For some reason my wife wants to take the boys to Texas this winter. I’d rather go to Lake Winnipeg, but gotta keep momma happy 
Any recommendations on a nice/decent place to stay with reasonable rates? We’d be flying, and a little fishing would be a bonus.
We’d like to stay away from some crowded tourist trap. Something a little off the beaten path would be cool or at least something a little less busy.
I haven’t been there since the Hurricanes ripped up the island about 5 or so years ago but I’m sure it’s rebuilt mostly by now. Port Aransas TX was a lot of fun. Tons of fishing opportunities. Gulf casting for whiting, black drum in the canal, deep sea charters. My folks used to winter there. I liked visiting them around spring break because the season for red snapper opened. There’s several charters that run out deep sea fishing there. I had probably my best fishing adventures out of the charter Dolphin Dock. I caught several wahoo, an amber jack, a whole bunch of kingfish, a 240 pound black tip shark, and a bunch of red snapper. I also had a hammer head shark the size of a Buick on that got off and also lost a Mako shark. There’s a ton of shops and bars all over the island. Plenty to do. I will go back there some day. I loved it there.
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My brother just got to Galveston yesterday. Spent the day fixing a water leak in his new camper. Keep you posted if things go better for him.
Galveston and Jamaica Beach is a nice place. Very laid back. Lots of homes to rent in Jamaica Beach and then a drive back to Galveston for more city stuff. Surf fishing is good. Setting crab pots in the canals is fun too.
We havent been many places on the Texas coast but enjoyed Galveston. There is probably a lot of VRBO type rentals that you could find and be right on the canals. My wife took the kids a few years ago and stayed in her cousin’s parents place it was amazing. My boys were cast netting for bait, but you have to watch out for stingrays! Wear footwear in the water because you cant really see them and you dont want to step on one.
We where down to Galveston fir the new year. Stayed at Jamaica Beach. Nice area. Plenty of fishing, beaches and good places to eat.
If you are on Facebook check out Galveston Saltwater Fishing. Very active page. I can also look up the number of our guide if you need.
I’ve been to South Padre a couple times, that’s always a good time. It’s family friendly outside of spring break. During spring break you can go for a nice beach walk and keep your beer full from all the kegs buried on the beach and your boys would likely learn a lot about female anatomy. 
I have fished out of Matagorda. Had a really great time. We went in June so red snapper season was open.
Stayed in Portland for the last 8 months. If your in the Corpus Christi area that is where I would stay. Portland is only 45 minutes from Port Aransas.
If you do end up in that area. Check out the Boiling Pot in Rock Port. Great food if your into seafood boils.
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Thanks for the ideas guys
We decided to go to South Padre Island, have flights and a rental car booked. Still deciding which place to rent but have a few picked out 
Looking on ideas for fishing rods?
I plan on bringing reels.
For rods would I be better off just buying a few cheap surf rods down there?
Is there a decent tackle shop in the area anyone could recommend?
Good luck and have fun. We stayed at one of hotels on the beach a week after spring break, still had some pretty good size groups of people yet but not overly crowded. Not sure if it was the time of the year but little jellyfish got washed up on shore so we had to watch where we stepped. They have a dolphin cruise in one of the bays that the kids enjoyed.
Looking on ideas for fishing rods?
I plan on bringing reels.
For rods would I be better off just buying a few cheap surf rods down there?
Is there a decent tackle shop in the area anyone could recommend?
I’m sure you will find an Academy store. They are like a Texas Scheeles. They have everything you could need and then some.
Owned a house on the canals of North Padre, just across from Corpus for 5 years 2010-2015. Had a fantastic time there, and had some of the best fishing Texas has to offer 100 yards from my dock. We used to kayak fish and I had a bay boat also. Didn’t go there much in the summer due to the heat. As to rods and reels, the only thing I can say is don’t bring any good stuff you have unless it is good for use in saltwater. I brought alot of spinning stuff down when we first moved there and ended up throwing it all out shortly after. The rod guide frames would totally rust up, and then ceramic eyes would fall out, and the spinning reel finish would pit and bubble. Ended up buying all new rods and reels. I would leave your stuff at home and hire a guide for a day or two and spend the rest of the time bumming around. Lot more to do in the Rockport to Corpus area. Gets interesting in the March time frame around there, if that’s when you are thinking of going, good luck finding a place to stay if that’s when you are going. Not sure if they are still crossing the border at Progresso, but that was always a fun day. In Corpus, Roy’s is the place to go for fishing stuff.
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