Horace Caldwell Pier stretches 1,280 feet into the Gulf of Mexico from Port Aransas beach, making it the longest pier on the Texas coast and one of the best shore-fishing spots in the state. The pier is lighted, allowing anglers to fish through the night, and the lights attract bait fish and in turn larger predators — speckled trout, redfish, and flounder are the regular targets. There is a fee to fish; walking the pier is free.
Even if you have no interest in fishing, it is worth walking the pier to get a sense of the Gulf's scale. From the end, the coast curves away in both directions and the water is a murky blue-green. Pelicans wheel overhead. Dolphins occasionally work the bait schools just off the end of the pier. Sunrise from the pier is excellent.