About this piece
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Title: Gulf Oil Company. Fishgide, Port Aransas
- Author: Gulf Oil Company
- Date: c.1970
- Condition: Excellent - Original fold lines remain visible, with consistent age-related toning on the verso
- Inches: 21 3/8 x 11 3/8 [Image]
- Centimeters: 54.29 x 28.89 [Image]
- Product ID: 308690
Gone Fishing—One Last Time: The Final Gulf Oil Fishgide
Handling every edition of Gulf Oil’s Fishgides is like assembling a living history of Gulf Coast angling culture, each guide offering a unique snapshot of the region’s fishing hotspots, infrastructure, and design sensibilities of its time. Collecting and studying all editions reveals how the series evolved—in artwork, information, and even branding—mirroring changes in both recreational fishing and the American Gulf Coast itself. For collectors and historians, these guides aren’t simply nostalgic artifacts but represent the final piece of the puzzle in understanding the full narrative of mid-century coastal recreation and Gulf Oil’s outreach. Possessing a complete set gives a sense of closure and achievement, capturing the legacy of a bygone era in one cohesive collection—a testament to both the artistry and historical impact of these iconic guides.
In 1939, the Gulf Oil Corporation began producing a set of maps focused on the Texas Gulf Coast that they called ‘fishgides’. These maps go to great lengths to indicate in detail productive fishing locations for fish of many species, depth soundings, areas productive in different seasons as well as locations of Gulf marine stations. For all their detail, the maps note that they are not to be used for navigation purposes and are decorated with whimsical images of fishermen and fish among others like wooden ships and compass roses.
"Port Aransas; Ever Hear of a Rocking Chair Fisherman? This area, particularly Port Aransas, has been advertised far and wide as a place where they bite every day."
Background on Creator
The Gulf Oil Corporation was founded by a group of investors soon after the 1901 discovery of the legendary Texas oil field known as Spindletop. Through clever marketing and the innovation of drive-in service stations, Gulf Oil Corp. and their bright orange circular logo became a household name and gained recognition the world over.
