When blackfin are around Port Aransas
Blackfin tuna fishing out of Port Aransas peaks October through December, and the fish are worked around deeper offshore rigs in about 300 ft of water. Distances on this page are in nautical miles (nm). Two reefs carry a bearing from the Port Aransas jetties, and those are marked in the table. For a look at the harbor itself, see the Port Aransas port guide.
Peak months
The calendar peak runs October through December. Gulf Eagle at Deep Sea Headquarters lists a longer window, November through March. These are two separate windows, one from the calendar and one from a single vessel’s listing.
For biology and identification, use the blackfin tuna species guide. This page covers the port only.
Fall and winter pattern
Local charter pages list blackfin through fall and winter. Tuna stack around deeper rigs in those months, so that is where the boats head.
Where boats run and the structure that holds fish
The wider Gulf picture is in the Gulf of Mexico blackfin guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide). Out of Port Aransas, the run is a ladder of reefs that steps from state waters out to deeper offshore rigs.
The run offshore
The named reefs step down from 60 ft to 274 ft on the way out.
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Distance (nm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Aransas Reef | 60 | 6 | Southeast of the jetties |
| TPWD nearshore reef | 70 | 160 acres, state waters between Packery Channel and Port Aransas | |
| Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef (MU-802) | 110 | 18 | Southeast of the jetties |
| 828 Reef | 165 | 27 | MU-828 jacket reefs |
| A-16 Reef | 272 | 36 | |
| A-85 Reef | 274 | 46 | |
| Lonestar Reef | State waters near Port Aransas | ||
| Boatman’s Reef | State waters near Port Aransas |
Reef positions and chart layers are not for navigation.
Deeper rigs
A-16 at 272 ft and A-85 at 274 ft are the deepest named reefs here. The local jig zone is 300 to 500 ft around offshore rigs, with about 300 ft as the reference depth, so the named reefs sit at the shallow edge of the target water. Tuna stack around deeper rigs in fall and winter, and those rigs lie beyond the named reefs.
Nearshore state-water reefs
The TPWD nearshore reef (160 acres, 70 ft, between Packery Channel and Port Aransas), Lonestar Reef and Boatman’s Reef sit in state waters near the port. They serve as reference structure on the way out and mark the split between state waters and deeper grounds that matters in the regulations section below.
How blackfin are fished here
The local method is vertical and tied to structure. The trip format changes with how far you want to go.
Jigging near structure, at 300 to 500 ft
Locals jig near structure around offshore rigs at 300 to 500 ft, with about 300 ft as the reference depth. That puts the 272 ft and 274 ft reefs at the edge of the zone rather than the middle of it.
Multi-day trips
Multi-day 60-hour trips list blackfin. The Fisherman’s Wharf 60-hour trip runs on the Wharf Cat and Scat Cat.
Who fishes for blackfin out of Port Aransas
Three operators list blackfin tuna fishing out of Port Aransas. Other tuna options are covered in the tuna fishing guides.
Charters
- Fisherman’s Wharf (Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf, LLC), fishermanswharfporta.com
- Wharf Cat and Scat Cat, 60-hour trip
- Deep Sea Headquarters, deepseaheadquarters.com
- Gulf Eagle, Capt. Kevin Haller, lists November through March
- Kingfisher, Capt. Jake Medley
- Pelican
- Coastal Charters TX, coastalcharterstx.com
- Luxury boats Bellagio and Standaman
Port Aransas Deep Sea Roundup
The Port Aransas Deep Sea Roundup is usually held in July, outside the October through December blackfin peak.
FAQ about blackfin tuna fishing out of Port Aransas
When is blackfin season in Port Aransas?
Peak is October through December. Charters list fall and winter, and Gulf Eagle lists November through March.
How far is A-16 Reef from Port Aransas?
A-16 is 36 nm out, in 272 ft. A-85 is 46 nm out, in 274 ft.
What depth do locals jig for blackfin?
Locals jig 300 to 500 ft near structure around deeper offshore rigs. The reference depth is about 300 ft.
Do Port Aransas charters target blackfin?
Yes. Fisherman’s Wharf, Deep Sea Headquarters and Coastal Charters TX list blackfin. That includes the 60-hour trips on the Wharf Cat and Scat Cat.
When is the Port Aransas Deep Sea Roundup?
It is usually held in July, outside the blackfin peak.
