The Mango Vol 1 Issue 6

the bustle of city life. Affectionately known as Port A, it holds a special place in the hearts of many generations as a slice of paradise on the Texas coast. Fishing and Beach Tailgating To say that fishing is a popular sport is an understatement. Before covid shut down a few events, there were more than 35 fishing tournaments that called Port Aransas their home. The grandfather of them all is the annual Deep Sea Roundup and has been open to anglers for close to 90 years. There is a plethora of fishing charter boats in which to indulge, jetties to fish from, and many folks simply cast their lines out from the beach. The local Texas Fish and Wildlife folks insist on a fishing license, unless the fisherman is under 17 years old, and “senior” licenses are available for a reduced cost. Licenses can be purchased at the local IGA grocery store, gas stations and fishing stores or ordered online. The most popular pastime for visitors is hanging out on miles of sandy beach. This is an area which allows vehicles, so for a nominal fee, a beach parking permit can be purchased at any convenience store. Driving a vehicle enables the beachgoer to pack a pop-up tent, beach chairs, coolers and more in the tailgate version of frolicking in the sun and surf. Motorized golf carts can be rented in lots of places all over town and are permitted on the beach and in town; they are not legal on Highway 361. Winter Birds Outdoor fun around here does not hibernate when the air gets a bit chilly in winter. Migratory birds love South Texas, and one of the biggest species, the whooping crane, gets a great deal of attention during January and February. It’s fascinating to learn about these tall, endangered birds and their habits. They mate for life, and last season, a local pair brought their adolescent chick with them. These birds are so popular that there is an annual Whooping Crane Festival where folks can join birding outings, hear lectures and more. Even though the festival is in Port Aransas, most of

hotel lobby sports his autograph on a tarpon fish scale on one of the walls, with scores of other signed tarpon scales surrounding it. The tarpon are mostly gone now, but there are around 600 species of other fish in the surrounding waters. Port Aransas is a casual beach town on the north end of Mustang Island. Its closest large town is Corpus Christi, and a visitor can still feel miles away from

6 1

m a n g o - m a g . c o m

N o v / D e c 2 0 2 1