I understand that this forum is geared more to guided fishing trips but they are out of the question for me. I wondered, would anyone have any helpful insights for land or pier based fishing in the Rockport area from now through next spring. I had been contemplating the Galveston area but an acquaintance mentioned Rockport and, on Google, Rockport looks about a hundred times nicer, and the driving time from my place is the same.

Any helpful advise would be greatly appreciated.

Lots of quality wade spots. Get a wade and paddle map.

Island Jim should be around shortly. He lives there.

Thanks Pat but paddling or wading are also not activities I am physically able to do - though I would love to.

If you head over to Port A, there's a park right when you get off the ferry to your left. Robert's Point Park. There's a bulkhead that I see people fishing from. There's also a bulkhead that goes around Conn Brown Harbor in Aransas Pass that people fish from. You can drive right up to where you want to fish. There's a fishing pier there too with several bait houses near by. On 361 going to the ferry landing on the Aransas Pass side, you can fish on either side (Sailboat channel on the right and Shrimp Boat Channel on the left) and get pretty close with your vehicle. There's Lighthouse Lakes on the left before you get to the ferry landing. If you're willing to travel a bit, you can go to Access Rd 2 on the Port A side and fish the beach there. No parking permit needed if you go toward the State Park. There's Packery Channel if you go a little further, And then, of course, Padre Island National Seashore. If you are a veteran, the seashore is free. I have not fished off land anywhere around Rockport. By boat, there's lot's of options.

Thank you much sir - I will google all and see what may work best for me. Are there chances to catch redfish between now and the spring at these locations?

Robert's Point Park looks about perfect to me - that will be my starting point. Thank you sir!

I'll try to help. Up North, Goose Island State Park has a long, lighted fishing pier. $5 entry, I think, unless you're a senior, and it's $3. At the South end of the
LBJ Causeway bridge, there's seawall and pier fishing, by the boat ramp. Fulton has a nice fishing pier. They charge by the rod, but veterans fish free. In Rockport, Little Bay has roadside fishing that can be good. The Marina in downtown Rockport has numerous piers and a seawall for fishing. At the end of Market Street, there's a lighted pier for fishing in the Marina entrance. Conn Brown harbor in Aransas Pass has a pier and seawall fishing. Ransom Road boat ramp has a fishing pier or two. Leaving Portland, heading toward Corpus, Indian Point Pier, recently re-furbished, is a good fishing spot. As mentioned, the seawall in Port Aransas park, by the ferry landing is a popular spot. Heavy weights required, because of the tides. There's also a new fishing pier at the end of Station Street that's in the channel, and should be great. Most of these spots are free, seldom crowded, most lit at night. Bait shops are everywhere. The Coastal Bend is very welcoming. If you can't find good spots here, free fishing spots on the rest of the Coast will be much harder to find. Have fun. IslandJim

Thank you sir - this is great.

Between you and Maliubu6501 I have lots of googling to do and I could not be more grateful to you both!

Awesome looking fishing spots, gentlemen - MUCH better looking than Galveston. Robert's Point and the new pier end of Station Street seem about perfect, and it looks like (on google) that I will be able to navigate the the rocks some, at the jetty at the boat harbor entrance.

As I did when I lived in Hawaii, I am going to break the mold and not use bait.

There's zero reason to sling meat in that part of the world if you're looking for the bay trifecta.

Thanks for the encouragement Pat! I have always preferred casting lures and I am looking forward to doing some fishing again - its been too long.

I’m boatless bank trash this week but should be back in action by Saturday.

Hit me up if you want some back lakes action. Trout have been outstanding, redfish a challenge

Pat,

How many years have you been fishing the area you live? Do you stick to San Antonio Bay or do you fish Matagorda too?

San Antonio/Esporito mostly.
Couple of Mansfield trips.
Buddy lives in Port Alto so mostly the Keller Bay Area.

I have a friend who lives in Rockport. He has been catching some big reds with the high tides lately.

Let us know when you are going down there and I'll try to get you some places to fish. He has been fishing the cuts when the current is moving.