I have a Monark 16 foot BIG john boat with a 35 hp motor, is it safe to take to the Corpus Christi/Port Aransas/Rockport area to fish?? I've never before been fishing on the coast, but after going down there last weekend, I have a strong desire to try it out! All Ive ever fished for were freshwater species & catfish with trotlines!I know absolutely nothing about where or how & what lures or livebait to use! Anyone have any suggestions, other than stay home?? LOL! Thanks for your help in advance, TLP

Where do you want to fish? Bays? Flats? Jetties? Deep Sea!?!?! You should be good in the flats as long as you know the water you're getting in. I would stay in flats 3-5 ft. deep. But make sure to get a map of the area before you go and take it with you. If not you could end up on Gilligan's Island. Also, make sure the winds aren't going to be gusting. Because a windy day can make any water dangerous! Especially in a 16ft. John Boat.

Good Luck!

Is the fishing good in downtown Corpus Christi marina around the jetties or in the bay area or Laguna madre??

If you want to fish the Redfish Bay area which is from Rockport to Port A to Aransas Pass you can launch from Cove Harbor or off of Hwy 361(Many ramps and bait stands), get a good map of the area, Academy has them. Watch for pvc pipes as they denote a reef or shallow areas. Until you get familiar with the area, I would stay in the channels and fish the guts that lead from shallow to deep water on an outgoing tide, as mullet said, watch the wind, a flat bottom boat, even a big one will not like choppy water. FYI- Do not uproot the bottom with your motor in the Redfish Bay State Scientific Area, You can run in shallow water but if your prop digs up mud, you can be fined as you are scarring the seagrass beds. Watch where you run.
Equip- 7 foot medium action rod with 12-14 lb test carolina rigged with a 1/4- 1/2 oz egg weight (depending on current),tied to a snap swivel,for a leader use a barrel swivel and 12-18" of 20lb mono tied to a 3/0 circle hook. Use live shrimp,finger mullet,piggie perch,or croaker. Lures -Saltwater Assassins,Gulp Alive, Gold Spoons,Etc.
Wash your boat and equip down good after the trip.

*No warranty is expressed or implied with the previous information *No guarantee of catching fish is warranted and you cannot hold informant liable for your bad luck....HAHAHA

If you ever need a fishing buddy to show you around down there, I could always use another friend with a boat that don't know where he's goin...........

Also, you need to have certain safety equip in the boat when on coastal waters; Lifevest, whistle or horn, throwable cushion,fire exstinguisher, Flares.

It is late and I might have missed something in that list, check the boating requirements on TPWD website, Coast Guard etc.

Thanks for the info Willie, I will check out the TPWD list for safety equipment. My wife wants to go down there, I think I may try to get a guide the 1st trip down, then plan on a trip down with my boat, there is some work I need to do on it & the trailer to make it ready to go that far. I'm gonna re-do my flooring in it & install some sort of sprayin liner instead of carpet& rebuild my console, put in some new seats to make it more comfortable to me, my legs start cramping if I sit too long! I will keep your message in a file for when I go without my wife!

Hank1951-
If you need a place to stay, I recently found an inexpensive place in Rockport. Not real scenic, but the price was right. 60 bucks a night for a one room cabin. PM me and I'll let you know the name of the place.

thanks Willie, I sent you a PM!