San Jose Island Fishing Charters & Guides

San Jose Island Fishing Charters

It doesn’t take long for some visitors to San Jose Island on the Texas Gulf Coast to put very descriptive labels on their visit. After viewing the sunrise or sunset, experiencing the fishing or wandering up and down the island, more than one visitor and writer has labeled such a trip as a “Hemingway” moment. That comes from renowned author Ernest Hemingway. He was famous for soaking in every detail of every adventure and using it to build a bank of memories and writings that were unparalleled. That same lust for adventure brings many visitors to the San Jose Island and the surrounding area, and certainly brings about thoughts similar to those that Hemingway had when he wrote his famous novel, “The Old Man and the Sea”. Locally known as St. Jo, the island is a 20-mile long stretch of land that crosses the ship canal out of Port Aransas. It is open to the public for camping, hiking, birdwatching, watching dolphins and, yes, fishing. It’s a great place to pick up seashells and discover other sea treasures. There is a catch. Even though the island is privately owned, it is open to visitors but they must stay on the beach area below the vegetation line. The island is accessible only by boat. If you don’t have your own, the famous Jetty Boat at Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Aransas can get you there and back. The boat runs several times a day, but check closely to make sure of the schedule if you give this a try. Another thing about visiting here. There is no type of concessions or improvements on the island. It’s an island. Plain and simple. It’s hard to imagine today, but at one time this stretch of land was nothing more than a large sheep farm. Fishing around the island is excellent, whether you make a trip off the jetty or from an experienced charter boat trip. It’s worth your time and money.

San Jose Island Inshore Fishing

Speckled trout, redfish, black drum, sheepshead, red snapper and even sharks are what you’ll catch around the island on a chartered boat trip. The good thing about a charter is they can take you right to the fish and you don’t have to spend half your trip trying to figure out where to get a bite. There are a wide variety of places to fish from out in the bay to shallow flats that can even allow you to get out and wade fish. Being in a boat gives you a distinct advantage because you can chase the fish and go where they go, instead of hoping they come by where you are fishing. San Jose Island is surrounded by three large fishing bays that provide the bulk of the bounty for fishermen. The Aransas, Matagorda, and Carlos Bays offer excellent fishing. While speckled trout and redfish are the main draw, you can also, on occasion, find a big school of Jack Crevalle or even tarpon cruising the bays and get a trophy of a lifetime.

San Jose Island Offshore Fishing

A wide variety of saltwater species are just around the corner when you charter a trip to go offshore from San Jose Island. Depending on the time of the year, you won’t have to go far to catch redfish, speckled trout or even king mackerel and Jack Crevalle. But if you are willing to go a bit further, the menu expands quite rapidly into some big time fish like blue and white marlin, dolphin, cobia, red snapper, blackfin and yellowfin tuna, wahoo, swordfish or even sharks. If you have a particular type of fish you’re looking to catch, contact a charter boat captain and find out the best time to go after them before booking your trip. If you just want action, book your trip and let the guide do the deciding. You won’t be disappointed in the action or the amount of fish you bring home from your trip. And remember the good thing about having a charter, they even clean and package your fish for you. Your only job for the day is to reel them in and stack up a limit of fun.

Book A San Jose Island Fishing Charter

Peaceful. Quiet. Productive. Beautiful. Those are just some of the words you’ll use when you come away from a San Jose Island visit, topped off by a bountiful haul of fish on a professional charter fishing trip here. It’s one of the best areas along the Texas Gulf Coast for fishing and for fun. A day trip to the island to look for sea shells or fish off the jetty is just a bonus to keep you in the area a few days longer. Take a moment to imagine what life on an island might be like, but don’t forget to catch the Jetty Boat back to the mainland! And to top off our visit here and make a memory to last a lifetime, find out what’s biting and book a trip with a seasoned boat captain with FishAnywhere. It’s a great day on the water for friends or family.