Recreational Opportunities

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Port Mansfield's

Recreational Opportunities and Sights

	Bicycling / Walking		Hunting
	Boating		Padre Island
	County Park / Pier		Playground / Park / Tennis
	Deep Sea Fishing		Water Sports
	Fishing		Wildlife
	Golf

A quiet community like Port Mansfield offers ample time and opportunity to safely partake in activities like bicycling, jogging or walking. With very light traffic, especially during the week, joggers and bicyclists can feel safe while getting their exercise on the roads.

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Boating

Two public boat ramps allow boaters easy access to the waters of the Laguna Madre and the nearby Gulf of Mexico. The Intracoastal Waterway and the channel to the Gulf are both well-marked. The surrounding bay system averages about three feet deep and offers great shallow-water fishing. The harbor is deep enough for the large offshore fishing boats and there are marina docking facilities and wet slips for long-term boat docking. A couple of boat rentals for fishing or recreation are available.

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County Park / Pier

Overnight camping is allowed at the park area at the north end of town. Picnic tables, bar-b-que pits, rest rooms, and a 50-foot lighted pier are there for public use. Fishermen can freely use the pier and also wade fish. There are two other lighted docks in the harbor for fishermen to use.

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Deep Sea Fishing

By boat, the Gulf of Mexico is only about nine miles away and once through the Port Mansfield Pass you'll be able to go after the big fish: blue marlin, sailfish, tarpon, ling, mackerel and snapper. Port Mansfield can help make your offshore fishing dreams come true. Both near and far offshore charters are available. Some of the biggest blue marlin in Texas have been caught off Port Mansfield.

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Fishing

Port Mansfield was once described by sportswriters as "one of the 10 best fishing areas in the country". Speckled trout, redfish, flounder and other fine eating and sport fish are usually plentiful. Wade fishing is often done right in town. Offshore fishing yields Spanish and king mackerel, tuna, snapper, dolphin, sailfish, sharks, blue and white marlins, and other sport fish. Several fishing tournaments are held each year in Port Mansfield.

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Golf

Since no one can fish all of the time, a chipping course has been set up for those in Port Mansfield who want to practice their short game - it's really just a mowed field with no greens, but it is still used. Raymondville has a 9-hole municipal course, less than 30 minutes away and Harlingen has a nice municipal course, 27-holes. There are many other public golf courses within about a couple hours drive.

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Hunting

Ranches near Port Mansfield offer a variety of hunting options, including some exotics, whitetail deer, dove, and ducks. Hunting guides and lodging are available locally.

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Padre Island

Port Mansfield is only about nine miles by boat from the Gulf of Mexico and Padre Island. The Mansfield Jetties separate this popular barrier island and boats can beach at either side. On days when the waves at the jetties are relatively smooth it is even possible to travel down the Gulf side of the less visited areas of the beach. Surf fishing, shell hunting, surfing, camping, beachcombing, and even treasure hunting await those who make the trip to Padre Island. By car these areas of the beach are only accessible from Port Isabel (about 65 miles away) or traveling from Corpus Christi (about 150 miles) so the short boat trip from Port Mansfield is appealing to many.

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Playground / Park / Tennis

An outdoor basketball court is available for those who like to shoot hoops. Swings, a children's area and picnic tables allow families to play together. A tennis court is next to the playground.

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Water Sports

The shallow waters and smooth, clay bottom near Port Mansfield offer water skiers and windsurfers a safe area to practice their sports. Close access to the deep blue waters of the Gulf, usually only about 15 miles, makes deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and spear fishing closer than most places on the Texas coast.

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Wildlife

Bird-watchers and nature lovers will enjoy the wildlife in and around Port Mansfield. The community is so small and quiet that it is common to see whitetail deer wandering about town at night. The last dozen miles of the road into town is bordered by ranch land that offers the chance to see many deer, javelina, wild pigs, turkeys, nilgai (large Indian antelopes). Porpoises are frequently seen swimming in the waters near Port Mansfield and pelicans often dive for fish in the harbor. The renowned Gladys Porter Zoo, which features nearly 1,500 wildlife specimens on 31 acres, is in Brownsville. Other wildlife refuges and state parks are within a couple hours drive.

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