88 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Late Summer 2018 TheCoastalBend.com Port Aransas Anglers from throughout the United States descend upon Port Aransas in most every month of the year, to enjoy consistently productive game fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the bays and inlets on the back side of Mustang Island. Port A is home to dozens of private fishing guides as well as large party boats, which together comprise the largest sportfishing fleet on the Texas Gulf Coast. Public fishing centers are located along the Port A Marina, including Fisherman’s Wharf, Woody’s Sport Center, Dolphin Docks and Deep Sea Headquarters, and all provide gear and bait as part of their fee, which can range from $70 or so for a half-day party boat trip, to over $2,000 for a private charter with a professional guide on a first class boat. But you certainly don’t need to be on a boat to catch fish in the summer in Port A and on Mustang Island. The Port Aransas jetties, or course, pro- vide ample access to the ship channel through which big 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 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 per- fect plan, and just about all of the fine restaurants in town will happily prepare and cook your catch! Woody’s: (361) 749-5252 Fisherman’s Wharf: 749-5448 Dolphin Docks: 749-4188 Deep Sea HQ: 749-5597 THE BEST SALTWATER FISHING ON THE TEXAS COAST IS IN PORT A