George Gongora/Caller-Times CASTING A LINE: Corpus Christi features miles of accessible shoreline and beaches, plus several piers and jetties, for year-round fishing in the bay and gulf waters. The most commonly targeted species here are spotted sea trout, red drum and flounder.

Area is fisherman’s paradise

Wade, fly and deep-sea anglers come here to catch Gulf’s bounty

By David Sikes
Caller-Times

Whether wading in seagrass flats for redfish, paddling a bait into the surf for sharks or motoring 50 miles into the Gulf for big game, the Coastal Bend delivers.

The year-round fishery that surrounds Corpus Christi features miles of accessible shorelines and beaches, numerous piers and jetties, bay waters as far as the eye can see and deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico for everything from red snapper to marlin.

The most commonly targeted species are the big three: spotted sea trout, red drum and flounder.

Fishing Guide Licenses/tackle Where to purchase fishing licenses/tackle: ----Academy Sports & Outdoors, 4914 S. Padre Island Drive, 992-9022 ---Roy’s Bait & Tackle Outfitters, 7613 S. Padre Island Drive, 992-2960 ---Oshman’s Sporting Goods, 5858 S. Padre Island Drive, 993-0572 ---Wal-Mart: 4833 S.Padre Island Drive, 994-9010 10241 S. Padre Island Drive, 937-2643 1821 S. Padre Island Drive, 854-0943 3829 U.S. Highway 77, 387-0599 --Woody’s Sports Center (Port Aransas), (361) 749-5252 --Rockport Tackle Town, (361) 729-1841 --Many area Circle K stores On the Net The Coastal Bend is full of tucked-away angling gold mines, and some of the best ones don’t even require a boat. Local aficionados give insight into some of the wade fishing hot spots. Visit www.caller2.com/2001/april/ 29/today/localspo/24782.html Access past outdoors columns by David Sikes at caller.com/ outdoors

Secondary species include sheepshead, black drum, shark, gafftop, whiting, pompano and offshore fish such as red snapper, king mackeral, wahoo, yellowfin and blackfin tuna, grouper, ling, dorado, amberjack and more.

Live-bait fishing

The easiest and most common way to catch fish is with live bait, usually shrimp, which generally is available year-round in the Coastal Bend. Bait shops and marinas are concentrated in several areas throughout the region. They’re easy to find in Rockport, Aransas Pass, Port Aransas or under Corpus Christi’s JFK Causeway, which spans the Laguna Madre.

The bayfront has one on the L-Head and another bait camp is just across the Harbor Bridge at the mouth of Nueces Bay.

Marina workers freely provide information and advice on what baits and artificial lures are working best at a given time. For the novice, several hundred fishing guides will be happy to provide boat transportation, tackle and expertise for a fee. The professionals provide the nearest thing to a sure angling bet at around $350 to $450 a day, depending on party size.

Surf fishing

For those who prefer to go it alone, surf fishing in the Gulf of Mexico can provide fast action in a convenient beach setting. Two parks, Padre Island National Seashore and Mustang Island State Park, are popular places to start.

However, some of the best surf fishing (and beach combing) opportunities can be found on San Jose Island, accessible by the Jetty Boat out of Woody’s Sport Center in Port Aransas.

Saltwater fly-fishing is another sometime solitary pursuit that is growing in popularity in the Coastal Bend. And it doesn’t require a boat. The shallow grass beds and sandy flats of the Coastal Bend are well suited for stalking redfish, a favorite game fish.

For fly-fishing advice, try Roy’s Bait & Tackle Outfitters in Corpus Christi and Port A Outfitters in Port Aransas.

Deep sea fishing

For a more sociable fishing experience, Port Aransas, just north of Corpus Christi, is best known as deep sea central in the Coastal Bend. Several party boat outfits and dozens of charter boats operate out of this small fishing village. Deep-sea charter boats are also available for private parties. Either way, expect a 20-50 mile trip into the gulf.

For anglers with boats, the opportunities are endless. But beware, much of the waters hold shallow reefs, rocks just below the surface and impassable shallow flats.