b'Saltwater RecreationThe13,000-foot-deepSigsbeeDeepthatstretchesfrom200milessouthof Brownsville, eastward across the middle of the Gulf of Mexico for more than 400 miles, is among the deepest ocean basins on earth. In the summer months, sub-currents of the Gulf Stream circulate counterclockwise up the Texas Gulf Coast, bringing what we call blue water that originates in the cold depths of the Sigsbee Deep. With that water comes the best offshore fishing of the year.While ample marina space exists on the back side of Padre Island, on Laguna Madre, virtually all boats moored there and launching from those locations are inshore and not offshore. The Packery Channel bridge is not high enough for most of the big, offshore fishing yachts to pass into the gulf. Until a marina is built on Lake Padre, from where almost any sized boat can access the gulf unobstructed through Packery Channel, options for offshore charters are limited to Port Aransas.The most popular gamefish species that are pulled out of the Gulf of Mexico off the Coastal Bend in the summer are Sailfish and Marlinwhich are often con-fusedalong with Bluefin Tuna, Mahi Mahi (aka Dorado and Dolphin Fish), Red Snapper and Tarpon, which was the original name of Port Aransas. Great Gulf Fishing off the For those who want to go deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, its important toCoastal BendA typical understand the options, and like most things in life, and especially on vacation private, offshore charter you get what you pay for. There are party boats, from about $70 per angler and $40on a medium-sized boat for riders, and there are private charters, from around $2,000 these days, consider- (above) will run $2,000+ ing the record high cost of fuel. Most private charters allow for four to six anglers.for four anglers. The most At least 15 and up to 50 anglers will be fishing on the party boats. famous fisherman to These sportfishing centers are located in Port Aransas on Cotter Avenue: catch Tarpon off Port A was President Franklin Deep Sea HeadquartersA fleet of three medium-sized party boats accommo- D. Roosevelt (right) who date up to 40 anglers each: The Pelican, The King Fisher and the Gulf Eagle. Five- visited in 1937.52THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'