San José Island

You don't have to get lost to find the wild! 

Just across the ship channel from Port Aransas, San José Island—“St. Jo” to locals—offers the wild side of island time: a privately owned, undeveloped barrier island managed for wildlife and reached by a short Jetty Boat ride from Fisherman’s Wharf. What awaits are miles of quiet, shell-strewn beach with standout birding and fishing—and no shops or services—so bring what you need and pack out what you bring. If your perfect Port A day means space, sky, and surf, this is the purest escape on the Texas coast.

Visiting San Jose Island:

• Hop on the Jetty Boat at Fisherman’s Wharf
• Jetty Boat pick up and drop off times are limited, so plan ahead
• Be sure to bring food, water, and any other provisions, as there are no stores on the island

Rates for the Jetty Boat round trip:

• $20 for anyone 13 or older
• $10 for ages 6-12
• Ages 5 and under are free

See boat schedule

History

Long before it was a quiet day-trip from Port A, San José Island moved through many chapters: the Spanish charted and named it; by the 1840s, a small bay-side town called Aransas stood on its southern tip—until Union marines came ashore during the Civil War and burned the settlement, which was never rebuilt. In the 1930s Fort Worth oilman Sid Richardson bought the entire island, running cattle and building a private retreat that soon drew high-profile guests—Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the area in 1937, and later luminaries like Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson dropped in—before the property passed to his nephew Perry R. Bass; the Bass family remains closely associated with the island today. And while locals still swap names like St. Jo, the Texas Legislature made San José the island’s official name in 1973—a fitting nod to a storied stretch of sand that now serves mainly as a protected, privately managed wildlife haven just across the channel from Port Aransas.

Shelling

Shelling on St. Jo is some of the best in Port A. With miles of undeveloped, vehicle-free beach mean fresh finds roll in all day. Go early before the shells are “picked over,” and keep an eye out for Texas icons like lightning whelks (the state shell) and the occasional sand dollar—prizes that turn up often enough to keep you scanning the shoreline. For the best haul, time your walk to low tide when more seabed is exposed, and remember the golden rule: admire anything that’s still occupied and return it to the surf—collect empty shells only. Bring water and a shell bag, and let the island’s quiet shoreline do the rest! 

Become one with Nature                

Wildlife takes center stage on San José Island. Surf fishermen spread out along the Gulf side and the North Jetty for classic Port A targets like red drum, speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, pompano, and even whiting—as tides push bait through the channel and turn the bite on fast. Don't forget to look up! Port Aransas sits squarely on the Central Flyway, so shorebirds and waders stream past year-round, and in winter the world-famous whooping cranes feed across the bay on the Aransas refuge’s marshes (a record 557 were counted in 2024–25). With no roads or services and the island managed primarily for wildlife, the Jetty Boat is your link to this quiet sanctuary—pack binoculars and a rod, and leave only footprints. 

Come Prepared

Headed to St. Jo? Pack like there’s no store on the other side—because there isn’t! Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and sturdy sandals or water shoes for the jetty rocks. A small soft-sided cooler with snacks, a lightweight beach shade or umbrella, and a quick-dry towel keep you comfy. Stash essentials in a dry bag and toss in a portable battery, mini first-aid kit, and sting relief wipes—currents and critters happen. For exploring, add binoculars, a simple tackle kit and rod if you’ll fish, and a mesh shell bag (remember: empty shells only). Finally, carry a trash bag to pack out everything you brought, and check tide/wind conditions before you board the Jetty Boat.

In the end, San José Island is less a destination than a feeling—salt on your skin, sky for miles, and the kind of quiet that makes every shell, cast, and bird call feel like it’s just for you. Give yourself a few unhurried hours to wander, watch, and listen, then carry that calm back across the channel to Port A.