PORT ARANSAS
www.portaransas.org
PORT ARANSAS IS ON MUSTANG ISLAND LOCATED IN THE GULF ABOUT 30
MINUTES FROM CORPUS CHRISTI. ACCESS TO OR EXIT FROM THE TOWN
IS EITHER BY CAR FERRY NEXT TO ARANSAS PASS (A NEIGHBORING
TOWN), OR BY HWY 361, WHICH IS A DIRECT HIGHWAY LINK TO OR FROM
CORPUS CHRISTI. PORT ARANSAS IS A VERY POPULAR TOURIST TOWN,
PACKED WITH MORE RESTAURANTS, ANTIQUE AND NAUTICAL SHOPS,
THEMED BARS, BEACHES, RV PARKS, STORES, MOTELS, NIGHT LIFE, TWO
HARDWARE STORES, COMMUNITY EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, STORAGE UNITS,
BEACH CONDOS AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS THAN ANY TOWN I HAVE
EVER SEEN THIS SIZE.
THE TOWN IS PACKED WITH RETIREES AND "WINTER TEXANS", WHO
MIGRATE HERE ANNUALLY FOR THE MILD WINTERS. PORT ARANSAS IS
POPULAR DURING THE SUMMERS AS WELL AS A VACATION HOTSPOT.
HOLIDAYS AND SPRING BREAK IN PARTICULAR ARE ESPECIALLY BUSY.
THERE IS A SMALL AIRPORT LOCATED NEXT TO THE MARINA WHERE
WILLIE LIVES, A TROLLEY, COMMUNITY CENTER, 2 MARINAS ALONG WITH
NUMEROUS WATERFRONT CONDOS AND HOMES WITH SLIPS, A TOWN
NEWSPAPER, POLICE DEPARTMENT, ETC. THERE IS A FREE COMPUTER
CENTER WHERE YOU CAN GET ON THE WEB FOR EMAIL AND SUCH, THE
MARINA HAS A WIRELESS SIGNAL IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN LAPTOP. (ITS
WHAT I USE). THE LOCAL LIBRARY ALSO HAS A WIRELESS SIGNAL.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT THIS TOWN AND AREA IS
THE TOURISM, FISHING, AND AS A MILD WINTER GETAWAY FOR OUT OF
STATE RETIRED FOLKS. AS FAR AS THE FISHING GOES, ITS PRACTICALLY
A RELIGION AND A WAY OF LIFE AROUND HERE. MANY OF THE
THOUSANDS OF BOATS IN THIS AREA ARE SPORT FISHERMAN TYPE OR
BOATS USED BY THEIR OWNERS EXCLUSIVELY FOR FISHING. BELIEVE
ME, IF YOU ARE INTO REAL FISHING (BIG FISH), IF YOU WOKE UP HERE
YOU WOULD THINK YOU DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN. MANY PEOPLE
JUST FISH OFF THE JETTIES, PIERS AND DOCKS AND GET BIG FISH
WITHOUT HAVING TO BE IN A BOAT. HERE IN THE MARINA ARE REDFISH,
BLACK DRUM, TROUT, MANGRO SNAPPER (MY FAVORITE) AND EVEN
FLOUNDER AMONG OTHERS. DOLPHINS ALSO FREQUENTLY COME INTO
THE MARINA VIA PIPER CHANNEL. MANY OF THE BUSINESSES HAVE A
PINUP BOARD WHERE PICTURES OF THE VISITORS AND LOCALS POSE
WITH THEIR CATCHES. THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN LARGE FISHING OR
DOLPHIN / AREA SIGHTSEEING BOATS YOU CAN GO OUT ON FOR
ANYTHING FROM AN HOUR OR SO TO ALL DAY, PLUS ABOUT 4 TIMES
THAT NUMBER OF PRIVATE FISHING BOATS AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER. IF
YOU WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW SERIOUS THIS PLACE IS ABOUT
FISHING, I SUGGEST YOU CHECK OUT OR ORDER THE 7.16.09 ONLINE OR
ESPECIALLY THE PAPER VERSION OF THE SOUTH JETTY NEWSPAPER.
BY THE NUMBERS, IT STACKS UP LIKE THIS:
POPULATION: 3,370 ACCORDING TO THE 2000 CENSUS. HOWEVER, I
WOULD SAY THAT NOW IN 2006 IT IS MORE, PLUS WITH THE
VACATIONERS AND WINTER TEXANS, THE POPULATION GROWS
SEASONALLY CONSIDERABLY. THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND HERE IS
GROWING FAST AND CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE. THE HOMES AROUND THE
MARINA ARE MOSTLY MULTI-MILLION DOLLARS. THE LOTS ALONE CAN
GO FOR CLOSE TO A MILLION. THE BAREBONES CONDO UNITS (NO VIEW
OF THE OCEAN, NO BEDROOM) START OUT AT ABOUT $200,000+ WITH
THE LARGER UNITS WITH BETTER VIEWS OFTEN REACHING A HALF
MILLION AND UP (ALONG WITH A $300-500 A MONTH CONDO FEE).
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE DURING JANUARY IS 55, OCTOBER IS 74,
SUMMER IS 84 (OFTEN FEELS LIKE 104) THERE IS AN ELEMENTARY,
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, 22 MOTELS, 33 CONDOS, 14 RV PARKS, 3
BANKS, TWO HARDWARE STORES, 6 CHURCHES, ONLY 1 REAL GROCERY
STORE, LOTS OF CONVENIENCE STORES, COMMUNITY PARKS, ETC.
AS FAR AS GETTING AROUND (IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CAR), THERE IS A
FREE TROLLEY, A TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY BUS, TAXI SERVICE AS
WELL AS SEVERAL GOLF CART RENTAL PLACES WHERE YOU CAN RENT A
GOLF CART TO GO ABOUT THE TOWN (THEY ARE STREET LEGAL HERE)
OR ON THE BEACHES. HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE JUST PREFER TO WALK
OR USE BICYCLES.
THE NEARBY TOWN OF CORPUS CHRISTI HAS EVERYTHING, AND I MEAN
EVERYTHING. IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT THERE, IT DON'T EXIST. THERE IS A
FREEWAY (358) KNOWN AS THE "SPID" THAT HAS LITERALLY THOUSANDS
OF EVERY TYPE OF BUSINESS OR SERVICE YOU CAN IMAGINE. THERE IS
ALSO AN MAJOR AIRPORT THERE. THERE IS ANOTHER, MUCH SMALLER
AIRPORT RIGHT NEXT TO THE MARINA WITH USUALLY LIGHT TRAFFIC.
THERE IS A LOCAL PAPER, THE "SOUTH JETTY", WHICH COMES OUT
WEEKLY IN PAPER FORM AS WELL AS AN ONLINE VERSION:
WWW.PORTASOUTHJETTY.COM. A VISITORS' GUIDE IS ALSO PUBLISHED
EVERY SPRING, SUMMER, WINTER AND FALL. PLUS THERE IS ABOUT A
KAZILLION BROCHURES AND PAMPLETS FOR THE DOZENS OF LOCAL
BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. YOU CAN BE EITHER BUSY OR SNOOZY HERE.
CAMPBELL'S GUIDE TO CRUISING TEXAS SAYS OF PORT ARANSAS "PORT
A", AS IT IS FONDLY CALLED, IS THE MOST POPULAR LANDFALLS ON THE
TEXAS GULFCOAST FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS....IT IS A FUN
TOWN"....."THIS VILLAGE OF PERMANENT AND MANY MORE PARTY-HARDY
VISITORS SPEND LIFE ON THE BEACH, IN THE RESTAURANTS AND AT THE
CLUBS. IN WINTER, THE HAIR COLOR AVERAGES MORE TOWARD SILVER,
WHILE DURING SPRING BREAK THE JAILS ARE BUSY (JUST LIKE FT.
LAUDERDALE). THE PROXIMITY TO DEEP WATER AND GOOD FISHING HAS
ALWAYS MADE PORT A AN ANGLERS HANGOUT..."
PORT ARANSAS IS ON MUSTANG ISLAND. ACCESS IS EITHER BY A FREE
CAR FERRY (YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME) ACROSS THE
JETTY (PELICANS LIKE TO ROOST ALONG FOR THE RIDE), OR BY HWY
361, WHICH IS A DIRECT ROUTE TO CORPUS CHRISTI, A 30 MINUTE TRIP.
YOUR NEIGHBORS: ABOUT A DOZEN BOATS IN THE MARINA ARE
LIVEABOARDS. SURROUNDING THE MARINA IS THE ISLAND MOORINGS
ESTATES WHICH COMPROMISES OF MILLION AND MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
ESTATES. THERE ARE SEVERAL LARGE CONDO AND MANY SMALLER
CONDO AND RENTAL UNITS IN PORT ARANSAS. FURTHER OUT OF TOWN
AND ON THE WAY TO CORPUS CHRISTI (ABOUT A 20 MINUTE DRIVE ON
361) THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN VERY LARGE CONDO UNITS BETWEEN
361 AND THE BEACH. THESE UNITS GO FOR ABOUT $200k FOR THE
SMALLER NO OCEAN VIEW UNITS, THE LARGER ONES CAN GO FOR OVER
500k. THE CHEAPEST AND SMALLEST CONDO UNITS I HAVE SEEN IN PORT
ARANSAS ITSELF ARE ABOUT $300K PLUS FEES AND GO WAY UP FROM
THERE. THE CONDO UNITS NEXT TO THE MARINA ARE ABOUT TWICE THAT
AND UP.
RENTALS ARE VERY POPULAR IN PORT ARANSAS AND MOST ARE FULLY
BOOKED DURING THE SUMMER AND HOLIDAYS. I DON'T KNOW REALLY
WHY THIS IS BECAUSE PORT ARANSAS CAN BE HOTTER THAN HADES
DURING THE SUMMER, BUT THIS PLACE IS PACKED ON THE WEEKENDS.
THE RENTALS GO FROM ABOUT $100 A NIGHT FOR SMALL AND PLAIN
UNITS, MANY OTHERS CAN GO FOR ABOUT $500 A NIGHT AND UP. IF YOU
GOOGLE OR YAHOO SEARCH "LEASES RENTALS PORT ARANSAS" THERE
ARE ABOUT A DOZEN WEBSITES INCLUDING THOSE FROM PRIVATE
OWNERS. OF THE MANY MOTELS IN THE AREA, DEPENDING ON THE
MOTEL AND SEASON THEY CAN GO FOR ABOUT $50 TO ABOUT $200.
GOLFERS....A NEW ARNOLD PALMER- DESIGNED COURSE IS ACROSS THE
STREET!
MINUTES FROM CORPUS CHRISTI. ACCESS TO OR EXIT FROM THE TOWN
IS EITHER BY CAR FERRY NEXT TO ARANSAS PASS (A NEIGHBORING
TOWN), OR BY HWY 361, WHICH IS A DIRECT HIGHWAY LINK TO OR FROM
CORPUS CHRISTI. PORT ARANSAS IS A VERY POPULAR TOURIST TOWN,
PACKED WITH MORE RESTAURANTS, ANTIQUE AND NAUTICAL SHOPS,
THEMED BARS, BEACHES, RV PARKS, STORES, MOTELS, NIGHT LIFE, TWO
HARDWARE STORES, COMMUNITY EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, STORAGE UNITS,
BEACH CONDOS AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS THAN ANY TOWN I HAVE
EVER SEEN THIS SIZE.
THE TOWN IS PACKED WITH RETIREES AND "WINTER TEXANS", WHO
MIGRATE HERE ANNUALLY FOR THE MILD WINTERS. PORT ARANSAS IS
POPULAR DURING THE SUMMERS AS WELL AS A VACATION HOTSPOT.
HOLIDAYS AND SPRING BREAK IN PARTICULAR ARE ESPECIALLY BUSY.
THERE IS A SMALL AIRPORT LOCATED NEXT TO THE MARINA WHERE
WILLIE LIVES, A TROLLEY, COMMUNITY CENTER, 2 MARINAS ALONG WITH
NUMEROUS WATERFRONT CONDOS AND HOMES WITH SLIPS, A TOWN
NEWSPAPER, POLICE DEPARTMENT, ETC. THERE IS A FREE COMPUTER
CENTER WHERE YOU CAN GET ON THE WEB FOR EMAIL AND SUCH, THE
MARINA HAS A WIRELESS SIGNAL IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN LAPTOP. (ITS
WHAT I USE). THE LOCAL LIBRARY ALSO HAS A WIRELESS SIGNAL.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT THIS TOWN AND AREA IS
THE TOURISM, FISHING, AND AS A MILD WINTER GETAWAY FOR OUT OF
STATE RETIRED FOLKS. AS FAR AS THE FISHING GOES, ITS PRACTICALLY
A RELIGION AND A WAY OF LIFE AROUND HERE. MANY OF THE
THOUSANDS OF BOATS IN THIS AREA ARE SPORT FISHERMAN TYPE OR
BOATS USED BY THEIR OWNERS EXCLUSIVELY FOR FISHING. BELIEVE
ME, IF YOU ARE INTO REAL FISHING (BIG FISH), IF YOU WOKE UP HERE
YOU WOULD THINK YOU DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN. MANY PEOPLE
JUST FISH OFF THE JETTIES, PIERS AND DOCKS AND GET BIG FISH
WITHOUT HAVING TO BE IN A BOAT. HERE IN THE MARINA ARE REDFISH,
BLACK DRUM, TROUT, MANGRO SNAPPER (MY FAVORITE) AND EVEN
FLOUNDER AMONG OTHERS. DOLPHINS ALSO FREQUENTLY COME INTO
THE MARINA VIA PIPER CHANNEL. MANY OF THE BUSINESSES HAVE A
PINUP BOARD WHERE PICTURES OF THE VISITORS AND LOCALS POSE
WITH THEIR CATCHES. THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN LARGE FISHING OR
DOLPHIN / AREA SIGHTSEEING BOATS YOU CAN GO OUT ON FOR
ANYTHING FROM AN HOUR OR SO TO ALL DAY, PLUS ABOUT 4 TIMES
THAT NUMBER OF PRIVATE FISHING BOATS AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER. IF
YOU WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW SERIOUS THIS PLACE IS ABOUT
FISHING, I SUGGEST YOU CHECK OUT OR ORDER THE 7.16.09 ONLINE OR
ESPECIALLY THE PAPER VERSION OF THE SOUTH JETTY NEWSPAPER.
BY THE NUMBERS, IT STACKS UP LIKE THIS:
POPULATION: 3,370 ACCORDING TO THE 2000 CENSUS. HOWEVER, I
WOULD SAY THAT NOW IN 2006 IT IS MORE, PLUS WITH THE
VACATIONERS AND WINTER TEXANS, THE POPULATION GROWS
SEASONALLY CONSIDERABLY. THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND HERE IS
GROWING FAST AND CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE. THE HOMES AROUND THE
MARINA ARE MOSTLY MULTI-MILLION DOLLARS. THE LOTS ALONE CAN
GO FOR CLOSE TO A MILLION. THE BAREBONES CONDO UNITS (NO VIEW
OF THE OCEAN, NO BEDROOM) START OUT AT ABOUT $200,000+ WITH
THE LARGER UNITS WITH BETTER VIEWS OFTEN REACHING A HALF
MILLION AND UP (ALONG WITH A $300-500 A MONTH CONDO FEE).
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE DURING JANUARY IS 55, OCTOBER IS 74,
SUMMER IS 84 (OFTEN FEELS LIKE 104) THERE IS AN ELEMENTARY,
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, 22 MOTELS, 33 CONDOS, 14 RV PARKS, 3
BANKS, TWO HARDWARE STORES, 6 CHURCHES, ONLY 1 REAL GROCERY
STORE, LOTS OF CONVENIENCE STORES, COMMUNITY PARKS, ETC.
AS FAR AS GETTING AROUND (IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CAR), THERE IS A
FREE TROLLEY, A TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY BUS, TAXI SERVICE AS
WELL AS SEVERAL GOLF CART RENTAL PLACES WHERE YOU CAN RENT A
GOLF CART TO GO ABOUT THE TOWN (THEY ARE STREET LEGAL HERE)
OR ON THE BEACHES. HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE JUST PREFER TO WALK
OR USE BICYCLES.
THE NEARBY TOWN OF CORPUS CHRISTI HAS EVERYTHING, AND I MEAN
EVERYTHING. IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT THERE, IT DON'T EXIST. THERE IS A
FREEWAY (358) KNOWN AS THE "SPID" THAT HAS LITERALLY THOUSANDS
OF EVERY TYPE OF BUSINESS OR SERVICE YOU CAN IMAGINE. THERE IS
ALSO AN MAJOR AIRPORT THERE. THERE IS ANOTHER, MUCH SMALLER
AIRPORT RIGHT NEXT TO THE MARINA WITH USUALLY LIGHT TRAFFIC.
THERE IS A LOCAL PAPER, THE "SOUTH JETTY", WHICH COMES OUT
WEEKLY IN PAPER FORM AS WELL AS AN ONLINE VERSION:
WWW.PORTASOUTHJETTY.COM. A VISITORS' GUIDE IS ALSO PUBLISHED
EVERY SPRING, SUMMER, WINTER AND FALL. PLUS THERE IS ABOUT A
KAZILLION BROCHURES AND PAMPLETS FOR THE DOZENS OF LOCAL
BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. YOU CAN BE EITHER BUSY OR SNOOZY HERE.
CAMPBELL'S GUIDE TO CRUISING TEXAS SAYS OF PORT ARANSAS "PORT
A", AS IT IS FONDLY CALLED, IS THE MOST POPULAR LANDFALLS ON THE
TEXAS GULFCOAST FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS....IT IS A FUN
TOWN"....."THIS VILLAGE OF PERMANENT AND MANY MORE PARTY-HARDY
VISITORS SPEND LIFE ON THE BEACH, IN THE RESTAURANTS AND AT THE
CLUBS. IN WINTER, THE HAIR COLOR AVERAGES MORE TOWARD SILVER,
WHILE DURING SPRING BREAK THE JAILS ARE BUSY (JUST LIKE FT.
LAUDERDALE). THE PROXIMITY TO DEEP WATER AND GOOD FISHING HAS
ALWAYS MADE PORT A AN ANGLERS HANGOUT..."
PORT ARANSAS IS ON MUSTANG ISLAND. ACCESS IS EITHER BY A FREE
CAR FERRY (YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME) ACROSS THE
JETTY (PELICANS LIKE TO ROOST ALONG FOR THE RIDE), OR BY HWY
361, WHICH IS A DIRECT ROUTE TO CORPUS CHRISTI, A 30 MINUTE TRIP.
YOUR NEIGHBORS: ABOUT A DOZEN BOATS IN THE MARINA ARE
LIVEABOARDS. SURROUNDING THE MARINA IS THE ISLAND MOORINGS
ESTATES WHICH COMPROMISES OF MILLION AND MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
ESTATES. THERE ARE SEVERAL LARGE CONDO AND MANY SMALLER
CONDO AND RENTAL UNITS IN PORT ARANSAS. FURTHER OUT OF TOWN
AND ON THE WAY TO CORPUS CHRISTI (ABOUT A 20 MINUTE DRIVE ON
361) THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN VERY LARGE CONDO UNITS BETWEEN
361 AND THE BEACH. THESE UNITS GO FOR ABOUT $200k FOR THE
SMALLER NO OCEAN VIEW UNITS, THE LARGER ONES CAN GO FOR OVER
500k. THE CHEAPEST AND SMALLEST CONDO UNITS I HAVE SEEN IN PORT
ARANSAS ITSELF ARE ABOUT $300K PLUS FEES AND GO WAY UP FROM
THERE. THE CONDO UNITS NEXT TO THE MARINA ARE ABOUT TWICE THAT
AND UP.
RENTALS ARE VERY POPULAR IN PORT ARANSAS AND MOST ARE FULLY
BOOKED DURING THE SUMMER AND HOLIDAYS. I DON'T KNOW REALLY
WHY THIS IS BECAUSE PORT ARANSAS CAN BE HOTTER THAN HADES
DURING THE SUMMER, BUT THIS PLACE IS PACKED ON THE WEEKENDS.
THE RENTALS GO FROM ABOUT $100 A NIGHT FOR SMALL AND PLAIN
UNITS, MANY OTHERS CAN GO FOR ABOUT $500 A NIGHT AND UP. IF YOU
GOOGLE OR YAHOO SEARCH "LEASES RENTALS PORT ARANSAS" THERE
ARE ABOUT A DOZEN WEBSITES INCLUDING THOSE FROM PRIVATE
OWNERS. OF THE MANY MOTELS IN THE AREA, DEPENDING ON THE
MOTEL AND SEASON THEY CAN GO FOR ABOUT $50 TO ABOUT $200.
GOLFERS....A NEW ARNOLD PALMER- DESIGNED COURSE IS ACROSS THE
STREET!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
big school of black drum, mostly 24"+,
directly behind willie (11.23.09)
directly behind willie (11.23.09)