The Gulf waters off the southern coast of Texas have some of the best fishing opportunities in the United States both inshore and offshore. The coastal town of Port Aransas, also known as “The Fishing Capital of Texas,” is one of the best places to go to kick your fishing game up a notch. For me, this visit is about targeting the near-shore feisty fighters – the beefy bull redfish.

Red Drum, or redfish are popular to catch in coastal waters. Generally, redfish grow quickly reaching about 11-inches in the first year of life and up to 24-inches by three years of age, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Early in life the red drum live in the bays. As redfish mature, they move into the Gulf of Mexico waters where they generally stay to live out their lives and can grow into bull reds.

Bull redfish, often referred to as just “bulls,” are generally defined as measuring more than 27 inches. Bull reds can almost be considered their own species because their size, shape and behavior evolve into a superstardom level from their younger versions. Their movements are stealth, making them hard to target while they transition from deeper water to the shallows and back as the tides and temperatures change.

Because targeting bull reds requires intimate knowledge of the water and all of the factors that influence the location of these fish, it is important to work with an experienced local guide like Captain Josh Garcia of Tejas Guide Service. I team up with Josh to learn more about these beasts of the coast as we set out to catch and release bull reds.

Josh knows the exact window of time in the day to fish for the bull reds having evaluated the wind speed, direction, and the times of the tide changes. He also knows the movement patterns of the bulls having spent a lifetime on Port Aransas waters. Josh knows that during our target window the bulls are likely to be stacked in pockets. This means that on a good day you may not just have one “fish on” but one on every line extending from the boat.

I should explain that when the bulls take the bait its fierce and the fight is acrobatic generally requiring the angler fighting the fish to traverse the entire surface of the boat to maneuver so as engage the fish and not break the line. So, when three anglers all have a take at once like we did, the scene is chaotic, but epic, as far as fishing experiences go.

We landed quite a few bull reds on this trip weighing in at about 20 pounds and even a hybrid black drum that got into the mix. These fish are powerhouses and worthy of at least one go by anglers when they head to the south Texas coast.

While fishing for bull reds is an experience your muscles will never let you forget, Port Aransas is popular for many other types of fishing that are worthy of mentioning.

Inshore you can fish in the bays, flats, and channels and from the shoreline, in the surf or off the jetties and the piers. From these areas you can catch species like redfish, trout, drum, and sheepshead. Or you can head offshore for tuna and red snapper.

The bonus to fishing in Port Aransas fishing is the abundant wildlife that surrounds you during a day on the water. Migrating birds, sea turtles and dolphins add to the exciting natural energy and environment.

Port Aransas is also known for its top fishing tournaments, hosting more than 20 throughout the year that attract anglers of all ages and skill levels. This is where you will find a robust professional tournament schedule for billfish and redfish and tournaments specifically for kids.

The reason Port Aransas is such a top fishing spot along the Texas coastline is because of the diversity of species to catch and the locations and types of fishing you can do. There is an option for every skill level of angler at all times of the year and it is a marquee destination to up your game.

Insider tips for fishing for bull reds:

Prepare for a fight. If you’ve fished for redfish before you know that they are fighters, now take that and amplify it by an extreme. The bull reds will test your patience, agility and your gear.

Target bull red hangouts. These fish are agile in strong currents which is the ideal place to find them during tide changes. You will want to target places like bridges, jetties and inlets which give you the greatest chances of finding them.

Prepare for multiple hookups. As if catching one of these huge golden beauties isn’t exciting enough, if there are several anglers fishing for them at once be prepared for multiple hookups. When schools of bull reds congregate in channels or inlets, they have aggressive feeding activity and it’s common for several lines to go at once. What this means for you is to be prepared for some boat gymnastics around each other as you fight them.

Hire an experienced guide. Unless you are familiar with a location and the techniques for how to fish for bull reds at different times of the year your best success will come from hiring a reputable guide. A guide knows the tide changes and the holes where the bull reds congregate during those tide variations.