86 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Fall 2018 TheCoastalBend.com Port Aransas Fall brings the best weather and the best fishing of the year! Put simply, you really can’t do much better on the Gulf Coast than Port Aransas in the fall months. Not only do you get the cooler, dryer, California-style weather, but hotel and condominium rates are at their lowest of the year, the town and beaches are uncrowded, and best of all, fall in Port Aransas means the Redfish and Flounder are running through our channels! With the first major cold fronts of the season come thousands of mature game fish migrating from the bays and estuaries to the Gulf of Mexico. Like just about all animal species in the autumn months, saltwater fish are in the business of fattening up for the winter, which results in more aggressive feeding behavior and great fishing. In addition to the dozens of private fishing guides throughout the Coastal Bend including in Port A, all of the fishing centers along the marina can help you find a charter or party boat that will take you where the fish are running—and just about all provide gear and bait as part of their fee, which can range from $75 or so for a half-day party boat trip, to over $1,000 for a private charter with a professional guide on a first class bay boat. But you certainly don’t need to be on a boat to catch fish in the fall in Port A and on Mustang Island. The Port Aransas jetties, or course, provide ample access to the ship channel through which the fish run. Additionally, the boat channel along the back side of Mustang Island, in Corpus Christi Bay, is popular for wade and shore fishing, and the flats are where Flounder Gigging can reap great rewards in landing this tasty fish that is harder to catch on rod and reel. Because most accommodations on Mustang Island are condos and beach houses with full kitchens, a family fish fry after your angling adventure is a perfect plan, and just about all of the fine restaurants in Port A will happily prepare and cook your catch! PORT A HOLIDAY SHOP-AROUND Sat.–Sun. Nov. 17–18: Merchants throughout Port A open their doors this weekend before Thanksgiving, with great finds and great deals for the holiday season. Enjoy island cheer at each of the stops on the shopping route, as shop owners offer up their very best of the year for this much- loved annual event. Give yourself a long afternoon in Port A and enjoy lunch and/or dinner at one of the town’s wonderful dining spots. LONE STAR TASTE GEORGIA’S CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE ISLAND WINE BILLY JOE’S CRAFT HOUSE FUN WEEKNIGHT EVENTS IN PORT A Tuesdays this Fall: Billie Joe’s Icehouse is Port A’s one and only venue for stand-up comedy, and when combined with awesome food and unique craft beer, Tuesdays are turning into big evenings of fun on the island! 2216 Hwy. 361 • (361) 749-1714 Wednesdays this Fall: Locals love Island Wine, which specializes in Texas-made wine. Warrior Wednesdays feature special deals for active duty military and vets. 1726 Hwy. 361 HOLIDAY CHEER ABOARD THE RED DRAGON Red Dragon Pirate Cruises offers a unique setting for fun year-round, a replica pirate ship featuring a mighty entertaining crew of pirates. Mon. Nov. 26: Happy Hour Tour—The 21+ holiday cruise party. Sat. Dec. 1: Pirate Ship Christmas Tour—Enjoy Port A festivities aboard the Red Dragon! RedDragonPirateCruises.com