My dad has a 22' blazer center console with a 225 merc on it. Is a boat like this sea worthy out to say, 10 miles, assuming the seas are light and the motor is reliable. What kind of fish can be found primarily in the 2-6 mile out range from port aransas?

6-9 miles out packrey reefs

Snapper, trigger depends on the time of year.

I'd say you can go 50 miles out in that boat please look it up BIG FISH LITTLE BOAT! I did that already I went 100 mile round trip in a boat with 50 gallons of gas and 2 spare 6 gallon tanks it was awesome now I'm carrying 158 gallons to make a 200 mile trip

I have very little offshore experience and even I know 50 miles offshore is just dumb in a 22' boat. What if a storm comes up or you break down with a single motor? It could be days before someone finds you. Im looking to have fun, not turn in to a search and rescue mission.

We caught a juvenile blue marlin 25 miles out of Port A in my buddy's 22' Bay Stealth years ago. You gotta pick your days and keep up regular maintenance on your motor. During the summer there are tons of boats running in that range so even if the worst happens and your motor conks a working VHF radio will save your bacon. Storms popping up out of nowhere is your biggest concern in a flat deck bay boat. I ran my 21' Cape Horn out 50 miles many times but that boat was a beast even in rough water and could handle storms with the higher bow than bay boats.

With little experience offshore I would recommend you starting out closer and getting the feel for it. You have lots of great rigs just 4-6 miles offshore, the Packery Reef mentioned above and the tanker anchorage to work with. You can catch Kingfish, cobia, sharks, jacks, tarpon, small grouper, bonita, spanish macks, snapper, red & black drum and even the occasional sailfish in those waters.

Awesome, thanks for the information, where can I get a map that shows where theses reefs and wrecks are?

Yea this idea is going to keep you from ever making it to the blue water there ain't no storms and you can see people in boats driving by the game warden cruise boats manned and Un manned oil rigs with ladders going up if you can get from McKinney to South dallas you can make it a few miles offshore I don't see what people are afraid of I picked up 2 guys 5 mies out in a kayak and they were drunk and laughing about sharks took all their bait. The one guy even had a hammerhead shark tattoo. I'm telling you you be alright.

I have little experience I ain't never broke down I ran out of gas and out of oil and out of battery but I made it back

Get on 2Cool and look up Ms. Mary in the blue water forum. Her late husband published a book with most all TX offshore structure. Short of that I can PM you some of the numbers.

Awesome, I appreciate it, If we go, I think we'll stick to <10 miles out for now, better safe than sorry. Id love to catch some offshore fish on my own.

They aren't much to eat but in April the jack creval move in around the end of the jetties. You can get some fantastic topwater action on them.

ive caught one before, an incredible fight for sure

Here's something not mentioned besides making sure to have all the necessary safety equipment and a radio: (cell phones don't work typically past nine miles off shore)
Get a buddy or two and crew one or two other "mosquito fleet" boats to go out with you.
I've taken my 20ft bay boat up to 40 miles offshore. Keep in mind my motor is only 3 years old, I take all safety equipment, I file a "flight plan" with my wife at home and show her on a map specifically what spots I'll be hitting and when I'll return. I never turn my motor off out there and always wear my life vest and kill switch. It can be done safely, but you have to watch the weather constantly. I don't go until I have a weather window of 1-2ft seas that lasts two days or more.
A few things that can be caught 20-30 miles out- snapper, triggerfish, ling, kingfish, bonito, mahi, sharks

It can get bad quick and if you loose power with 10 foot plus seas it is not a fun situation.

That would be a very good limit to have. I've taken my 18' bay boat out to about 30 miles on FLAT CALM days with 24-48 hours of similar condition expected, but if there's any breeze, or waves over 1' forecasted, then 10-12 miles is about it. You can find lots of good fishing within that range, especially if you find a weedline where the blue & green water meet.

With a 22' boat, it might be wise to install a small kicker motor - say 9.9hp - as a backup. It won't get you home fast, but it'll get you home if the big motor breaks down.