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Springtime fishing is great
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| A boat captain, right, gaffs a wahoo in the Gulf of Mexico as the angler stays clear. Party boats and charter, or 'head,' boats make Port Aransas a haven for the saltwater angler. |
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As the air and water temperatures rise, spring and summer fishing in Port Aransas offers a greater variety of fish in sizes that measure from an inch to 12 feet, and from an ounce to 700 pounds.
An angler needs only to decide if he'll fish docks and bays, or go offshore to reap the saltwater bounty.
Factors in the decisionmaking process may include time, tackle, tummy and total cost.
It takes less time to get to the nearest fishing pier, the jetties or public dock than it does to get to the fishing grounds offshore.
With a few adjustments, the same tackle used for freshwater fishing can be used for saltwater fishing in shallow waters, so most people already have their tackle.
If you're prone to seasickness, an offshore fishing trip may not be one you want to take. Boat captains don't cut a fishing trip short just because someone lost his breakfast.
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| This 46-pound, 45-inch drum was caught by an angler fishing off the J.P. Luby Pier at Roberts Point Park. |
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Finally, it takes more fuel to get offshore than it does to troll the nearby waters, and between that and the heavier (as in weight and tab) tackle the total financial outlay is greater.
Bay/pier fishing
For the angler who wants to stay within sight of land - or never leave it at all, there are several species one can expect to find attracted to a well-baited hook.
For starters, piggy perch will thrill the small fry- or frustrate the serious angler by stealing his bait. If it gets too frustrating, keep the piggy perch and use them for live or cut bait.
Once past the piggy perch, a bay or channel angler is likely to find himself in a school of redfish, or come upon a "hole" where the speckled trout are feeding. Both are excellent table fare.
Flounder continue to bite during summer, though their numbers increase as the temperature drops. Anglers may also run into a few black drum, another fish that favors the cooler waters of fall and spring.
Fishermen who like the tug of the surf and want to cast lines from Horace Caldwell Pier (for a per person, per rod fee) or feel the rush of the waves as they test the waters standing in knee-deep water, will find other fish nibbling.
From the end of Horace Caldwell Pier, which extends 1,200 feet from the beach, anglers will often find sand shark, pompano, whiting, gafftop and croaker. The only questionable one among that group is the gafftop. It may not be what you'd like to serve for supper. Take note that while it is tasty, the croaker can be pretty boney.
The angler who stays to the beach or shallow surf is likely to reel in redfish (some of very large proportions) and some Spanish mackerel. While the redfish is a culinary delight, the mackerel will put up a lively fight- they're sometimes referred to as "skipjacks".
Anglers should be aware that Texas law requires them to own a fishing license, available at most convenience stores, grocery stores and fishing docks. Also, certain species are subject to bag and minimum and maximum size limits. Most charter docks have handy wallet-size cards with that information on them.
A chart specifying the size and bag limits is included in this Visitors' Guide as well.
An angler on his own may stake out his fishing grounds from one of the several free piers, the surf (watch out for surfers and swimmers and be sure you've got a current Beach Parking Permit attached to your front windshield), or jetties. With the exception of Horace Caldwell Pier, these are all free and open to the public.
Also available are fishing guides who can lead you to the most bountiful fishing holes in the area. Their expertise can, almost without fail, take you on a most rewarding fishing trip. A charter can be arranged through any of the fishing docks.
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