Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Corpus Christi
Buzz around the relatively protected bay. Rent Jet Skis and boats at places such as CC Fun Time Rent-
als (
Click here
).
Port Aransas
Off the northern tip of Mustang Island, outside Corpus, you can get into some serous Gulf swell. Rent
three-seater Jet Skis at Woody's Sports Center (
Click here
).
South Padre Island
Numerous water-sport outfitters rent both boats and Jet Skis. Beachside concession stands also of-
fer banana-boat inner- tube rides.
Lake Travis
Rent a boat from Lakeway (
Click here
) and explore one of the richest coasts in Texas. After admiring the
Austinites' mansions, find a marina restaurant to stop at for refreshment.
Fishing
Towns all along the coast provide access to charter fishing in the Gulf of Mexico; here
anglers hunt for everything from red snapper and wahoo to shark and big-game marlin.
From the piers and jetties along the coast you can catch redfish, flounder, and speckled
and sand trout.
Best Places to Fish
Port Aransas
Fishing is big business here. Arrange a four- to eight-hour charter with outfitters such as Deep Sea
Headquarters (
Click here
).
(North) Padre Island
Shore fishing is popular among Corpus Christi locals; you can have Padre Island Safaris (
Click
here
) organize a surf-casting trip or charter a boat for a trip in and around the National Seashore.
South Padre Island
(
Click here
) Wander the docks and talk to the skippers along the piers on the lagoon side of South
Padre; you'll soon find one who offers the boat charter of your dreams.
Rockport
Look for fishing-boat charters along Rockport Harbor (
Click here
)
.
Galveston
Charter fishing outfits (
Click here
) line up along Pier 19 on the bay side of Galveston Island.
Licenses
A fishing license is required for all anglers older than 17. A one-day, all-water license is
$11 for Texas residents, $16 for non residents. An entire year costs residents $30 and non-
residents $68. Texas Parks & Wildlife licenses are sold online and at sporting-goods
stores, such as Academy, at bait and tackle shops and at some park offices.
Diving & Snorkeling
Diving in the Gulf of Mexico is challenging and not recommended for beginners. The
most interesting sites are located 40 or more miles offshore, where the water is very deep
and divers are subjected to open-water waves and weather conditions.
