Sunday, October 21, 2001

27 Fishing

George Gongora/Caller-Times

Not even the smallest fisherman will be disappointed with the right waters, the right equipment, a little luck and plenty of patience. Plenty of piers, jetties and charter boats present countless opportunities to make a big catch.

Tangled lines, rusty tackle and smelly bait are no match for the joy of trying to snag a meal with hook and skill. Don't forget an alternative plan for supper, though. Thankfully, seafood markets are also abundant here.
   Freshwater opportunities
   Lake Corpus Christi near Mathis; Choke Canyon Reservoir near Three Rivers; Coleto Creek Reservoir near Victoria.
   Price of failure
   The market price of red snapper in Corpus Christi ranges from about $4.50 to $5 per pound; flounder, $4 to $4.50 per pound; black drum: $2 to $3 per pound; farm-raised redfish: $4 to $5 per pound.
   Fish mounts
   Trout and reds up to 30 inches: $11.50 per inch; Redfish longer than 30 inches - $15.50 per inch; Marlin (plastic cast)- $14 per inch
   Price of fishing
   Rod/reel combos range in price from $20 for what amounts to a disposable rig to about $300-$500 for a graphite rod and top-of-the-line reel.
   Finger-fish
   The CCA/CPL Marine Development Center in Flour Bluff releases as many as 16 million tiny redfish and about 5 million trout into area bays annually.
   Most popular saltwater bait
   Live shrimp.
   Bait prices (approximate)
   Live shrimp: 15 cents each; $6/pint; $11/quart; dead shrimp: $5 pound or $2.75 half-pound; piggy perch: $5/dozen; croaker: $6/dozen; squid: $3/pound
   Texas size
   State record speckled trout: 13 pounds, 11 ounces, caught February 1996 in Baffin Bay south of Corpus Christi by Jim Wallace of Houston.
   Fish factory
   About 60 percent of the saltwater fish caught in Texas come from Laguna Madre and its offshoot bays.
   Piers and jetties
   Bob Hall Pier
   At Padre Bali Park, widely considered one of the best fishing piers on the Texas coast. During summer and early fall, tarpon, kingfish, sharks, speckled trout, redfish, drum, Spanish mackerel, whiting and other species are caught regularly. Lighted, never closed. Concessions, bait, tackle and rod rental available during the day. Call 949-7437.
   Horace Caldwell Pier
   In Port Aransas, lighted, juts 1,280 feet into the Gulf from Mustang Island. Always open. Trout, redfish, black drum, sheepshead, sand trout, gafftop, pompano and shark are among the most common catches. Concessions, bait, tackle and restrooms available during the day. Rods and reels are available to rent. Call the Pier House Restaurant at (361) 749-2031.
   Urban piers:
   On Corpus Christi Bay, Indian Point Pier in Portland provides easy access to waters that hold gafftop, drum, redfish, specks and other species. Call 643-8555. No need to call or pay admission to the pier at Cole Park.
   Deep sea, deep pockets
   Port Aransas is best known as deep sea central in the Coastal Bend. And party boats are the least expensive way to reach blue water. These offshore adventures range in price from $60 per angler for an eight-hour trip to $335 per angler for a 48-hour trip. These large boats also are available for large private party charters. Species vary on trips. Common catches include red snapper, shark, kingfish, tuna, wahoo, dorado, grouper and ling.
   Offshore outfits:
  

Dolphin Docks - (800) 393-3474
  

?Deep Sea Headquarters - 881-8202
  

Fisherman's Wharf - 888- 8093
  

Offshore Adventures - (800) 567-5132
   Private charters
   Out of Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Rockport and Aransas Pass generally run $700 for two anglers and $60 for each additional angler for a full-day of fishing on boats that generally range in length from 30 feet to 50 feet.
   Bay charters
   Nearly 400 bay-fishing guides offer boat- and wade-fishing in near-shore waters from Rockport to Kingsville. Prices generally start at about $400 a day for two anglers, plus a little more for each additional angler. Contact the Coastal Bend Guides Association at (361) 776-0364.
  
  

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