--- title: "Port Aransas Pier Fishing — All Four Piers Compared" description: "Every fishing pier in Port Aransas compared: the three free city piers and the paid Horace Caldwell Pier, with access rules, facilities, and which to pick." canonical: https://portaransasfishingtx.com/piers/ source: https://portaransasfishingtx.com/piers/ --- 1. [Home](https://portaransasfishingtx.com/) 2. Piers Piers # Pier fishing in Port Aransas Port Aransas has exactly four public fishing piers: three free city piers on the ship channel, all rebuilt in concrete after Hurricane Harvey, and one paid Gulf pier inside I.B. Magee Beach Park. Here is how they compare and which one fits your trip. ## Which pier is best for fishing in Port Aransas? For Gulf surf species and a full-service deck, Horace Caldwell Pier is the pick. For free ship-channel fishing with a fish-cleaning station, Roberts Point Park pier wins. Ancel Brundrett is the quiet lighthouse-view option, and Charlie’s Pasture pairs fishing with the nature preserve. [Port Aransas tourism bureau](https://www.portaransas.org/things-to-do/fishing/) Pier Cost Setting Length Facilities Horace Caldwell Pier Paid admission Gulf surf, inside I.B. Magee Beach Park 1,240 ft Bait and tackle, concessions, restrooms, lighting, observation deck Roberts Point Park Pier Free Ship channel and harbor, 50-acre city park Not published Fish-cleaning station, lighting, two restroom buildings in the park Ancel Brundrett Pier (Station St.) Free Ship channel, beside Cline’s Landing 167.5 ft New restroom facility nearby; views of the Lydia Ann Lighthouse Charlie’s Pasture Pier Free Ship channel, inside the Nature Preserve Not published Preserve trails, boardwalks, restrooms; open sunrise to sunset Verified 2026-08-09 against the [tourism bureau](https://www.portaransas.org/things-to-do/fishing/), [Nueces County](https://www.nuecesbeachparks.com/i-b-magee-beach-park/horace-caldwell-pier), and [City of Port Aransas](https://cityofportaransas.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/roberts-point-park/) pages. Fee details for Horace Caldwell live on [its own page](/piers/horace-caldwell/). ## Which Port Aransas piers are free? Roberts Point Park, Ancel Brundrett on Station Street, and Charlie’s Pasture are free public access, per the tourism bureau. Horace Caldwell Pier is the only paid pier in town, with admission collected inside I.B. Magee Beach Park. [portaransas.org](https://www.portaransas.org/things-to-do/fishing/) All three city piers were destroyed by Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 and rebuilt in concrete with FEMA covering 90 percent and the State of Texas the rest, per [local reporting](https://www.portasouthjetty.com/articles/work-to-begin-on-citys-piers/). The rebuilds were substantial public investments: $1.6 million at Roberts Point, $2.1 million at Ancel Brundrett, and $2.2 million at Charlie’s Pasture. ## Roberts Point Park pier The workhorse. Reopened February 2023 after a $1.6 million rebuild with concrete decking, improved accessibility, lighting, and a fish-cleaning station, it sits in a 50-acre waterfront park by the ferry landing with two restroom buildings, an observation tower, and a mile of fishable bulkhead and granite jetties beside the municipal marina. The [City’s park page](https://cityofportaransas.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/roberts-point-park/) notes a TPWD fishing license is required. Formerly known as the J.P. Luby Fishing Pier. ## Charlie’s Pasture pier The newest pier in town, reopened September 15, 2023 on the ship channel inside the Port Aransas Nature Preserve. One rule matters more than any other here: **fishing is prohibited by city ordinance everywhere in the preserve except the ship channel**, per the [City’s Charlie’s Pasture page](https://cityofportaransas.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/nature-preserve/charlies-pasture/), which also bans pets, camping, alcohol, and shell collecting. The preserve is open sunrise to sunset, admission free, with entrances at the end of Port Street and off Highway 361; stay on the designated trails. Fish the pier and the channel frontage, nothing else. ## Ancel Brundrett pier (Station Street) The quiet one, at the north end of Station Street beside Cline’s Landing, with a straight view of the Lydia Ann Lighthouse. The concrete rebuild runs 167.5 feet from the bulkhead, about 35 feet shorter than the original so it stays clear of ship traffic and channel dredging, per [local reporting](https://www.portasouthjetty.com/articles/brundrett-pier-repair-set/), and a new restroom facility was built nearby. Short walk, deep water, big-ship wakes: keep an eye on your rod. ## Horace Caldwell Pier The 1,240-foot Gulf pier inside I.B. Magee Beach Park, and the only one with admission, bait and tackle on the deck, concessions, and lighting over the surf. It earns its own guide: [fees, bait, camping, and access at Horace Caldwell Pier](/piers/horace-caldwell/). ## Do you need a fishing license to fish a Port Aransas pier? Yes, on every pier in town. Texas has no pier or jetty exemption: anyone 17 or over needs a fishing license with the saltwater endorsement. Licenses are not sold at the piers, so buy online or in town before you walk out. [TPWD license FAQ](https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/faqs) The tourism bureau directs anglers to the Lowe’s Port A Family Center for in-person license sales. The one nearby exemption is fishing inside a Texas state park, which applies at Mustang Island State Park, not at any Port Aransas pier. Straight answers ## Frequently asked questions ### What's the best time to fish at the pier? Moving water beats any clock time: the strongest bites on the ship-channel piers come on tide changes, and the lighted piers fish well after dark when bait stacks up in the light lines. Check the live conditions report for today’s tide windows before you go. ### What is the best bait for pier fishing in Port Aransas? Live or fresh dead shrimp is the default for everything from sheepshead to redfish; finger mullet and cut bait cover the bigger drum and reds. Note that Island Tackle does not stock live bait, so plan your bait stop, and Horace Caldwell Pier sells bait and tackle on the deck. ## What will your trip cost? Pick a trip type, length, and group size — the estimate is instant, free, and from current local market research.