Aransas Pass Texas
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| South Texas Coastal Bend Cities - Towns |
Aransas Pass
Above: Great Fishing!
Aransas Pass offers cool breezes and unique crystal clear waters, beautiful sea grass and the best bay fishing in the State of Texas. Aransas Pass prides itself on maintaining its charming small town atmosphere while hosting many professional fishing guides, kayak facilities, birding areas, parks, terrific aquatic center, wonderful downtown shops, restaurants, historic live theatre, and the most state-of-theart Civic Center in the entire region.
At the center of the Coastal Bend, Aransas Pass is located only 18 miles north of the metropolitan city of Corpus Christi with its big city conveniences. Visiting Aransas Pass gives you the true Bay-Area feel but in a close-knit community. A mild year-round climate with delightful weather – sunny, breezy days with evenings cooled by the Gulf Trade Winds makes it an ideal vacation spot equally attractive to summer and winter visitors.
Aransas Pass is named for the pass between Mustang and St. Joseph’s islands. Aransas Pass has a rich history beginning with the Karankawa Indians who used dugout canoes and fished with bows and arrows. The City of Aransas Pass was founded in 1909 by the promotion of a great land lottery. The firm of Burton and Danforth platted the area and advertised far and wide that lots would be sold for $100 each. The City developed a fishing and shrimping town that was the homeport for about 300 large shrimp trawlers, which would annually net millions of pounds of shrimp. Today Aransas Pass is still known for its shrimp and its recreational fishing. Each year Aransas Pass celebrates its shrimping heritage with the Shrimporee, a festival held over three days during the month of June.
| There are many marinas and boat ramps available, with the largest at the historic Conn Brown Harbor. This picturesque harbor setting is a favorite spot for photographers and is a preferred location to purchase fresh seafood... right off the boat. While at the Harbor, pay a visit to the Seaman’s Memorial Tower. The beautiful memorial is dedicated to those who have lost their lives at sea. |  Conn Brown Harbor |
Coastal bay and gulf fishing are among the best in Texas here. There are several inlets and bays to choose from, including the prolific Redfish and Aransas Bays. Residents and visitors alike take advantage of our bay systems offering year-round pleasure with a variety of fish. Bait and tackle shops are readily available. Join a deep-sea charter, hire a hometown guide, or launch your own boat. Fresh seafood from the coastal waters is served in restaurants or packed to take home.
Aransas Pass is located in with the South Central Flyway. Every year thousands of ducks migrate to Texas. Fourteen different species of ducks frequent our hunting region. Our vast shallow bays offer hunter’s bag limits of duck and geese. Crabbing, beachcombing, dolphin and bird watching are quiet pursuits designed to get you outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine. Nearly 500 species of birds travel through Aransas Pass. Visit dozens of birding sites along the Central Texas Coast Loop of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, which is some of the best bird watching in the U.S. Aransas Pass Nature Park located within the 36 acre Aransas Pass Community Park borders on Redfish Bay. This area has been set aside by the city as a haven for regional and migrating birds. Marshy and spotted with many fish breeding ponds, this area is abundant in species of waterfowl. One local favorite site is Newberry Park, the 1.2 acre small central city park is landscaped to attract birds, hummingbirds and butterflies as they pass through.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has setup the first of what is expected to be a network of integrated water trails for sea kayakers spanning the Texas Coast. The Aransas Pass Lighthouse Lakes Trails has been approved and marked with GPS coordinates and trail signs. It abuts a top fishing destination, Redfish Bay, which abounds in wading birds and waterfowl.
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The Lighthouse Lakes Trails are located in an area called North Harbor Island, just west of Port Aransas and north of the HWY 361 Causeway. There are a series of three individual, but interconnected, trails that can be easily accessed and followed by a series of trail markers. Come paddle through one of the most pristine and beautiful tidal flats on the Texas Gulf Coast. If indoors is more your style, go shopping in one of our many unique downtown shops where you’ll find nautical art, Texas originals, antiques and more. Stop in the Ed & Hazel Richmond Library, or visit the Rialto Theater for a dose of history and art. This gallery and live theater building opened in 1937 as a movie theater and has been renovated back to its original floor plan. Stop by on Tuesday nights for live music. |
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A must see is the Seaman Memorial Tower. Located at the harbor entrance and built May 9, 1970, this memorial tower is a monument to the fishermen lost at sea. Stop by and pay respects to those who gave their lives fishing the waters of Aransas Pass. |
Aransas Pass has hotels, motels and rental accommodations including more than 500 trailer spots for recreation vehicles. Hundreds of Winter Texans migrate from northern states each winter.
No matter how you spend your time in Aransas Pass, you will be sure to go home with plenty of great memories. Plan your next vacation adventure with us or stay for the rest of your life!
For more information, contact the Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce at 361-758-2750 / 1-800-633-3028 or visit www.aransaspass.org