Swordfish fishing out of Port Aransas, on the Texas coast, has an operator’s season statement and an offshore run to structure and temperature breaks. The named swordfish grounds are not documented, so this page sticks to what the operator describes and to the regional deep-water picture. For the port itself, start with the Port Aransas port page. The species overview is in the swordfish fishing guide. The wider picture is in the swordfish fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico region guide.
When swordfish are around Port Aransas
An operator here targets swordfish year-round, but says spring through fall gives the most consistent action. Swordfish stay in the Gulf’s deep water all year, and most anglers fish the late spring to early fall window. Weather decides most trips, so read the wind, wave height and period on the marine forecast before you commit to a run.
Where boats run
Port Aransas sits at the north end of Mustang Island, at the inner end of the jettied Aransas Pass, which links the Gulf with Aransas and Corpus Christi bays. Charter docks and marinas line the ship channel side of town. The operator usually runs 20 to 30 miles offshore to reach structure and temperature breaks, and charters here may travel from 20 to more than 100 miles out for offshore species.
The pass has its own traffic and currents. Currents at times exceed 2.5 knots and follow the wind, and winds from any easterly direction disturb the bar and can lift the water inside the pass by as much as 2 feet. A sudden shift from south to north makes the water over the bar especially rough for a short time. The approach runs in from the southeast, so an onshore easterly wind against an ebbing current may steepen the seas at the jetty mouth. About 1.6 miles inside the jetties, the ship channel crosses the Intracoastal route at Lydia Ann Channel, and vessels are asked to make a SECURITE call on channels 12 and 13 before crossing. Check conditions yourself.
Grounds and structure
No swordfish ground is named for Port Aransas. The named structure nearby is Port Aransas Reef, about 6 nautical miles out in 60 feet, and the Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef, about 18 nautical miles out in 110 feet. Three deeper reefs, 828 Reef, A-16 Reef and A-85 Reef, lie in 165 to 274 feet, though their distances from the port are not given. Unnamed rocks and rigs lie within about a 45-mile run of the jetties. None of these is documented as a swordfish ground. Regionally, deepwater platforms along the shelf break off Texas hold bait, and anglers fish the water around them and the slope beyond.
How swordfish are fished out of Port Aransas
The operator describes running to structure and temperature breaks, and the general method follows from there. By day, a bait is dropped near bottom on the slope on an electric reel, with a strobe light near the bait and a breakaway weight that releases on the bite, so the fish can be fought without the lead. At night, lit baits are drifted at several levels higher in the water column, following squid as they rise. Squid and bonito belly strips are the common baits. Release fish you will not keep in the water.
Who fishes it
Gulf Magic Fishing, run by guide Addison Smith, is the charter documented for swordfish from Port Aransas. Its booking listing describes offshore runs to structure and temperature breaks, and that listing is the only web presence found for the operation. No swordfish tournament is documented for the port. The billfish events that run here do not name swordfish.
FAQ
Is Port Aransas a good swordfish port?
An operator here targets swordfish year-round and runs offshore to structure and temperature breaks. No named swordfish ground is documented, so the trip depends on the water you find.
When is the best time to fish for swordfish here?
Spring through fall gives the most consistent action, according to the operator. Late spring to early fall is the window most anglers fish in the Gulf.
How far offshore do swordfish trips run?
The operator usually runs 20 to 30 miles out. Charters here may travel 20 to more than 100 miles for offshore species.
Do I need a permit?
Federal permits apply to swordfish fished in federal waters, and Texas requires a license to land fish in Texas. Check the federal and Texas pages before you fish.
