--- title: "Bait Shops in Port Aransas: Live Bait, Hours, Licences" description: "Every bait counter in Port Aransas, checked against each shop's own listing: who keeps live croaker and shrimp, who sells only frozen, hours, licences." canonical: https://portaransasfishingtx.com/bait-shops/ source: https://portaransasfishingtx.com/bait-shops/ --- 1. [Home](https://portaransasfishingtx.com/) 2. Bait & Tackle Bait & tackle # Bait and tackle shops in Port Aransas 7 bait and tackle stops on the island, with what each keeps live, the shop's own published hours, and who sells licences. The croaker tanks across the ferry, Rockport-Fulton and the Corpus Christi coast each have their own page. 7 shops · every listing checked against the shop's own listing, site or Facebook page, August 2026 [Aransas Pass and Ingleside bait shops](/bait-shops/aransas-pass/)[Rockport bait shops](/bait-shops/rockport/)[Fulton bait shops](/bait-shops/fulton/)[Corpus Christi coast bait shops](/bait-shops/corpus-christi/)[Port Aransas piers](/piers/) ## Where can you buy live bait in Port Aransas? On the island, live bait means Port A Outfitters, whose bait stand opens at 6 a.m. with shrimp year round and croaker, mullet and mud minnows in season, and Deep Sea Headquarters, which stocks live bait but asks you to call for the day's list. The other island names sell frozen or dead bait only: Island Tackle by design, Fisherman's Wharf and Island Moorings for offshore crews. For dependable croaker, cross the ferry to Aransas Pass. Bait shops compared: live bait, opening time, licences, ice Shop Live bait Opens Licence Ice [361 Blue at Horace Caldwell Pier](#shop-361-blue-horace-caldwell-pier) Port Aransas None 7:00 a.m. ? ? [Deep Sea Headquarters](#shop-deep-sea-headquarters) Port Aransas Ask 6:00 a.m. Yes Yes [Fisherman's Wharf ship store](#shop-fishermans-wharf-ship-store) Port Aransas None 5:30 a.m. ? Yes [Island Moorings ship store](#shop-island-moorings-ship-store) Port Aransas None 8:00 a.m. ? Yes [Island Tackle](#shop-island-tackle) Port Aransas None 8:00 a.m. Yes ? [Port A Outfitters](#shop-port-a-outfitters) Port Aransas shrimp, croaker (seasonal), mullet (seasonal), mud minnows (seasonal) 6:00 a.m. ? ? [The Texan (Mustang Island)](#shop-the-texan-mustang-island) Port Aransas None 24 h Yes Yes ? = not published by the shop. Licence = sells Texas fishing licences. ## Bait shops in Port Aransas - FROZEN ONLY · OPENS 7:00 A.M. ### 361 Blue at Horace Caldwell Pier Pier · Port Aransas Live bait **None — frozen only** Also sells Frozen bait, tackle Hours Pier house 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. in season; shorter off season Address [230 N on the Beach, Port Aransas, TX 78373](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=230%20N%20on%20the%20Beach%2C%20Port%20Aransas%2C%20TX%2078373) The pier-house counter on Horace Caldwell Pier: frozen bait, tackle and rod rental on the deck; no live bait and no licences. Verified 30 Aug 2026 · [Correct this](mailto:info@portaransasfishingtx.com?subject=Bait%20shop%20listing%20correction%3A%20361%20Blue%20at%20Horace%20Caldwell%20Pier%20\(verified%202026-08-30\)) - LIVE BAIT (ASK) · OPENS 6:00 A.M. ### Deep Sea Headquarters Fuel dock · Port Aransas Live bait **Yes; species not published, call ahead** Also sells Frozen bait, tackle, ice, fuel, fishing licences Hours Daily 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (from the shop's Google listing) Address [440 W Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, TX 78373](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=440%20W%20Cotter%20Ave%2C%20Port%20Aransas%2C%20TX%2078373) Website [deepseaheadquarters.com](https://deepseaheadquarters.com/) Phone [(361) 749-5597](tel:+13617495597) Facebook [Deep Sea Headquarters on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/deepseaheadquarters/) Charter headquarters with a bait counter, an ethanol-free fuel dock and a licence counter; call to check which live bait is in. Verified 30 Aug 2026 · [Correct this](mailto:info@portaransasfishingtx.com?subject=Bait%20shop%20listing%20correction%3A%20Deep%20Sea%20Headquarters%20\(verified%202026-08-30\)) - FROZEN ONLY · OPENS 5:30 A.M. ### Fisherman's Wharf ship store Marina · Port Aransas Live bait **None — frozen only** Also sells Frozen bait, tackle, ice, fuel Hours Fuel dock and store 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; charter office 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (from the shop's website) Address [900 Tarpon St, Port Aransas, TX 78373](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=900%20Tarpon%20St%2C%20Port%20Aransas%2C%20TX%2078373) Website [fishermanswharfporta.com](https://www.fishermanswharfporta.com/) Phone [(361) 749-5448](tel:+13617495448) Facebook [Fisherman's Wharf ship store on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/portaransasfishermanswharf/) Dead bait for inshore and offshore (squid, finger mullet, menhaden, cigar minnows, ribbonfish), the island's largest fuel dock and on-site fish cleaning; no live bait. Verified 30 Aug 2026 · [Correct this](mailto:info@portaransasfishingtx.com?subject=Bait%20shop%20listing%20correction%3A%20Fisherman's%20Wharf%20ship%20store%20\(verified%202026-08-30\)) - FROZEN ONLY · OPENS 8:00 A.M. ### Island Moorings ship store Marina · Port Aransas Live bait **None — frozen only** Also sells Frozen bait, tackle, ice, fuel Hours Ship store 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; marina 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (from the shop's website) Address [3500 Island Moorings Pkwy, Port Aransas, TX 78373](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=3500%20Island%20Moorings%20Pkwy%2C%20Port%20Aransas%2C%20TX%2078373) Website [islandmoorings.com](https://www.islandmoorings.com/) Phone [(361) 749-4100](tel:+13617494100) Facebook [Island Moorings ship store on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/p/Island-Moorings-Yacht-Club-and-Marina-100064853042019/) Slip marina on the ship-channel side of the island with diesel and non-ethanol gas at the dock; frozen bait only. Verified 30 Aug 2026 · [Correct this](mailto:info@portaransasfishingtx.com?subject=Bait%20shop%20listing%20correction%3A%20Island%20Moorings%20ship%20store%20\(verified%202026-08-30\)) - FROZEN ONLY · OPENS 8:00 A.M. ### Island Tackle Tackle store · Port Aransas Live bait **None — frozen only** Also sells Frozen bait, tackle, fishing licences Hours Sun to Wed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thu to 6 p.m.; Fri and Sat to 8 p.m. (from the shop's Google listing) Address [207 W Avenue G, Port Aransas, TX 78373](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=207%20W%20Avenue%20G%2C%20Port%20Aransas%2C%20TX%2078373) Website [islandtacklepa.com](https://www.islandtacklepa.com/) Phone [(361) 749-1744](tel:+13617491744) Facebook [Island Tackle on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/islandtacklepa/) No live bait by design: rigs, rod rental, frozen bait and licences. Buy live croaker elsewhere. Verified 30 Aug 2026 · [Correct this](mailto:info@portaransasfishingtx.com?subject=Bait%20shop%20listing%20correction%3A%20Island%20Tackle%20\(verified%202026-08-30\)) - LIVE BAIT · OPENS 6:00 A.M. ### Port A Outfitters Bait shop · Port Aransas Live bait **shrimp, croaker (seasonal), mullet (seasonal), mud minnows (seasonal)** Also sells Frozen bait, tackle Hours Store 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; the bait stand opens at 6 a.m. (from the shop's website) Address [126 W Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, TX 78373](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=126%20W%20Cotter%20Ave%2C%20Port%20Aransas%2C%20TX%2078373) Website [portaoutfitters.com](https://portaoutfitters.com/) Phone [(361) 749-3474](tel:+13617493474) Updates [Own dated fishing reports](https://portaoutfitters.com/?page_id=15) Facebook [Port A Outfitters on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/p/Port-A-Outfitters-100057332633677/) The island's in-town live-bait anchor, and the only Port Aransas shop publishing its own dated fishing reports. Verified 30 Aug 2026 · [Correct this](mailto:info@portaransasfishingtx.com?subject=Bait%20shop%20listing%20correction%3A%20Port%20A%20Outfitters%20\(verified%202026-08-30\)) - FROZEN ONLY · OPEN 24 HOURS ### The Texan (Mustang Island) Convenience store · Port Aransas Live bait **None — frozen only** Also sells Frozen bait, tackle, ice, fuel, fishing licences Hours Open 24 hours (from the shop's Google listing) Address [3401 TX-361, Port Aransas, TX 78373](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=3401%20TX-361%2C%20Port%20Aransas%2C%20TX%2078373) Website [thetexanstores.com](http://www.thetexanstores.com/) Phone [(361) 416-1940](tel:+13614161940) Facebook [The Texan (Mustang Island) on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/thetexanstores/) Gas station and store on the way to the beach: frozen bait, ice and licences around the clock. Verified 30 Aug 2026 · [Correct this](mailto:info@portaransasfishingtx.com?subject=Bait%20shop%20listing%20correction%3A%20The%20Texan%20\(Mustang%20Island\)%20\(verified%202026-08-30\)) ## Where do you buy a fishing licence? Online from TPWD is fastest, and Deep Sea Headquarters, Island Tackle and The Texan (Mustang Island) sell licences over the counter; Lowe's Market and the Ace Hardware on TX-361 are licence vendors too. Every angler 17 or older needs a Texas fishing licence with the saltwater endorsement; a charter captain's permit does not cover you. [TPWD licences](https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/faqs) Licence, ice and supplies stops that are not bait counters Stop Sells Hours [Lowe's Market](https://www.lowesmarket.com/) [418 S Alister St, Port Aransas, TX 78373](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=418%20S%20Alister%20St%2C%20Port%20Aransas%2C%20TX%2078373) · (361) 749-6233 The in-town TPWD licence vendor. licences, ice Daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. [Ace Hardware Port Aransas](https://www.acehardware.com/store-details/17534) [1115 State Highway 361, Ste A, Port Aransas, TX 78373](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=1115%20State%20Highway%20361%2C%20Ste%20A%2C%20Port%20Aransas%2C%20TX%2078373) · (361) 749-2004 licences, tackle, ice Mon to Sat 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sun 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ## What time do bait shops open? The Port A Outfitters bait stand opens at 6 a.m., two hours before the store; Fisherman's Wharf's fuel dock and store open at 5:30 a.m.; The Texan on TX-361 runs around the clock. The hours on each card are the shop's own published hours with the source named, and where a shop publishes none we say so rather than guess. Croaker sells out early on summer weekends, so call before a dawn run. Straight answers ## Bait questions, answered ### Which Port Aransas bait shop has live croaker? On the island itself, Port A Outfitters keeps croaker seasonally at its bait stand and Deep Sea Headquarters asks you to call for the day's live bait; Island Tackle stocks no live bait at all, and Fisherman's Wharf and Island Moorings sell dead and frozen bait only. The dependable croaker tanks are across the ferry in Aransas Pass. ### Where do you buy a fishing licence in Port Aransas? Not at the piers. Deep Sea Headquarters, Island Tackle and The Texan (Mustang Island) sell Texas fishing licences over the counter, and the fastest route is [buying online from TPWD](https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/faqs) before you arrive, since the licence lives on your phone. Every angler 17 or older needs one with the saltwater endorsement. ### What happened to Woody's Sports Center? It closed in December 2021 and the building on West Cotter was demolished in July 2022 for a condominium development. Its website still ranks and still describes a bait counter and licences, but nothing is there; Port A Outfitters, on the same block, is the live-bait stop now. ## Own one of these shops? Every bait and tackle shop on this coast is listed here free. No paid placement: Shops are ordered alphabetically within each town, nothing else. The facts on each card come from your own listing, site or Facebook page, and each card carries the date we checked them. - [Claim or correct your listing](mailto:info@portaransasfishingtx.com?subject=Bait%20shop%20listing%3A%20claim%20or%20correct) : hours, bait, licences, or a shop we missed. We update within a few days. - [Put today's tide, wind and water temperature on your own site](/embed/) : one line of code, free, no signup, no key. You're welcome to remove it or add rel=nofollow. - [Send us your bait and catch updates](mailto:info@portaransasfishingtx.com?subject=Bait%20and%20fishing%20updates%20for%20the%20directory) : if you post what's in the tanks or how the week fished, we link to it from your card. Port Aransas Fishing Guide sells nothing to shops and takes no commission; the directory exists so anglers find bait. ## What will your trip cost? Pick a trip type, length, and group size — the estimate is instant, free, and from current local market research.