When the first cool fronts roll into Port Aransas, the bays start to change—and so do the fish. Mullet begin moving, shrimp start shifting toward deeper water, redfish get active, and trout change their habits almost overnight. Here’s what really happens from the first fall norther through winter and into the spring warm-up, including what bait to use, what you can still find at the bait stands, and when it is worth breaking out the cast net.

Turn an ordinary surf session into a five-species opportunity with one simple setup: a tough double-hook pompano rig, a spider surf weight, and E-Z Shrimp FishBites. See why this combo is built to hold bottom, survive hard casts, and tempt pompano, redfish, black drum, trout, and whiting.

Local Port Aransas fishing knowledge matters, but saltwater fishing goes far beyond our waters. Here is a nationwide resource we think every serious saltwater angler should know about.

Some fish taste noticeably better when they are bled immediately after being caught. This article explains which saltwater species need quick bleeding the most, where to cut, and how proper icing helps produce cleaner, better-tasting fillets.

Gulf Coast weather can turn from calm to dangerous in minutes. A fast-moving squall can bring high winds, lightning, rough water and poor visibility before you have time to react. Learn how to spot the warning signs, get audible alerts, carry the right emergency gear and make the call to head home early—so you can live to fish another day.

Forget the groundhog. If you want to know whether the fish are biting, look at the tide, the bait, the water temperature, and the wind — not a shadow. This funny but practical fishing wisdom article explains what really turns the bite on.

Learn fishing knots the easy way with hand-picked YouTube video tutorials. Whether you’re tying leaders, hooks, lures, or rigs, these step-by-step demonstrations make it easier to see exactly how each knot comes together.

When a lure has been catching fish for more than 100 years, it is not riding on nostalgia—it works. Around Port Aransas, the Johnson Spoon shines in grass, shell, potholes, jetties, and moving tide. Here’s why this simple, weedless classic still belongs in every saltwater tackle box.

You don’t need every lure on the tackle wall to catch fish. Learn how water clarity, current, temperature, time of day, and target species can help you pack just enough artificial lures and plastics without overcomplicating your tackle box.

Bait costs too much to waste. Before you feed your leftovers to the seagulls or dump them at the marina, save them for your next trip. With a simple lidded container, a little freezer space, and a few easy chum-mix ingredients, yesterday’s leftover bait can help you catch tomorrow’s fish.

When Port Aransas still smelled like bait, salt, and sunburn. A sentimental look back at fishing, family, ferries, crab nets, and the little coastal town that raised part of us.

Learn how to spot bait, catch it with simple tools, keep it alive, and rig it naturally so trout, redfish, flounder, snapper, and more can’t resist.