I am coming into Rockport for a few days to fish & relax. I have not been on a week long vacation in 12 years. I haven't been salt water fishing in probably 15 years or more.

I would like to go out on a big boat (like The Dolphin or Scat Cat) but I would also like to do a little pier fishing. I do not have a saltwater rig.

Other than Walmart where should I look for a basic rod & reel?

What can you recommend for basics for this trip?

I have a good well stocked bait fishing tackle box for freshwater.

I went there earlier this month. my first time to saltwater fish,a welcome change from Odessa/Midland area.Me and my wife fished the piers and hired a guide one day,there is a tackle warehouse type place on Fulton drive by the water.other than that the Walmart has a pretty good selection of tackle being close to the water .I just rigged my bass rig with power pro braided line 40 lb and fished with shrimp.You can buy it at a number of baitstands there.Have fun and good luck ........look at my youtube movie in this section in Shark ate my redfish.Dognot

Party boats...Dolphin docks would be my spot for party boats..
get the 12 hour trip and you will catch fish and have fun..they supply rod,reel,bait --you need to bring your cold water and food..,,food and drink on board is expensive..the short 5 or 8 hour trips do not produce.
The bay areas are good up and down the Aransas pass flats wading in along the bridge piles,cuts..packery channel is good for fish in the jetty toward Corpus.Rock Port areas are ok...In Rock Port there is a bay fishing part boat you can go out on and in Port Aransas there is a bay fishing party boat ..they produce fish as well...Your freshwater gear--rods and reels will be fine.make sure your line is 12# and up..
Use fresh shrimp carolina rigged..The harbor rocks in Port A
are real good early and late...I fish the surf in port A using fresh dead shrimp..you will catch a lot of whiting,sand trout wade in the surf to the second sand bar and cast out to the gut sand cuts..larger fish use cut fresh mullet.Lures use chrome /blue-- gold/black rattle traps--silver johnson spoons or gold johnson spoons.or speck rigs with chartreuse curly tail grubs or new penny color--or white green tail gulp shrimps.egg slide weight on line above speck style rig.
When finished fishing in saltwater each day..make sure you wash your fresh water tackle and hard baits in fresh water real good..salt water will corrode everything..
Have fun!

you will find tackle everywhere down there. I suggest fishing the pier at goose island its very relaxing and a nice pier it costs a few bux but very nice for trout buy a popping cork setup.

Monday - Deep Sea Headquarters 8 hour trip

(missed Dolphin Docks boat because I am directionally illiterate and missed my turn to take the ferry, so of course they left without me)

Two hours running to fish - I caught one shark and one red snapper. Deck hand cut my line because reds are out of season. One fella caught a sandbar shark - also had to cut line. There was one wahoo caught and one king plus 19 other sharks. Limit was 20 (same as number of fishers on the boat). Two hours back in to land (total fishing time realistically around 3 hours for $100) I was happy to catch my shark but disappointed in the amount of fishing time.

Tuesday - I started out on a resort pier, lots of little perch on brine shrimp. No wind today and by 11:00 I was nearly melted. Ate lunch, trying Goose Island after my nap.

Couldn't get any help in Tackle Town, apparently the sidewalks rolled up at the end of yesterday. Went to 5 places today before I could get lunch.

Did you fish at goose island? How was it?

Goose Island was great. I didn't catch anything bigger than 2 pounds and didn't see anyone else do any better but I had a blast.

Lots of people to visit with for one thing.

Omigosh there are mosquitoes there - I haven't seen a mosquito in two years (living in Midland, no rain, certainly no standing water) I didn't recognize them at first.

I caught a couple of small drum, some small spotted trout and a ton of perch. I fished with brine shrimp, fresh shrimp and worms.

I also fished the Copano Bay pier.

I fished the Copano Bay Pier on Wednesday evening 9/4 from 5pm to 10pm

There was a steady flow of people coming & going that entire time. I had fresh shrimp for bait again and some brine shrimp.

I probably caught about 60 little fish that evening. Some small trout and perch again. The fellows next to me caught one hard head and that was it for them. I didn't see anything any better caught that evening so unless it picked up after 10:00 I guess the fishing there was pretty slow.

Over at Goose Island Pier I caught this hideous looking catfish, I think they are called stargazers. I am trying to attach the photo. Every time I catch one of these I think of some prehistoric creature surviving the dinosaur era....

and where is the right location, will be in port a next week

Will be in Port A starting the 21st, hope I find the right spots.

Try talking to Dean and Jennifer for any info needed. You might even want to try renting a kayak and just seeing the sights.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Re...Pass_Texas.html

Tides are up - another tropical wave due in Thu./Fri - then we'll see sunshine and receding tides until the fall equinox.

make your plans accordingly ...

What will this do to the fishing??