b'(1) Padre Island National SeashoreThe longest(13) Naval Air Station Corpus ChristiThose stretch of natural beach in the U.S. offers legend- with military credentials can access the excellent ary fishing on both the Gulf of Mexico and Lagunalaunch and shore fishing facilities on the Navy Madre sides of the island. base, located at a perfect, strategic location at the (2) Padre Island Beach/Kleberg CountyLessnorthern end of the Laguna.wild than PINS and easier to access, this stretch of(14) Boat Hole BasinThis is perhaps one of the island beach offers great surf fishing. least-known, but most unique fishing sites in the (3) Bob Hall PierFew public piers are more no- Coastal Bend. Multiple channels feed bay and gulf table, home of the world record, onshore catch- waters, and the fish that come with them, into this and-release, an 800 lb.+ Blacktip Shark. heavy seagrass zone.(4) Packery ChannelOpen migration route(15) Humble ChannelThe damming effect of between the Gulf and the Laguna, offering newthe JFK Causeway means that the flow of water jetties, ample parking, boat ramps and fantasticand fish in the Upper Laguna Madre is funneled cast and wade fishing onshore. through limited passageways. The first, of course, (5) Padre Isles Public Boat RampsCanal frontis the Intracoastal Waterway under the bridge to community provides at least five free, public boatthe island, and the other is Humble Channel, lo-ramps providing access to Upper Laguna Madre. cated a little more than a half-mile from the main-(6) Marker 37Bait shop, marina, storage, launch- land (Flour Bluff). In addition to being a popular es , ethanol-free fuel and pier on Laguna Madre,spot for fishing boats, two of the areas busiest take first exit on island side of JFK Causeway. fishing piers (Cos-Way and Red Dot) straddle the (7) JFK Causeway Low RoadFrom Flour Bluff,channel and provide the best access possible to take causeway to the island, but exit to low roadthe many species that traverse the channel in along water for great wade fishing. their migration through Laguna Madre.(8) JFK Causeway Island SideUnderneath the(16) Laguna Shores RoadRuns along Laguna bridge find Clems Marina and Billings Bait, offer- Madre in Flour Bluff, numerous boat launches and ing launches, store and pier. sites for shore and wade fishing.(9) Packery Channel ParkOnshore wade fishing(17) Oso BayWhile this small bay, which is along channel and flats, prime migration routefed freshwater by Oso Creek, is known more for and feeding waters. flounder gigging, warm water released from the (10) Kayak LaunchFree launch site situatedelectrical power plant is said to attract large Red-within productive flats fishing zone. fish. Access at Yorktown Blvd.(11) Corpus Christi PassSome of the regions best(18) Bluffs LandingLocated at the southern wade fishing can often be found on the back sideend of Laguna Shores Road, this full service mari-of Mustang Island, and this site, just north of Beachna facility offers a boat lift storage facility, launch-Access Road 3, offers fantastic access to the flatses, fuel, lodge and guides for charter in Laguna feeding and breeding zone toward the northernMadre and Baffin Bay. Home to the popular and end of Laguna Madre. All-vehicle access near high- new The Lookout Restaurant.way, trucks can traverse extensive series of trails. (19) Baffin Bay20 miles south of Flour Bluff (12) Fish Pass/Mustang Island State ParkFishrests one of the most famous fishing destinations Pass was once, many years ago, open to thein the United States. Baffin Bay is renown for Gulf of Mexico from the northern end of Lagu- record Speckled Trout, which dwell in the exten-na Madre. Although now closed, jetties remainsive network of Serpulid Worm reefs that began extended into the Gulf several hundred feet, and some species are known to congregate and feedforming over 3,000 years ago. Boaters should in between the jetties. Beach can be accessedexercise extreme caution in this area, as the reefs for a fee from the park entrance, or free by usingpresent a boating hazard. You will see dozens Beach Access Road 2 and working your wayof private fishing cabins situated along Laguna south. Excellent surf fishing along the typical- Madre, all of which are privately owned on plots ly-uncrowded route. The back side of the passleased by Texas Parks & Wildlife. The mainland is marks where Laguna Madre becomes Corpusthe private property of the King Ranch, so visitors Christi Bay, and harbors numerous species feed- are cautioned against landing at these locations ing, just about year round. without permission.TheCoastalBend.com THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE57'