My wife and I and another couple are going to try and go deep sea fishing on a charter boat in mid February. We have never salt water fished and know nothing. I was hoping someone might stear us to a good boat and captain in the Port Aransas area or near by. Thanks

I have fished with these outfits, my last trip out of Dolphin docks was not my best. If its your first trip I might go with the scat cat and a short trip, 8-12 hours of chumming makes for a long day.
http://deepseaheadquarters.com/
http://dolphindocks.com/
http://wharfcat.com/

If your set on off shore I would do a 12 hr deepsea headquarters trip or find a captain that is willing to stay with in state waters and fish for red snapper. Not to sure who does this but if you call any of the three places along with port a out fitters someone will give you advice on who to use for a state water snapper trip. If you have never been in the salt try out the bay for your first trip. Closer to shore, private and very unlikely you would get sick plus you will learn a lot and catch plenty of tasty fish

Thanks guys! Good advice. I'll do some calling.

Lead Pencil, my hubby and I are going to be in Port A (from Michigan) for the month of February. If you are looking for another couple to split a charter, we'd be interested. Let me know, ok?

For me, they're all the same...'cuz I'm always on the floor slumped over a bucket...I call it my $200 weight loss and cleansing day!

That's why I "stay in the bay"!

LP & LR, might look into the Osprey party boat. Based in SPI, but they run out of Port Mansfield during the winter months and fish the Osprey II in state waters for red snapper. 8 hour trip, fishing inside of 9 miles of the beach. Cost is $100 or less per person.
limit is 4 snapper at 15", fished it a couple years ago, caught my 4 and about 15 more, biggest for me were about 5# each.
Caught some spanish macks, and other fish as well.
Lots and lots of winter Texans fish that boat frequently.
something to consider.



No argument with the DSH suggestion, but the bold part will be very hard to find as any permitted captain for federal waters can't fish the state waters with the same boat when snapper season is closed out deep.
Again something to keep in mind when talking to folks.

Thanks for the Osprey recomendation... I was looking also at a deep sea trip with the wife (she will be a spectator) and they offer a 40-dollar ticket for a spectator while I can pay a 100-dollar ticket. Not bad. http://ospreycruises.com/schedule/

How does Osprey compare to some of the other Party Boats at Fisherman's Warf in Port Aransas? I know the OP asked for "charter boats" so I assume he means "party boats" or "head boats" like these instead of the 2,000$ 4-person trips?

if you wife is going, add the 50 more dollars and catch her fish too. just my 2 cents

Thanks for the Osprey recommendation from us too!

Som & LR, not sure it was an recommendation as much as another avenue to explore.
Hard to compare the Osprey w/ either Scat Cat or Wharf Cat at FW.
S&W Cat run 75-80 people on a snapper trip, think the O was full at 28?(+/-)
Crew was competent, used Humbolt squid strips for bait. I used my own rigs and everything I caught except 2 snapper was caught on a 4 or 6 oz diamond jig.
You'll fish 85'-100' of water 8 to 8.5 miles out from Padre Island. You'll see vehicles on the beach and the dunes.
They do show preferential treatment to the regular Winter Texans and they'll lock down the back of the boat.
Didn't bother me, I fished 3/4's way up and probably caught more fish than anyone. Had a rookie fishing gal next to me, and she couldn't believe fish would bite the diamond jig.She ended up fishing the rig for a while and caught a couple of snapper.
There's a report from late March 2011 from me in the SW report section.
For the price it was a nice way to catch some fish, and visit with fellow Texans and fellow Americans.

Good, I haven't been on this site long enough to have caught there are party barges out of Port A (where we're staying) that are running during February. Are S&W Cat the only inexpensive way to get out on the water? I'll look them up while I wait for your answers.
Thanks again!

there are a bunch of boats for hire at port Aransas, depending on what you want. Bay fishing boats, deep sea boats, or rental boats yourself. The 3 major deep sea boats are the Deep Sea Headquarters, Fishermans Wharf, & Dolphin Docks.

The island Queen runs out of Port A and stays in the bay and around the jetties I know they catch fish because they always seem to show up at the spot I am fishing lol
http://neptune.inovastdesign.com/our-boats/the-island-queen/

Searay, you don't happen to know their approximate rate for a 4 hour trip, do you? I searched all over the website and couldn't find it....reservations, yes. Pricing, no.