Local Area Guide

If you’re new to the Padre Island or Bluff area and eager to cast a line, welcome! Fishing here can be a great way to relax and connect with nature. But before you head out, here’s everything you need to know—from licensing to the best spots for fishing and bait. Whether you’re just visiting or considering making fishing a regular hobby, this fishing guide will help you get started. Scroll down for a list of recommended fishing guides in the area! Local Fishing License Requirements: What You Need to Know In Texas, anyone aged 17 to 65 must have a fishing license if they want to fish in public waters. For fishing around Padre Island and the Bluff, a saltwater fishing license is required. The good news is, it’s easy to get one! You can purchase or renew your license at places like Walmart, HEB, Academy, and even local convenience stores. For a quicker process, you can also buy it online via the Texas Parks and Wildlife website, but note that electronic licenses don’t come with physical tags. For those who plan to fish beyond just the island, I recommend the “all-water” fishing package, which covers both freshwater and saltwater fishing. You can find the full regulations and the fishing limits at Texas Parks and Wildlife. Best Places to Fish Around Padre Island and the Bluff If you’re not bringing a boat, don’t worry—there are still plenty of great fishing spots accessible from shore. Here are a few top locations where locals and visitors alike have had success: These locations are easy to find on Google Maps, making them simple to navigate for newcomers. Where to Buy Bait Having the right bait can make all the difference when you’re fishing. For fresh bait, you can visit these spots around the area: These locations provide everything you need to bait your hook and get started. Tips for Fishing in the Area Fishing can sometimes be more challenging than it seems, but with the right knowledge, you’ll improve your chances: And, if you’re really new to fishing, consider hiring a local guide to learn some new tricks and techniques. Learn from the Pros There are plenty of experienced guides who know the local waters and can help you improve your fishing game. Contact any of these local fishing guides for the ultimate fishing experience in the area! –Al Gordon– (361) 816-7431. –Captain Bartt Caron– (361) 876-1996 –Good Vibes Guide Service– (361)-728-5824 –Aaron’s Guide Service– (361) 960-1374 –Captain Bret Caron– (361) 290-8442 Upgrade Your Boating Knowledge If you are looking to learn how to navigate the waters via boat, Gulf Coast Mariner Services and Logistics is the perfect place. They offer a range of services, including boater safety courses, fishing trips, and more. Reach out to them at 361-717-1225 or visit their Facebook page for more details. Final Thoughts Whether you’re looking for a peaceful day of shore fishing or aiming for a guided adventure, Padre Island and the Bluff have a lot to offer. By getting the right license, knowing where to go, and using the best bait, you’ll have an enjoyable time on the water. So pack your gear, follow these tips, and start fishing!

Where to eat? SOOOO many choices! Corpus Christi is home to amazing, locally owned restaurants! You will find beach vibes, upscale options, family fun dining, and some of the best food in Texas! This list is separated by locally owned places on Padre Island and locally owner places over the bridge in broader Corpus Christi. There are of course many chain restaurants to choose from, but this list will only showcase local eateries. We did the research for you, now all you have to do is decide where to eat! Black Sheep Bistro- SOOOOOO Good! Steaks, seafood, speciality dishes; great date night or friends dinner Calypso Drive & Dive- AMAZING food, good liquor selection, spacious outdoor seating for large parties Desserted Island- Ice cream, all the best: BLUEBELL! Doc’s- Seafood and beautiful water views Guajillo’s- Authentic Mexican food and VERY delicious; GF and vegetarian options also Magnolia Grace y Mas- Gelato/soups sandwiches; best ice cream place in town, hands down Meridas- New place in town, great drinks; tapas style Mexican Food Nom’s- yummy Thai food for everyone; generous portions Padre Island Burger Co.- Fav local burger place Padre Island Burger Co.- Fav local burger place Rock & Roll Sushi- Sushi, unique appetizers, and great cocktails Rock & Roll Sushi- Sushi, unique appetizers, and great cocktails Surfside Sandwich Shoppe- GREAT sandwich place and yummy cocktails; kid friendly, games for kids Captain’s Diner- NEW to the island! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Island Italian- Excellent Italian food and great desserts Restaurants Over the Bridge in Corpus Christi Andy’s Kitchen- Local breakfast fav! Atomic Omelette & Grill- All things breakfast! Especially famous for its omelettes Bien Merite’- Breakfast, lunch, and coffee…all are AMAZING. Especially popular for its homemade croissants! Hester’s- A long time local favorite! Multiple locations that serve both breakfast and lunch. Hester’s- A long time local favorite! Multiple locations that serve both breakfast and lunch. Hu Dat- Delicious Vietnamese food Katz 21- Upscale steakhouse, worth the money! Mimi & Papa’s Kitchen- Good breakfast, also serves lunch and dinner, AMAZING water views. Pier 99- locally famous seafood place on North Beach Railroad Brewing Co.- Wide array of menu options, so many amazing chocies! Sufi Kabob- Excellent Middle Eastern cuisine Tea by the Sea Cafe: Not just food, it is an experience!!!! Serves high tea and lunch; local fav!! The Blue Clove- High quality seafood served, along with a wide array of menu choices The Post- Great cocktails and American-fusion food; great for parties and celebrations Did we miss any?

Finding restaurants that offer gluten free (GF) options can be a challenge, BUT we are here to help! We gathered a list of local places in Corpus Christi that offer a substantial GF menu selection. In an effort to support local businesses, we featured only local restaurants, but Corpus Christi also has an array of chain restaurants that offer GF options. Corpus Christi boasts a growing food scene, and surprisingly a substantial number of places with GF menu options as well. We did the research for you, now all you have to do is decide where to eat! B&J’s Pizza- Yes, GF pizza! With two locations, a great drink selection, and plenty of TVs to watch the game, this is definitely a great place for families and sports enthusiasts. Doc’s Seafood- Water front dining and delicious food, including a plethora of GF options? This is the place! Their drink menu is pretty great too. Island Italian- Attention all pasta lovers, this local eatery has GF pasta, in addition to other GF entrees. Delicious Italian food, what’s not to love? Z-Counter- This Asian fusion eatery is a local fav. Asian tacos, rice dishes, and many unique specialty dishes are on the menu, and yes, many can be made GF! Guajillo’s- Known for their “Mex without the Tex” dishes, this places offers authentic Mexico inspired dishes and a great number of GF options! In fact, all their sauces are GF. Oh and did I mention, this place is rated in the Top 3 Places to Eat in Texas? Blue Clove Seafood Bar & Grill- Looking for great seafood? Look no farther! This place has many menu options, and just as many GF options to choose from. Hester’s Cafe- Breakfast or lunch, Hester’s has just what you need, from omelettes to tasty sandwiches to desserts. Their GF options won’t leave you feeling like you missed out! Ginger Cafe & Grill- Here, you can expect Mediterranean dishes with international cuisine from Greece to the Indian subcontinent, and an array of GF dishes that are sure to please. BKK Thai Kitchen & Bar- This place is known for its custom cocktails, but their GF menu is also pretty great. There are two locations, and lots of yummy options to choose from. Did we miss any?

Do you have a sweet tooth? Well, you’re in luck because there are many places in Corpus Christi to indulge your sweetest cravings. Vacation is the time to treat yourself! I visited as many places as I could to help create the perfect list of places that can help you find the perfect place to treat yourself to a sweet treat. It was a hard job, but hey, someone had to do it. Bien Mérité- This little French inspired bakery is AMAZING. I mean it! Baked goods are kinda my thing, so trust me: I have been to a lot of bakeries, and this place has THE BEST croissants. The chocolate almond croissant is my absolute favorite, but they are all delicious. They offer tiramisu, cakes, macarons, and sooooo much more. They also offer a few breakfast and lunch items, and they have a great coffee and tea menu! Tea By the Sea –  In this little cottage style house, each room is thoughtfully transformed into a moody-maximalist, designer space. The aesthetic is on point, and so are the sweet treats and tea! Macarons, cookies, cakes, beignets, and so many other creative little treats are offered here! This place is small, but feels big; and the owner truly does more than make great food, she creates an experience for each and every guest. You really won’t find this experience anywhere else, so make time to treat yourself to tea time! The Coffee Mugg – Attention Harry Potter fans, this place is for you! More than a great coffee shop, The Coffee Mugg offers a great selection of home made sweet treats. They offer adorable Harry Potter themed cookies, muffins, cupcakes, and a wide array of tasty pastries. Go for the treats, and stay for the photo-ops! This place is all things Harry Potter and oh so cute! Desserted Island Ice Cream – Blue Bell is kinda a Texas thing, and Desserted Island #2 can def satisfy your craving for a sweet treat! Treat yourself to practically any flavor Blue Bell has ever imagined, make it a sundae, add sprinkles, or  try one of their brownies, you definitely won’t leave this place hungry. This is a kid favorite dessert stop, so bring the family! Ninja Mochi Donuts – This ninja themed donut place takes donuts to a whole new level. Not only is each donut crafted with the most adorable decorations, they taste incredible! Minion themed donuts, fruity pebble donuts, oreo donuts, and that is just a few of their unique offerings. They also offer home made corn dogs. Now I know that is not on the sweet treat theme of this blog post, but for real y’all: you have got to try one! Magnolia Grace Gelato y Mas – Gelato, in more flavors than you can ever imagine will be found here! So many flavors, the owner has to keep them in two separate cases. This homemade gelato is fantastic, my favorite is the tiramisu and bourbon pecan. They have lots of fun flavors like popcorn, red velvet, jolly rancher, cantaloupe, and so many more!  Here is a little secret: the owner truly believes you should treat yourself and she will literally let you taste every flavor! Sugar Bakers Bistro & Bakery– Homemade pies are hard to find, but Sugar Bakers knows how to do it right. Apple pie, cake, cookies of all kinds…but go early because the dessert case sells out fast! They also have coffee, wine, and a great lunch menu. Southern Style Sweets– Custom cakes, cookies, and other professionally decorated items are the most popular items here. BUT the dessert cases are stocked with cupcakes, beautifully decorated cookies, pies, bagels, and other sweet and savory baked goods. One of my favorite things about Southern Style Sweets are the carefully crafted seasonal creations. There is always a creative treat to grab to match the mood of the season or holiday!

Corpus Christi is a great vacay spot for the whole family! It can be overwhelming to know where to start, so we have done a roundup of the best family-friendly vacation (or staycation) things to do in the area, in no particular order, they are all MUST do adventures! Let the family fun begin. Texas State Aquarium– Dolphin shows, sloths, sharks, and fish galore! This place is great for the whole family, even little ones can enjoy the splash pad. Pack your sunscreen and a change of clothes for the little ones. They have a food court, easy parking, handicap accessible attractions, and much more. This adventure can easily take up a whole day of your vacation. U.S.S. Lexington– Corpus proudly boasts being the home of the U.S.S. Lexington where you and your family will immerse yourself in the patriotic history of Lady Lex (as locals fondly call it). There are flight simulators, escape rooms, guided tours, self guided tours, and so much more! Tips: sunscreen! Water! It is an outdoor/indoor museum, it can be hot. Expect lots of walking, so wear comfy shoes! In the Game Funtrackers– Indoor and outdoor fun, with a game room inside (did someone say air conditioning?) and a plethora of activities outside including: roller coaster rides, mini-golf, go-kart tracks, bumper cars, a batting cage AND MORE! There is also a restaurant inside, so you can easily spend the whole day here. So much to do for ages 5 and up! Bring a stroller for the littles. Baywatch Tours- Cruise the coastal waterways of North Padre Island! They offer beautiful sunset tours, a chance to see dolphins, bird life, and the most gorgeous sunsets! These small group tours are perfect for the whole family and for kids of all ages, and an ideal way to wind down and relax while soaking up the beauty of North Padre Island. Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History– Adults and kids alike will find something to enjoy at the many exhibits this museum has to offer. Science and history collide to help visitors understand local history, Texas history, space, and you guessed it…much more! The littles will enjoy the H-E-B Science Center where they can explore chemistry, science, music, and biology in hands-on activities. Visit the beautiful Xeriscape Garden, which received the Beauty Spot Award of the Beautify Corpus Christi Association and is free to the public. South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center– Visitors will explore gorgeous flower gardens, hike kid friendly trails, explore conservatories, enjoy bird watching, meet their animals (my favorites are the lizards!), and learn about water conservation. They are pet friendly, so your furry friend can also go! Hurricane Alley– Beat the heat and take a ride down epic water slides, float the pools or the Gulf Stream lazy river, take the little ones to the Kids Cove, or swim up to the Hideaway Bar for a drink. All ages will enjoy this cool, water adventure! Red Dragon Pirate Cruise Tours– Aaargh you ready for some fun? This nautical adventure is located in Port Aransas, only a short drive from Corpus Christi. Pirates, cannon blasts, dolphins, and so much more, perfect for kids of all ages, this is a family fun adventure your kids will talk about for days! Fire It Ceramics– Make memories you can take with you! Your kids will select a ceramic item, adding their artistic talents! They fire it up and finalize this artistic masterpiece for you to take home. This is a truly unique experience. Treasure Island Golf & Games- Fun for the whole family at this super HUGE putt-putt golf course! This well designed course offers two routes, a game room, and Blue Bell ice cream! Whataburger Field, MILB Hooks– We sure are proud of our Hooks! Catch a Hooks game at this one of a kind stadium on the bay. Near the Port of Corpus Christi, you can spot boats and barges in the bay while you watch the Hooks slide to home plate. Check out their schedule and catch a game while you are in the area. Horses on the Beach– Not many people can say that they have ridden a horse on the beach! Let Horses on the Beach change all that with one of their epic beach tours atop a well trained horse. Ages 8 and up can enjoy a one of a kind beach experience to go home and brag about. Beach– Visiting Corpus Christi usually means the same thing for everyone: hitting up the beach! The most popular beaches in Texas are located right here in Corpus Christi. Sand, sun, and FUN await! With so many locations to find fun in the sun, it can be hard to determine the best location. Check out this handy Corpus Christi Beach Guide just for your beach planning needs! RELATED READING: Things to Do in the Coastal Bend: 15 Unique Ideas Find the perfect place to stay in Corpus Christi at Seascape Properties!

It is no surprise the beaches of Corpus Christi attract thousands of visitors every year. Why visit if you don’t get your toes a little sandy? The typical beach visit is no doubt fun. Ice chests, sunglasses, beach towels, sun bathing, and water splashing all make a great day at the beach. BUT what if you could upgrade your beach experience? Here are our top recommendations to upgrade your day at a Corpus Christi beach! Check out these beach experience upgrades and make memories to last a lifetime. Horses on the Beach – Love horses? Love the beach? What is not to love about Horses on the Beach! This unique experience is a top rated activity in the area. Check out their site here and make plans to tour a Corpus beach in a truly unique way. Love Shack Tiki Hut – This is the ultimate way to spend the day at the beach! A shaded tiki hut will be delivered to a spot on the beach, equipped with speakers, hammock chairs, an ice chest and mini fridge, and sooooo much more! Make the other beach goers jealous and spend the day at the beach on the Love Shack Tiki Hut. GlowRow – If you are someone looking for something truly unique, then cruising the waters in a glow in the dark kayak is exactly what you need! These unique guided tours under the stars allow for B.Y.O.B also, doesn’t get better than that! GlowRow is the perfect experience for the adventure seeker! Golf Cart Fun – Riding around in a golf cart is kind of an Island thing. Locals own them, but visitors can rent them. There are numerous places to rent one, but check out Beach Bum Rentals. Tell them you are staying with Seascape Properties! One thing to note: it is illegal to drive golf carts on Park Rd. 22 (also known as South Padre Island Drive, which is the main highway running through the Island). Beach Rentals – If you are on Padre Island beaches and you need chairs, canopies, or pretty much anything beach and water related: Corpus Beach Rentals has you covered! They also set up and clean up. That is a definite beach upgrade!A day at a Corpus Christi beach is definitely better when all the work is done for you! Wind and Wave also offers a variety of rentals including surfboards and kayaks! Campfire on the Beach – A cozy campfire on the beach is the perfect way to end any beach day! Third Coast Events sets it up and cleans it up! Talk about dreamy! If you are planning a unique date, anniversary, or proposal they also packages to make your evening truly unique. RELATED READING: Things to Do in the Coastal Bend: 15 Unique Ideas

Visiting Corpus Christi usually means the same thing for everyone: hitting up the beach! The most popular beaches in Texas are located right here in Corpus Christi. Sand, sun, and FUN await! With so many locations to find fun in the sun, it can be hard to determine the best location. Here is a quick Corpus Christi Beach Guide just for your beach planning needs!