Plan with confidence
Use this guide when you want to plan pier or jetty fishing. It brings the practical choices around pier and jetty fishing together so you can compare options and keep planning.
Useful details
- Non-fishing companions at Pirate's Landing pay a spectator fee of $2.75 plus tax.
- Cameron County's coastal park inventory records that additional coastal facilities beyond South Padre Island are found at Adolph Thomae, Jr. Park along the Arroyo Colorado and at the Jaime J. Zapata Memorial Boat Ramp at San Martin Lake and the Brownsville Ship Channel - i.e. these two are the county's only developed non-island shore-fishing sites.
- Tripadvisor reviewers report that a Pirate's Landing fishing pass is honoured for a full 24 hours, one describing it as good until 5am the next day - which conflicts with the operator's 12-hour framing.
- As of an April 2026 FWS story, the reconnected Bahia Grande basin supports seagrass and robust populations of fish, shrimp, blue crabs and wintering waterfowl, and serves as nursery habitat; current work focuses on restoring nesting islands for colonial waterbirds, with more than 3,000 native seedlings planted and island restoration expected to finish in spring 2027.
- The CVB's current fishing page tells visitors to buy licences at Blue Marlin Supermarket or online through Texas Parks and Wildlife, and to use the Outdoor Annual mobile app so there is no paper licence to lose.
- Conflicting position for How long a Pirate's Landing pass lasts: The operator's pricing page frames admission as 12 hours of fishing
- Conflicting position for Adolph Thomae Jr. Park camping rate: Campendium listing showed $25/night as the most recent reported rate in February 2026, with historical rates $25-$35
- Fred Stone County Park & Pier is on the north side of Port Mansfield at GPS N 26 deg 34.195' W 97 deg 25.623'; it is described as a good place to launch a kayak or to wade fish, with the pier fishing well for trout and redfish during the summer.
- Unresolved research question: Is the Queen Isabella State Fishing Pier on the South Padre side still open in 2026? No review, news item or official page dated after August 2022 was found, and the adjacent old causeway has now been demolished.
- A Reddit commenter advising a visiting family in March 2025 pointed straight at Jim's Pier for fishing and noted it also runs guided trips.
What to compare
- Fit the activity to your group's ages, mobility, experience, and comfort on the water.
- Compare duration, meeting point, weather policy, and what is included before booking.
- Keep a weather-friendly backup so one change does not derail the day.
Before you go
Conditions, schedules, access, prices, and regulations can change. Check the linked official source when a detail could affect safety, availability, or cost.