Surf Fishing

Another good no-boat alternative is surf fishing. The Coastal Bend has miles of remote beaches for fishing. The variety of species is pretty much the same as would be found in our bays, with a few exceptions. The surf offers speckled trout, redfish, drum, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, ladyfish, and pompano.

Surprising to some is that most of these fishes can be caught in what’s called the first gut, within easy casting distance of dry sand. Other times, you might want to walk about knee-deep into the surf to reach the second gut. Good surf fishing often depends on calmer conditions. A relatively flat surf and clear water seem to be best. These conditions can be available year round in the Coastal Bend.

Two parks, Padre Island National Seashore and Mustang Island State Park, are popular places to start. Beware of soft sand. A four-wheel-drive vehicle might be necessary under certain conditions, particularly on the remote National Seashore. But anglers may chose from miles of beachfront outside of these parks. 

Some of the best surf fishing (and beach combing) opportunities can be found on San Jose Island, accessible by taking the Jetty Boat out of Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Aransas. Also there is the north jetty, one of the best fishing jetties in Texas. 

Most mainland beaches require parking permits, which are available at area convenience stores and other coastal outlets.