Once a pirate port, today a beautiful city on Mustang Island, Port Aransas is a must-visit destination year-round. Hugged by the Gulf of Mexico, “Port A” boasts easy access to fantastic fisheries, and anglers come from all over to earn their bragging rights. While the action is excellent pretty much wherever you cast your line, deep sea fishing in Port Aransas reigns supreme.
When a city is famous for being the “Fishing Capital of Texas,” you know that fishing there is full of promise. If you’re thinking of coming down to experience the thrills of Port A, let us walk you through the basics…
Where to go deep sea fishing in Port Aransas
To get to the bluewater in the Gulf of Mexico, you’ll need to head at least 25–30 miles offshore. Locals advise traveling even further, to the continental shelf drop-off, where depths quickly reach over 600 feet. That’s why deep sea fishing charters here last longer (9–12 hours) – it takes time to get to the hotspots.
If you decide to go further out, 40 miles offshore is where water gets over 1,000 feet deep, and large fish roam. And if you’ve got the time and desire, you can keep going to the offshore rigs, some 50 miles from land. Trophy-sized fish feed around the rigs and anything from Marlin and Tuna to Bull Mahi Mahi are fair game.
For this unique sportfishing experience, you’ll need to book at least a 12-hour trip, though guides organize overnight and multi-day expeditions to the rigs. These trips are more expensive, but if you’re targeting monsters, they’re the way to go.
When is the best time to go deep sea fishing in Port Aransas?
The thing about premier fisheries is that they offer great catches constantly. No matter when you come to Port A, there will be something for you to land. Still, if you’re after truly big game fish, then summer is the time to go fishing.
Spring brings non-stop fun inshore, but bluewater action shouldn’t be neglected. In state waters (up to 9 nautical miles from land), Red Snapper are biting left and right. They’re an introduction to the summer appearance of the most sought-after species.
Come summer, all the offshore superstars join the fray, and Red Snapper season in federal waters is open. When you go deep sea fishing, you could hook into King Mackerel, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Marlin, and Tuna. Try your luck at bottom fishing and deep dropping for a variety of Snappers and Groupers, Tilefish, and even Swordfish. This is by far the best time to go out, but it’s also the busiest time for charter guides, so make sure to book your trip well in advance.
Fall months can be very productive, especially if you’ve got your eye on Blackfin Tuna, King Mackerel, and Red Snapper. Shark fishing is also very good this time of year, so you’ve got plenty of fighters to test yourself against.
During the winter, the weather makes it tricky to reach deep waters. The fish are still there, especially if you go bottom fishing, but you need calm and stable fishing conditions. That’s why most anglers stay inshore and wait for better days to head offshore. For more info about the best timing to explore the bluewater, check out our Port Aransas fishing calendar.
What fish can you catch?
When you venture out onto the Gulf, you’ll be rewarded with both quantity and quality when it comes to fish. Big game species are the norm here. Of course, there are some that are more popular than others, be it for their strength, speed, taste, or all three. Here are a few you can look forward to catching…
Snapper & Grouper
You’ll hardly find a fish more loved and frequently caught in Port A than Snapper. Red Snapper is on everyone’s to-catch list, partly because you can get them all year in Texas, partly because they’re delicious and beautiful. But they’re not the only Snapper you can find here.
Mangrove, Lane, and even Vermilion Snapper all live and thrive in the Gulf’s deep waters. The simple rule is that the further out you go, the bigger the bounty will be. You can target them when bottom fishing in waters that are several hundred feet deep.
Groupers have a similar reputation to their bottom-dwelling Snapper cousins, only they might not win in the “most beautiful fish” contest. Nevertheless, Black, Gag, and Goliath Grouper are great catches that every skill level of angler looks forward to. They roam artificial reefs and rigs and are voracious feeders. Once they bite, they won’t let go of the bait, and it’s up to you to maneuver and reel your fish up to the surface.
Fishing in 300+ feet of water could also put you on the trail of Broomtail and Scamp Grouper. They’re much rarer, but when you do get one on a line, it’s a cause for celebration.
Sailfish & Marlin
It wouldn’t be deep sea fishing in Port Aransas without us talking about the majestic Billfish. Summer marks the return of the strongest fighters in the Gulf, and this is the event of the season. Whether you’re after Blue Marlin, White Marlin, or Sailfish, from July to September, bluewater is your playground.
As you move over the 100-fathom curve, you get into the realm of Marlin. Blue Marlin are incredibly popular for their sheer size (they can weigh from 200–1,000 pounds) and power. White Marlin, though much smaller (up to 180 pounds), are just as epic of a catch and will wow you with their acrobatics and wit. The most productive technique to hook a Marlin is trolling.
Sailfish, the fastest of the Billfish, can hunt in shallower waters, but they prefer to do it in bluewaters. They show up during the warmest part of the year and stay until early fall. You can often find Sails around weedlines, waiting for their prey to unsuspectingly swim by.
Just like Marlin, they’re notorious for their fighting abilities and strong headshakes, which makes them more fun to chase. Sailfish often travel in small schools, so if you get one while drift fishing or trolling, stay in the area – double hook-ups are always possible.
Yellowfin & Blackfin Tuna
For a lot of fishermen, going after Tuna is the ultimate fishing experience, and you can definitely get your fill of it in Port Aransas. Both Blackfin and Yellowfin Tuna are on the menu during the summer months, the only difference is where you’ll find them.
Blackfins are frequently caught around Port A, and you don’t need to be an expert to get one on the line. What they lack in size (compared to their Yellowfin cousins), they make up for in numbers. For this reason, deep sea fishing guides can often put you on the Blackfin bite, even if you’re a beginner. Your prey will usually weigh up to 30 pounds, but they’ll fight for every inch of the line.
Yellowfin Tuna are harder to come by but well worth the time and effort. These gorgeous fish stick to offshore rigs, where there’s plenty of food and the water is deep. Yellowfins can easily weigh triple digits, and they’re fast and ruthless fighters. All this makes them challenging and exciting to catch – it’s like trying to reel in a freight train.
You’ll need to dedicate at least 12 hours to fish the rigs, but the trip and the fight will be worth it. Landing a Yellowfin is an experience you won’t soon forget.
King Mackerel & Wahoo
Some of the fastest pelagics you can find while deep sea fishing in Port Aransas are King Mackerel and Wahoo. While you can hook Kingfish not too far from the shore, big’uns usually keep to the bluewater. Wahoo, on the other hand, prefer to stay far from land at all times, so deep sea fishing is your best chance to reel one in.
Both King Mackerel and Wahoo are first-class predators and they’ve got the teeth to prove it. They feed close to the surface, so the best way to get them to bite is trolling live bait around the spots where they congregate. Good signs that King Mackerel are hunting close by are birds feeding on the surface and bait fish swimming away.
Deep sea fishing for Wahoo will take you far out, and the further out you go, the bigger these toothy fellas get. They respond well to live bait and their strikes result in reel-screaming runs that’ll leave you panting. If you encounter one around offshore rigs, they could weigh anywhere from 50–100 pounds. Getting a Wahoo into the boat is a feat of strength and smarts because their aerial displays are a thing of wonder. But what a catch they make!
And so much more…
You didn’t think that was it, did you? Port Aransas’ bluewaters are teeming with a wide array of game fish, it all depends on what you’d like to target.
The species we mentioned are all A-listers, but it doesn’t end there. Bull Mahi Mahi, Sharks, massive Cobia, and Barracuda are in the cards when you’re deep sea fishing. Sharks like Mako and Blacktip can grow to be huge, and weigh well over 100 pounds.
Bottom dwellers like Amberjack and Tilefish are also commonly caught on deep sea fishing charters. There are some captains who target mighty Swordfish close to offshore rigs, another Billfish that’s anything but easy prey. When you go deep sea fishing in Port Aransas, the only limit to what you can catch is your imagination!
Most Productive Deep Sea Fishing Techniques
Now that you’ve got the where, when, and what, let’s talk about the how. There are different ways to get a fish to bite, and every captain has their own secrets. We’ll talk about the two most popular and productive deep sea fishing techniques – trolling and deep dropping.
Trolling
It’s hardly surprising that we’re talking about trolling since it’s probably the most versatile fishing technique. You can cover a lot of fishing spots, and there’s no limit to what you can catch – King Mackerel, Sailfish, Wahoo, Tuna, Marlin, they’re all options.
Since you’re deep sea fishing, you’ll wait to get to bluewater (usually around 25–30 miles offshore) to start trolling. This is less of a hands-on technique – your choice of spots, bait presentation, and trolling speed are crucial. The crew will help you set everything up, but once a fish is on, the battle is yours.
You can use live bait or artificial lures, depending on what you’re targeting. Billfish generally respond better to lures that are trolled faster, so that they create a lot of commotion and noise. Smaller bait fish like ribbonfish are a treat for King Mackerel. If you’re going after big Tuna, you’ll need Mackerel or Mullet to get their attention, but once you do, you could start a feeding frenzy.
Deep Dropping
If you’re on the hunt for big bottom dwellers in bluewaters, deep dropping is the way to get them. Whether it’s Grouper, Snapper, or Tilefish, you’ll need strong equipment that will fare well in waters that are up to 800 foot deep. It’s important to know where to drop your line – captains use depth finders to find the right spots.
Jigging is a great way for hands-on anglers to get into deep dropping, because you’ll be manning the rod constantly. You’ll need a strong braided line and an appropriate weight to get it to the bottom that’s hundreds of feet below.
It’s recommended to use freshly cut bait (chunks of Tuna work very well) to attract Grouper, which aren’t picky eaters. The advantage of the braided line is that you’ll feel the bite as it happens and then you can start reeling. Getting your fish off the bottom won’t be easy, but as you pull them closer to the surface, the air in their bodies expands and they become more buoyant and easier to reel in.
The easier option is to use electric reels that will do a lot of heavy lifting for you. Simply put some cut bait on it, drop it to the bottom, and wait for the strike. Some guides even attach small strobe lights to their line to get the attention of fish even faster.
Anything else you need to know?
Just a few words on the legal side of things. Everyone who is 17 and older needs to have a valid Texas saltwater fishing license. It’s fairly easy to buy a license, and you can do it either online or in tackle shops, Walmart, and TPWD offices. Your charter guide will keep you in the loop of the current size and creel limits.
Competitive fishermen have their own reasons for coming to Port A. In the summer, there’s a whole series of tournaments in the city that you can participate in. The Deep Sea Roundup and the Texas Legends Billfish Tournament are the most popular deep sea fishing tournaments that competitive anglers love. People from all over the country enter the tournament for glory, prizes, and bragging rights. Why not join them?
Deep Sea Fishing in Port Aransas – You’ll Always Come Back For More!
The Fishing Capital of Texas has immense potential and no one knows this better than anglers who’ve tried their hand in these waters. Deep sea fishing in Port Aransas is the crown jewel of the local fishing scene – this is where you come when you want to experience some of the best action in the Gulf of Mexico. The best way to test it out? Try it yourself!
Have you ever been deep sea fishing in Port Aransas? What were your impressions? Is there something we missed? Share your experiences and stories in the comments.
