Pirate's Landing Fishing Pier — Local services in Port Isabel

On July 23, 2025 around 6:00pm there were two people working in the bait shop. A guy named Kevin and an old man, for whom I did not get a name. My husband, my two kids, and I rented fishing poles, bought live bait, and set out to go fishing on the pier. When we rented the poles, we were told if we had any problems just to bring them back in and they would fix them up for us. I also heard them tell this to multiple other groups as well. A short time later, my son was having trouble with his line being dragged under the pier and getting snagged due to the current. After my husband got a snag loose, my husband and I noticed that his weight was lighter than the two weights on our fishing poles. We told our son he could go in and request a heavier weight. My son unclipped the weight and walked inside with weight in hand. He went up to the old man and requested a different weight for his fishing pole to which the old man said, "No. I don't want to exchange it." My 13 yeqr old son began to explain why he needed a different size weight and the man cut him off mid sentence and raised his voice saying, "Sir! I refuse to exchange the weight!" My son came back outside defeated and taken aback by the way he was treated and told me what happened. I got the weight from him and went back inside. I went up to Kevin, explained what was happening, and asked if I could exchange the weight to which he obliged. A little while later my son's line got snagged on something out in the bay and we couldn't get it loose so we had to cut the line. We told my son to take it back inside and ask for it to be re-rigged. This time I followed him in and stood away from him so that I could witness the interaction. The old man had the shortest line so my son ended up being called over by him. When he got there he showed him what happened and asked if he could get it re-rigged. The old man said, "Sure." Then told him, "If it happens again I'm charging for you for it next time." He turned around and went to grab one of the pre-rigged poles (there were about 9 poles pre-rigged and ready to be handed out). He put his hand on one of the poles with the heavier weights like my son had previously requested, then seemed to think better of it, and grabbed a pole pre-rigged with the lighter weight. When my son asked if he could get the pole with the heavier weight, he again raised his voice at my 13 year old son and told him, "Sir I refuse to exchange the pole!" My son again turned around disheartened and disappointed and looked at me. I approached him and grabbed the pole. I asked Kevin if I could exchange the pole for one with the heavier weight. Kevin gave me the pole I requested. The whole reason we went to fish there was for my son. It was his first time to go saltwater fishing and we thought it would be a great experience. Instead it was marred by one old man's inappropriate attitude and inability to treat people with respect. If you bring children to the pier, I highly recommend they avoid any interaction with that man...

On our last day, we went fishing on Pirate's Pier (largest pier in Texas is what they told us) and we got in for free! We also get a free onion blossom if we ate at the restaurant, and 5% off at the gift shop just because we're staying at the KOA! Well we didn't eat at the restaurant and the gift shop was closed. We did fish for 12 hours and ate Kripsy Krunchy Chicken which was very good btw! We ordered the family platter- 12pc chicken, 6pc Cajun tenders, family fries for $26. We added a large side for $3.96. and a drink for $1.50. Free refills until they closed which was at 10! We ate there on the pier and kept fishing. Had we done the pier first, we wouldn't have done the bay fishing for sure. We caught so many fish! We even caught a puffer fish, two stingrays, handful of eels, two toadfish, and saw a group of dolphins! But had we not done the bay, we wouldn't have known that the hardhead catfish has a parasite right now, so you're only allowed to catch and keep the catfish with sailfin dorsal. It has slime all over it, so the parasite isn't able to get through the slime. Overall, we very much enjoyed ourselves at this pier and are already planning our next visit! Thanks for...

The sun in California was bearing down on me, and the winds were harsh. Fires erupted all around Los Angeles and burned down many favorite places of mine. Not just literally but emotionally and spiritually. There was no familial reason for me to stay, so I left. With tears in my eyes and a heavy heart, I took off and drove for thousands of miles and landed here. I'm not a pirate, but you don't have to be to land here at Pirate's Landing! For any weary sailor, land sailor, or sentimental pirate, this is the place to fall into. The staff is SO welcoming and the food is great! Brews and spirits flow effortlessly from the bar to your heart. Captains abound here for you to schedule a fishing trip in the local waters that swell with fresh fish! Red drum, speckled trout, and sheephead. There is so much to do here that you will have a great time. If you are looking for a local captain, just ask for the best, Big John is the one you want, and he will always put you on fish and never skunked. Resendo, the manager and Vanessa, the bartender, are awesome! The bathrooms are ok, the atmosphere is contagious, and the locals make this a great spot to spend time drinking and dancing. I will...