Located at the intersection of two major waterways, Aransas Pass has a rich history in the development of the Coastal Bend's fishing industry. The Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) is intersected by the Aransas Shrimp Channel just off the shore of downtown. This gives Aransas Pass unique access to some of the best fishing in the Coastal Bend in every direction, from San Antonio Bay, Redfish Bay and East to the Gulf of Mexico.
Aransas Pass was once the home to an enormous Gulf Shrimping fleet. Economic conditions have driven the fleet to Central America and hurricanes and lack of maintenance have taken their toll on the commercial infrastructure of the fleet. This has provided a blank canvas for the redevelopment of Aransas Pass as a recreational mecca with first class facilities. The original home of the fleet was Conn Brown Harbor. Once packed with huge gulf shrimpers, tied up 10 deep along the bulkheads, the harbor is now undergoing a major redevelopment as a recreational fishing destination.
In addition to Conn Brown Harbor there are boat ramps, bait stands and fish cleaning facilities at Ransom Park and down TX Hwy 361 which provide excellent access and options to a wide variety of fishing and boat activities around Aransas Pass.