Well,

Hunting season is obviously over and my two month break from outdoor activities is over (January and February). It was a great hunting season out West on the Texas High Plains. Lots of Mulies and white tail.

Anyway, My attention has turned back to the salt. The trout spawn is getting close and I have decided this year to expand my coastal range this year and leave my usual haunts in Galveston and the Matagordas. I'm thinking Rockport. I've never been to or fished the area and I think I'll give it a whirl.

I was wondering if any of you seasoned salts from the area could point out a couple of spots to get started. Tops map in tow I think we'll try and target the spawning trout and ofcourse reds. Also I was wondering if there were any "near shore" opportunities in the area for King Fish and maybe a snapper or two. We will likely make several trips to the area this year spring and summer.

Also, Marinas, lodging, boat ramps. I was wondering if there are any favorites that give the best access to several fishing hot spots. Thanks in advance and tight lines.

Palm Harbor Marina and fish the Estes Flats

I've been fishing the Rockport area for over 15 years and have fallen in love with the area and know it pretty well.

I would suggest you might look into finding a good fishing guide first so that you can learn some basics about the area and how the fish work in the area.

If you can't book a trip for your first time that you plan to go I suggest that you look into fishing south of Rockport. Mud Island, Traylor Island, and St. Joseph's across the Aransas Bay from Rockport are all excellent starting points. Traylor can especially heat up during the spawning time since it has a sand and grass bottom which I hear is ideal for spawning trout. Main thing though that I can suggest is to look for slicks. Over the years that's been the most surefire way I've found fish. Just go along the areas I suggested in a respectful distance from the shoreline looking for slicks.

As for the redfish, any of those areas will do but just go up shallow looking for the reds as opposed the the deeper water.

Also, this time of year you may want to look at Mesquite Bay, depending upon how fresh it is, since it seems to have more muddy bottoms.

I've never fished Galveston, but I have fished Port O and the main thing I can say as far as difference in the Rockport area is to not look for birds in the bay. I've never had success fishing under them in that area.

As for deep sea fishing from Rockport, you've got a little bit of a ride ahead of you because you have to go out of the jetties and Port A. It's around thirty minutes on a calm day but can be really fun and productive, especially in the summer. Look for schooling smacks in the jetties but if there is nothing there find the nearest oil rig and go at the kings with some ribbon fish. I did that a number of summers back and had a blast with it.

Also, in the summer when you get a calm surf you can get some excellent trout fishing going north of the Port A jetties. Look for lots of birds on the beach or diving from the air. If you can find the trout, you'll have a heck of a time catching the living daylights out of them.

Anyway I hope my advice can get you started on fishing this great area and that you'll have some excellent times.

P.S. Palm Harbor has the best burgers in town.

Daaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnn!!!!!!! LL & FW Don't Give all the Aransas Bay complex secrets away!!!!!!!!!!

Just Kidding will be plenty of good advice for Barstow.

Fish wrangler hit it on the head. I used to fish the spawn around Mud Island close to the old sunken boat out there.Been heading to Baffin the Last couple of years but with Fuel costs I am definitely going to stay closer to the launch this year.Backside of St Joes Island is another place that always seems to pay off.
Steve

if you do fish off of Mud watch the stringers.....the damn dolphins have stolen a few trout from me and my dad before, they are fearless.

haha, funny you bring that up because I had that happen to me there too. I threw my rod and everything in the water I was so frightened. Luckily, I only lost two fish, and it was fairly early.

See. I knew I could count on you "salty" characters to point a guy in the right direction. I appreciate the info. ANd yeah....Dolphins stealing trout...What a bunch of pot lickers! ha

hey fish wrangler..if someone was to be trying to catch them trouth north of the jetties around st. joesephs island...wut is the bait of choice?

whatever the fish are biting...

I won't give you a lame answer like that as my only answer, but i'm actually sort of serious. i've had days where the fish will turn their nose up at live bait for artificials and others where they'll only take live. you just got to find out what the fish are taking, so actually, it really does depend on what the fish are biting.

aiiight thanks man

How many folks have caught a dolphin by accident? A few years ago we were out int eh bay just through Yucca cut and saw a school of fish. We were hopin it was trout, but turned out to be a bunch of skip jacks....It was still fun though until the dolphins started eating the skip jacks we were reeling in.....That was something else....especially on a 7ft med-hvy rod....

Another thing...I have always wondering about sharks outt here and for the first time, we were catching bait at Yucca cut and some guys drug in a shark from out in the bay. The drug it up right next to us and I guess bled it out???? the water was red just like Jaws! Craziest thing I have ever seen.....Needless to say, my chicken butt got out of the water!

As far as giving away hot spots.....I have no idea if Estes Flats are still any good or not....years ago we would catch em all over out there....California Hole, Bird Island, Mud Island....we haven't been in a couple of years though...

There is still lots of good fishable water on the St. Joe shoreline starting at mud island and going North.

In the summer when it's hot, hit the mid bay reefs. Grab a hotspot map or your GPS shows most of em too if it is recent.

We love jumping out on those mid bay reefs on a hot day in the summer. Get about chest deep and you cool off nice while stringing some nice trout too!