You have the freedom to choose the best places to fish in Texas without a boat. Texas is an angler friendly state, and if you want to fish on the weekend, you don’t need the hassle of taking along a boat. The area of Corpus Christi, in particular, has miles of shoreline that is open to the public. There are lots of convenient piers open for fishing and jetties along the gulf and other bay areas.
Fishermen who don’t have boats have lots of affordable options and some fishing spots are even free. Adult anglers will need to present a fishing license, but children below seventeen do not. A lot of the fishing spots are family-friendly while others are for the more adventurous angler. Some of the piers sell equipment such as bait and also give advice and knowledge at no charge at all.
Best places to fish in Texas without a boat—Top 10 places
Bob Hall Pier
This best places to fish in Texas without a boat spans more than a thousand feet and is located on the Island of Padre. This pier is a good spot to fish all year round, and it is especially convenient for folks who don’t want to go far from Texas’s city. If the waters are green, fishermen can usually catch shrimp along with fish. If the tide is murky, you can use shrimp live or dead as bait along with fishing strips and lure drum or redfish.
The pier is open twenty-four hours and operates all year round. Some species of fish that can be found here are trout, redfish, pompano, kingfish and black drum. The cost for fishing per person is 3 dollars, and the rent per pole is 4 dollars.
Bird Island Basin
This fishing spot has acres of shallow level seagrass. It is located at the back of the Island of Padre and can be accessed with a kayak. It is crucial to understand the parking rules of this fishing area. The boat ramp parking lot on the main island only has four spaces for non-handicap vehicles without trailers.
If you happen to park illegally, the fines can be expensive. There are more parking spaces at the northern end of the area. You can use a kayak or just park and wade to the southern part of the ramp from the parking lot on the north where the windsurfing and kayak shops are also located. However, in the months of January thru April, there are a lot of campers in the area making it difficult to traverse this part. People who own or rent kayaks normally head to the spoil islands.
Kayakers also paddle either north or south where the water is clear from the seagrass. Anglers who don’t have a kayak can wade through the shoreline of the island or toward the seagrass drop-offs located at the north or south of the basin. There should be no worries since the bottom of the waters are firm.
A day pass would cost 10 dollars while a week pass will cost 20 dollars. An all year pass costs 40 dollars.
Directions
Cross the JFK highway to get to the island and follow 22 Park Road. Follow the route for 10 miles until you enter the Island of Padre. From there you should be able to sight Bird Island Basin boat ramp and parking lot.
Padre Island National Seashore
This best places to fish in Texas without a boat is located on the north side of the island of Padre not far from Corpus Christi. There are 65 miles of surf fishing along the gulf beach of his national park. However, beyond the first four lines of the beach, riding a four-wheel vehicle is recommended. Cell phone signals are not reliable in this area.
The park’s boundary from the port of Mansfield is marked by a jetty. Many anglers use tackle that is light with either live or fake lures, but fishing for shark is also prevalent. The best season to come here is on the warm season of June and autumn but calm waters in any season is a good time to go fishing. If you want to catch some pompano go in the cooler months
Ten dollars gives you park entry for an entire week while annual passes cost twenty dollars.
Directions
From the JFK highway go to the island and follow the route to Park Road 22 and drive for ten miles until you reach Padre Island. From there, go to the Main Park road until you enter the beach. Go right and about four miles from the beach you will be asked to take a four-wheel vehicle to the seashore.
Indian Point
This best places to fish in Texas without a boat is a well-known fishing spot near Corpus Christi Bay. You will get to find a lot of oyster shells here since the bottoms are hard with deep guts. You need to wear appropriate clothing, and it will be good to wear waders to shield you from jellyfish during the hotter months. Reef boots that are hard soled are also recommended and are good for wading among shells.
Directions
From Corpus Christi enter the Harbor bridge that will take you to Portland. To get to the pier, take the Indian point exit. To get to the park, exit Moore avenue. Before you get to Moore avenue, you have to turn right to Bayview boulevard and follow straight to Sunset road then turn right. This route will take you to Sunset park and Corpus Christi shoreline. You can find a parking spot on this road. If you fish in the park, certain rules and regulations apply. You cannot cast a net on the pools and ponds. Fish on the main lake.
Packery Channel Nature Park & Kayak Launch
This best places to fish in Texas without a boat is an accessible fishing spot located at the north of the island of Padre. It has a paved road and area for parking right near the water. Two hundred yards of shoreline are provided for fishing or wading. People who have a kayak will only paddle a short distance to get to Packery channel or the seagrass flats nearby. The waters in these locations do not get much turbulence from southeast winds.
Directions
Go to the east of the Island of Padre and go to the north of Padre. The entrance to the park is within a mile off the bridge on the left side. Look for a brown parking sign with Packery Channel County Park written on it.
Packery Channel Jetties
This best places to fish in Texas without a boat is one of the most convenient and easy to access piers in Corpus Christi. The twin jetties flank packet channel and run between the Island of Mustang on the north side and the island of Padre. Both piers are paved with smooth concrete and equipped with handrails in its entire length.
You can take the Zahn road to get to the north set of rocks while you can get to the south by going in Whitecap boulevard. You will need a twelve dollar beach parking sticker to park your vehicle at either pier. These tickets are available at most convenient stores and sellers at the beach entrances. There are portable restrooms in the area.
When you go fishing in this spot expect to catch a variety of fish from trout, to Spanish mackerel, to black drum. Occasionally snook and tarpon come up. The best way to fish is by using live shrimp.
Shamrock Cove and Wilson’s Cut
There are plenty of dirt roads on Mustang Island that lead off to the bay of Corpus Christi. In this bay there are seagrass flats, spoil islands and other ideal places to fish. Wilsons cut provides a good start off point for kayaking. Once you reach the flats, there will be a maze of fishing spots such as channels and shell reefs. These areas are protected from the turbulence of southeast and northeast winds.
Directions
From the north part of the island of Padre go towards Port Aransas and search for the entrance to the dirt road which is near Seagull and Sandpiper condominium on the eastern side. You can park here or go to the left and park and pull over to several spots where you can fish or launch a kayak.
Laguna Shores
This is an easy wading spot and a good kayak launch that provides access to the upper part of Laguna Madre south of JFK Highway. The bottom of the waters here is firm which is great for wading. It has contour seagrass and some scattered rocks. The water depth is just right, whether it is high tide or low tide. Baitfish tend to converge near the sand and edges of the seagrass as well as near the drop-offs in the area. However, parking in this area can be difficult since space is limited.
Directions
If you are coming from SPID exit Waldon Road. If you are coming from town, make a turn at the Wind and Wave Watersports. If you are coming from the island make a U-turn at Waldon road Once you are on Laguna Shores there are several options for parking, but you may want to park near the peninsula but be careful not to get in the way of vehicle access to the gate.
Nueces Bay Marsh Restoration Area
This best places to fish in Texas without a boat is just across the highway from Sunset Lake on the west side of Texas Highway. This is a 160-acre area with adequate parking. There are grassy berms that extend from the surface. These berms have a depth that can reach up to five to six feet, and the contours at the bottom are dramatic and attract a lot of fish. A six-foot deep trench lies just outside a perimeter rock barrier. Beyond just into the bay are fishing platforms and reefs which are teeming with trout.
Directions
If you are coming from Corpus Christi go to Harbor bridge and highway. Take the Moore Avenue exit. Make a U-turn and exit at Indian point. Search for the observation deck near the lot’s parking area and turn there.
Oso Bay
This is a convenient wade spot and launching area. This is an excellent spot for newbie waders and kayakers, and you will be able to tell right off the bat if this area will give you good results.
From the south of Corpus Christi bay boat ramp paddle or walk for about a fourth of a mile to Naval Air station bridge, you can start fishing under the bridge or paddle under it aboard a kayak to get to Oso bay and go to the narrow channel with your lure and bait. The best time to fish in this spot is in late summer through early autumn. Go in the early mornings when there is high tide.
Direction
Go to the east of Ocean drive leading to Texas A&M University. When you pass the second entrance of the campus, continue for about half a mile. You should see the remnants of the abandoned boat launch at Corpus Christi bay. You can park and launch your equipment there.
Humble Channel Fishing Pier/ Red Dot
Take your pick of best places to fish in Texas without a boat.
The pier of Red Dot is on the east side while Cos Way Pier is just right across. Both piers are great for night fishing because there are lights installed in the area. Both spots are just right near the JFK highway which stretches from Upper Laguna Madre. Both these best places to fish in Texas without a boat are open 24 hours.
These piers are situated low near the bay surface, and there are benches and rod holders installed for the convenience of anglers and their families. Restrooms and concessions are also located near the fishing spots. Night fishing here is an excellent experience, especially during the winter when the waters are teeming with black drum. In both piers, anglers can catch black drum in the months of October to December, redfish, between September and October. Trout can be caught all year round.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of fish to catch in Texas. You don’t have to travel far from the main city areas to get to ideal fishing locations.
The best places to fish in Texas without a boat are aplenty. Some numerous piers and jetties are well constructed and paved for the weekend angler who just wants to get right on fishing with as little hassle as possible.
