I don't want to ask any of your "secret spots" or anything like that, but I'm taking my 2 sons to stay at a friend's condo near "Key Allegro" marina towards the end of Spring Break. I have plenty of saltwater fishing gear/tackle, but do not have a boat.

Would any of you fellow Ags be willing to give me some information as to where would be a good spot that I can take the boys wade fishing (that doesn't require a boat to get there)?

Also, what type of bait do you guys use this time of year? Dead/live shrimp? Croaker? Any lure that I should pick up the boys at Academy that might give them some luck?

Any other suggestions that you guys might have in general? Restaurants?

Oh, and I can give an e-mail address for anyone that's hesitant to post a specific spot/area on the boards.

Thanks in advance!

First thing, does the place have a lighted fishing pier? If so, take the boys down to the pier at night with live shrimp, cokes, and munchies. Just freeline the live shrimp and you'll catch trout.

Also, how old are the boys? You might want to look into renting kayaks or getting a guided trip from Capt. Dean Thomas from Slowride Guide Services- he does a ton of work with Boy Scouts so he's used to kids.

I'm not sure about the lighted pier. I'll have to ask tomorrow.

The boys are 20 & 15. Old enough to fish on their own, as I may have to do some work during the day while we're down there.

Thanks for the info on freelining with live shrimp at night. Any other suggestions? If the pier is not lighted, is there a place with a lighted pier that I can take them?

[This message has been edited by Lukeno (edited 3/10/2010 7:24p).]

I've had luck this time of year at night under the lightson the fin and feather pier using live shrimp. It's on the right hand side of the road that goes to the ferry.

There is a lighted pier alond the causeway going from Rockport to Holiday Beach. It used to be the bridge across Aransas Bay.
Live shrimp at night under the lights can be good.

My in-laws have houses in Key Allegro. We wade by the small jetties in the summer, hard sand bottom, some shell out deeper.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=28.036124,-97.024072&spn=0.00465,0.006877&t=h&z=17&msid=108381502837853860128.0004818713ce7aa87bcc0

May not be warm enough yet, but its worth a shot.

Cody
Fightin' Texas Aggie c/o '04

For food in Fulton near the water:

Captain Benny's cooks seafood caught that day, and has great fried shrimp. Very much a nice-dive, down close to the water, but clean, nice people and great food. It's byob if Dad wants to bring a few beers or a bottle. VERY casual place...friend from CS has a place down there and we stop every trip.

Hu Dat?(that's the name of it)... Dat Nguyen's family has a place (I think across from Captain Benny's on Broadway and Fulton Beach Rd.). If you want something with a good Ag story behind it, and like Orientalfood. I've never eaten there, but gotta be good and trustworthy spot.

Just ideas...have fun!

Tim- if they're 20 & 15 just see about renting kayaks and they can go fish Lighthouse Lakes or Brown & Root. If it's not being blasted with jet-skis, Little Bay behind Key Allegro generally holds trout when the waters are cooler.

They can also wade the shoreline at Goose Island SP.

Key Allegro is in Estes Flats. That's where you wanna be. If your boat ride is longer than 5-10 minutes, you are making a mistake.

Look for gin water and start fishing. Use spoons or touts. You'll also do well with live shrimp under popping cork.

California Hole is always productive. Any gut from ICW into Estes is slam dunk. Just look for good water, then look for fish.

[This message has been edited by birdman (edited 3/11/2010 11:03a).]

tim - shoot me an e-mail.

[This message has been edited by p-wonk01 (edited 3/11/2010 11:16a).]

birdman- good call on Estes but they don't have a boat. Of course, if they're staying in Key Allegro they can just rent kayaks to paddle across the ICW and fish Estes.

I haven't done this in a number of years, but we used to wade off the end of Curlew Dr. in Key Allegro. I limited out on trout a couple of different times. I think I was throwing Norton Bull Minnows in margarita color.

dahouse,

can anyone fish those small jetties on your map or do you have to be a homeowner back there?

You gotta try the crabcakes at Paradise Key on Key Allegro. Goes well with a margarita and Jimmy Buffet.

You can also wade out behind the airport. Just watch out for the oyster reef is you don't have good boots.

Thanks for the help guys. Sorry, I didn't check the thread earlier today... been swamped at work.

pwonk - I'll send you an e-mail this evening, assuming it's the address in your profile.

Where would we go to rent kayaks? And, how far of a "paddle" is it to "Estes Flats"? Is it something that relatively inexperienced kayakers could do with ease?

birdman - Where is "California Hole?" I'm assuming it wouldn't be a far kayak trip, either?

Again, that you SO much guys. Will definitely give the restaurants a try and report back. Hopefully, with pictures of some fish to show for our efforts, too!

Tim: you can rent kayaks from Dean & Jennifer at Slowride Guide Services or Capt. Sally Moffat's place. Both are in Rockport- just google them and you'll find it.

Estes actually is a bit of a paddle from Key Allegro. Probably about a 2 mile trip, one-way. That's not really very far but for beginners it might be a bit much. Although if you can get to the very southern end of Shell Ridge Rd. it's probably only a 1/2 mile paddle to Estes, I just don't know if you can park/launch there.

If the boys will have a vehicle to tote their kayaks around in they can fish Port Bay. Just pull off of FM 188 and launch there. It's full of oyster reefs which should be holding reds right now.

I highly recommend Goose Island SP as well.

And the Lighthouse Lakes paddling trails is a great spot for the boys to spend the day. Just buy a map from Capt. Dean or Capt. Sally- Dean's kid just did his Eagle Scout project and replaced all of the trail markers in the Lakes so it should be relatively easy to navigate and it's only a short paddle across the channel into shallow, protected mangrove flats.

Thanks guys. Pwonk- send e-mail now. Work has been crazy this week.