Corpus Christi - Aransasn Bay - San Antonio Bay

[pmpetracca]

Greetings! Looking for some local knowledge and suggestions.

When you live in the New Mexico desert and your thing is sailing, you naturally become very adventurous. As the drought continues and our lakes dry up, we find ourselves looking for new destinations all the time. Having done Catalina Island and all the biggest lakes in the western US to death, we are considering a trip to the Texas Gulf Coast.

Our rig...Laguna 22, draft just under 3 feet.

Rough itinerary....launch Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Rockport, Matagorda NWR, and back.

We have 10-12 nights we can spend on the water and would like to mix it up with marina and anchoring out.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Cautions?

Would like to know best time of year to visit so we can actually sail....ugh, Lake Powell was a motoring trip, might as well own a Bayliner!

Thanks in advance for your input.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, pmpetracca.

[sartorst]

With that draft the bays will be wide open for you I was restricted to channels(5.5)many times I would like to have gotten out of the channels to get closer to shore or behind some land for shelter!the further south you go the less populated less busy fewer marinas etc even desolate at times but clearer water better fishing if you like to fish this is what I liked
North gets busy with barge traffic more marinas etc, CC is a good central location the area is well known for its wind April May-end of September-oct depends on how heat tolerant you are ! Cautions stay in touch with the barge traffic in the ICW its scary to see a barge take the entire channel in a across wind ,communication!!

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by pmpetracca

Rough itinerary....launch Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Rockport, Matagorda NWR, and back.

If it was me:

Day 1: Sail Mud Island. Spend 1 night.
Day 2: Sail to Sanctuary Marina. Spend 1 night
Day 3: Sail to Army Hole. Spend 3 nights.
Day 6: Sail to Rockport City marina. Spend 1 night.
Day 7: Sail to Port Aransas City marina. Spend 2 nights. Rent a golf cart
Day 9: Sail to Flato Cut spend 2 nights
Day 11: Sail to Corpus

[pmpetracca]

Originally Posted by RainDog

If it was me: Day 1: Sail Mud Island. Spend 1 night. Day 2: Sail to Sanctuary Marina. Spend 1 night Day 3: Sail to Army Hole. Spend 3 nights. Day 6: Sail to Rockport City marina. Spend 1 night. Day 7: Sail to Port Aransas City marina. Spend 2 nights. Rent a golf cart Day 9: Sail to Flato Cut spend 2 nights Day 11: Sail to Corpus

Thanks for the great suggestions.

I was able to locate all the destinations you mentioned except "Sanctuary Marina" - stop #2.

A little help please.

Thanks a bunch.

Patrick

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by pmpetracca

Thanks for the great suggestions.

I was able to locate all the destinations you mentioned except "Sanctuary Marina" - stop #2.

A little help please.

Thanks a bunch.

Patrick

Latitude: 28°24.940'N
Longitude: 096°29.511'W

It is on Active Captain also. Note that "Mud Island" is not usable in a N wind. If you get a north wind you would have to spend night 1 in Rockport.

Also not that Port A is a resort town. Lots of night life, restaurants, and many other activities. Rockport and Port O'connor are pretty sleepy towns, but there are some shops and nice walking right at the Rockport Marina.

[RainDog]

Also, in case it was not obvious, Army Hole is Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Until recently this was a state park. The ferry burned and was never replaced, so it does not get many visitors any longer. They have a dock you can tie up to or you can anchor nearby. No water is available. Great place for hiking, fishing, or birdwatching.

Matagorda Island

[pmpetracca]

Thanks for all the great info...I was able to find Army Hole.

I have registered on Active Captain

We are quite excited to make the trip...best time of year? Late April/early May?

[RainDog]

Generally the best time down here is April/May. Reliable winds, daytime temps in the 80's, and winds are almost always SE, which makes great anchorages and means you can be on a reach your entire trip.

Wind & weather statistics Port Aransas Channel - Windfinder

Events you may want to avoid, or attend, depending on your hobbies:

Port Aransas Annual SandFest
Rockport, TX & Aransas County Birding - Birds to See and When to See Them
Spring Break (Port A is a beach resort) - Week starting March 8