS

Scenic, sunset and nature cruises are offered from Fisherman's Wharf (749-5448), Deep Sea Headquarters (749-5597) and Woody's Sports Center (749- 5252). Call for times, fees and other information.

Jetty Boat, 15-minute ride from Fisherman's Wharf to San Jose Island. Fishing, beachcombing, no amenities, it's uninhabited. 749-5448. Call for current prices and times.

Kohootz Boat Tours, at Deep Sea Headquarters, 440 W. Cotter, (361) 779-3188. Dolphin encounters and lighthouse boat tours.

Oso Fun, 749-3700. Private charter dolphin/birding watch for up to six aboard the power catamaran, Oso Fun. www.port-a.com

Paradise Jet Ski Rentals, 749-6904, on the dock at Woody's Sports Center. Rentals through October or until the northers chill 'em out. Rentals then resume in March for spring and summer.

Sky High Adventures, 749-4600, at Woody's Sports Center. Parasailing. Take off and land on the back of the boat -- never get wet. Observer rides available.

Top Water Kayak Tours, Ave. E at 10th St., 749-5159. Kayak tours for birding, shelling, fishing, nature, sunrise and sunsets to the Lighthouse Lakes, Shamrock Island, Harbor Island and Shamrock Cove.

'Wet Heads' Kayak Adventures, 749-7111, www.wetheadskayak. com. Mobile Kayak outfitters. Guided and self-guided trips. Tour, fish, bird Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside On The Bay Paddling Trails. Individually outfitted. All experience levels.

SCUBA DIVING

Dolphin Dock, 300 W. Cotter, 749-6624. The Sharkhunter takes certified divers out for eight hours of diving with a dive master. Bring your own equipment and proof of certification.

BEACH WALKS

Beach Walk Adventures, guided beach walks on the fourth Friday of the month and on some holiday weekends. Free. Meet at 9 a.m. on the beach at the red flag next to Horace Caldwell Pier. Bring water, container for shells. Call 749-4158 by 8:30 a.m. if weather is questionable. Sponsored by the City of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department.

San Jose Island, an uninhabited island accessible only by boat. Across the Corpus Christi Ship Channel from Port Aransas. Take the Jetty Boat from Fisherman's Wharf. Please don't litter.

GOLF

Sinton Municipal Golf Course, about a 45-minute drive from Port Aransas, three miles north of Sinton on Highway 181. 18 holes, pro shop. (361) 364-9013. (Call for hours.)

Rockport Country Club, 40 minutes from Port Aransas on Highway 35 North. 18 holes. USGA reciprocal (only members, members of any other USGA country club and their guests may play). (361) 729-8324.

Padre Isles Country Club, 14353 Commodore, (361) 949-8006. A 20-minute drive from Port Aransas to an 18-hole golf course.

Gabe Lozano Sr. Golf Center, a 45-minute drive from Port A, at 4401 Old Brownsville Road in Corpus Christi. 18 holes. (361) 883-3696.

Oso Beach Municipal Golf Course, 35 minutes from Port Aransas, 5601 S. Alameda in Corpus Christi. 18 holes. (361) 991-8765.

Northshore Country Club, 40 minutes from Port Aransas in Portland, Highway 181. 18 holes. Closed Mondays.

TENNIS

Port Aransas Tennis Association welcomes tennis buffs age 18 and older to join them just for fun at 7:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and at 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday at the Port Aransas High School tennis courts on Station Street. Monthly adult round robin tennis tournaments are held the first Saturday of each

month. Free. See South Jetty

for updates. Also, many of the condominiums have tennis courts for use by their guests.

SERVICE CLUBS

Chamber of Commerce, (open to public) different locations and dates. Check weekly issues of the

South Jetty for location.

Keep Port Aransas Beautiful, second Monday of the month at 7 p.m., at the Community Center. See

weekly issues of the South Jetty

or visit www.kpab.org.

Kiwanis Club meets at noon every Wednesday at Jay's Seafood and Spaghetti Works.

Port Aransas Garden Club, monthly at 10 a.m. at the Community Center. See weekly issues of the

South Jetty.

Port Aransas Preservation and Historical Association, 749-3800, Web site, www.portausa.com. Different locations and dates.

Check weekly issues of the South

Jetty.

Rotary Club meets at noon on Thursday at Pelican's Landing.

THEATER

Port Aransas Community Theatre, 2327 State Hwy. 361, a nonprofit group of volunteer players, producers, directors, stage hands, etcetera that presents plays year round. Watch the South Jetty for current information.

ART

Art Center for the Islands: Nonprofit center of Mustang and Padre Islands, 323 N. Alister, Port Aransas. Exhibits works of art and houses a working studio and classroom as well as work space and gathering area for artists and students. First Friday artist receptions held monthly. 749-7334. See South Jetty for current information.

Fire It! Ceramics,513 N. Alister St., 749-7967. Paint it yourself ceramic studio where you can pick a piece, pick a paint and get creative.

Mustang Island Gallery, 2222 State Hwy. 361, 749-2200. Original art by nationally and internationally known artists - oil paintings, watercolors and sculptings.

Port A Gallery, 345 Alister next to Pelican's Landing, 749-7402. Original oil, watercolor, pastel and acrylic paintings, pottery, bronzes, marble, prints and giclees by local and nationally known artists.

SWIM/FITNESS

Port Aransas Community Park, 700 Clark Parkway, 749-2416. Heated public swimming pool, fitness trail, lighted Senior League ball field and lighted Little League field, sport court, putting green, birdwatching area. Open daily except Monday. Admission to park is free; admission to pool is free for children under age 2, $1 for 2 to 18, and $2 for those 19 to 59, and $1 for 60 and older.

Aerobics (low impact) classes, Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, Pollock Center behind Community Presbyterian Church. Times subject to change. Call 749-5319 for updates.

GETTING AROUND

Nautical Wheelers, 428 S. Alister, 749-3003. Rent Electric cars and beach cruising bicycles to tour the island.

Cars & Carts, Station Street and Avenue G, 749-1655. Rent beach buggies and cruise the beach.

Kawasaki Mules, 134 N. Alister, (361) 332-1965. St buggies and cruise the beach.

KITE FLYING

Fly It Kite Shop, 405 Cut-off Rd., 749-4190. Kites of every description.