Kings off Port Aransas are found two ways: by season (current seams, shrimp boats, distance bands) and at fixed structure at known depths and distances. For king mackerel fishing out of Port Aransas, that structure runs from Port Aransas Reef at 6 nautical miles to A-85 at 46 nautical miles, and every run starts at the Port Aransas jetties. General king behavior and tactics are in our king mackerel guide. This page covers the season, the run plan, and the grounds sorted by distance so you can match the water to your boat.
When king mackerel are off Port Aransas
Sources frame the king season three ways, and they don’t agree on a single window.
| Source | Season framing |
|---|---|
| Local tourism table | Year-round |
| Deep-sea fishing page | Strongest from late spring through early fall |
| Gulf guide | Spring through fall |
The Gulf guide’s framing matches the Gulf-wide pattern in our Gulf king mackerel guide (see also the wider Gulf of Mexico guide). Where you run depends on the season, so the next section breaks the run down that way.
Where boats run by season
Locally, kings are worked by where they sit in each season: current seams, shrimp boats, distance bands, and structure.
| Season | Where boats run |
|---|---|
| Spring | Current seams, 5 to 15 miles offshore |
| Summer | Around shrimp boats working offshore |
| Fall | 8 to 20 miles out |
Spring
In spring, kings work current seams 5 to 15 miles offshore, so plan the run around that band.
Summer
In summer, kings hold around shrimp boats working offshore.
Fall
In fall, the local fishing calendar puts kings 8 to 20 miles out.
Nearshore structure and rigs
The Gulf guide also lists nearshore structures and oil rigs as places kings hold. The fixed grounds below give you named targets inside and beyond that range.
Reefs and structure that hold kings
The grounds are listed from nearest to farthest. Depths are in feet, and distances are shown as given for each ground.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Distance (as given) |
|---|---|---|
| TPWD nearshore reef (160 acres) | 70 | State waters between Packery Channel and Port Aransas |
| Lonestar Reef | n/a | State waters near Port Aransas |
| Boatman’s Reef | n/a | State waters near Port Aransas |
| Port Aransas Reef | 60 | 6 nautical miles southeast of the jetties |
| Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef (MU-802) | 110 | 18 nautical miles southeast of the jetties |
| 828 Reef (MU-828 jacket reefs) | 165 | 27 nautical miles |
| A-16 Reef | 272 | 36 nautical miles |
| A-85 Reef | 274 | 46 nautical miles |
Mark each named reef as a waypoint before the run. Chart layers are not for navigation.
State-water reefs near the pass
The TPWD nearshore reef covers 160 acres in 70 ft, in state waters between Packery Channel and Port Aransas. Lonestar Reef and Boatman’s Reef are also state-water reefs near Port Aransas.
Port Aransas Reef and MU-802
Port Aransas Reef sits in 60 ft, 6 nautical miles southeast of the jetties. The Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef (MU-802) sits in 110 ft, 18 nautical miles southeast of the jetties.
Deep jacket reefs: 828, A-16 and A-85
The 828 Reef (MU-828 jacket reefs) sits in 165 ft at 27 nautical miles. A-16 Reef sits in 272 ft at 36 nautical miles. A-85 Reef sits in 274 ft at 46 nautical miles.
Charters that run for kings
Two local operators list king mackerel.
Dolphin Docks (Dolphin Dock, Inc.)
Dolphin Docks runs Dolphin, Dolphin Express, and La Pesca (Safari boats), plus Flipper as a private charter. Their site is dolphindocks.com.
Hot Spot Fishing Charters
Hot Spot runs a 39-foot Yellowfin center console with 4 engines and 1,200 combined HP, per the operator’s site. Their site is hotspotfishingcharters.com.
FAQ about king mackerel fishing out of Port Aransas
Are kings off Port Aransas year-round?
The local tourism table lists kings year-round. The deep-sea page calls them strongest from late spring through early fall, and the Gulf guide frames the season as spring through fall.
How far do I run in spring, summer and fall?
In spring, run 5 to 15 miles to the current seams. In summer, kings hold around shrimp boats offshore. In fall, the calendar puts them 8 to 20 miles out.
What is the closest named reef?
Port Aransas Reef, in 60 ft, 6 nautical miles southeast of the jetties. The state-water nearshore reefs also sit near the pass.
Which reefs are in state waters?
The TPWD nearshore reef, Lonestar Reef, Boatman’s Reef, and Port Aransas Reef. MU-802, 828, A-16, and A-85 are in federal waters.
Which local charters list kings?
Dolphin Docks and Hot Spot Fishing Charters. Dolphin Docks runs Dolphin, Dolphin Express, La Pesca, and Flipper. Hot Spot runs a 39-foot Yellowfin center console.
What else runs offshore here?
See our coastal and offshore gamefish guides for other species out of the Gulf ports.
