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Surf fishing trip to Padre Island - I'm the one on the
right
Texas Surf Fishing: An Introduction
Photo
by Rod Kukoda
The sun is just starting to rise on the Gulf of Mexico. We are standing knee deep on a sandbar, casting 3/4 oz. gold spoons into the second gut. The clear, green water is alive with activity. Numerous baitfish flash in unison under the early morning sun as they elude predators in the water. Overhead, birds work the baitfish. They occasionally dive to the the surface to snatch a fish, then wheel off and climb to join the flock. The set of breakers in front of us are almost translucent, backlit by the slowly rising sun: in them we see the unmistakable silhouettes of sea trout surfing down the wave. On a morning like this, there is no place on earth I'd rather be.
Not a bad start for a half hour of fishing. Two keeper sea trout and a redfish have been landed. I continue to cast, replaying in my mind the fight with my first trout of the morning. My rod dips as something strikes my lure with authority, then proceeds to strip 30 yards of line from my reel. The drag screams in protest but feeds smoothly as I hold on firmly and dip my rod slightly to let him run. That's when it happens: like a Polaris missile, the sleek silver form blasts clear of the water, shaking his head violently. Holy Cow, it's a Tarpon! At least four feet long! Not at all what I was expecting - I'd never hooked one in the surf before. He plunges back in the water and resumes his run. The second jump is an instant replay of the first, with one exception: My line goes slack. Damn, he's thrown the hook!
This scene took place on Padre Island, Texas last September (1997). The whole thing was over in 15 seconds or so, but I continue to remember it as the highlight of my trip. That's one thing about saltwater fishing - you never know what might end up on the end of your line.
Sound like fun? I've always thought so. My surf fishing career began in 1977, and I was addicted after my first trip. If you go to Padre Island National Seashore from the north end at Corpus Christi, you will find the first five miles are navigable in a two wheel drive vehicle. After that, there are 50 miles or so of uncrowded beach that can be accessed by four wheel drive only. Camping, fishing, and off-roading are passtimes that have always appealed to me, so I quickly became a regular. For the three years that I lived in South Texas, many of my weekends were spent at the beach. After that, I was torn from the coast when a job transfer left me landlocked in Dallas. But surf fishing always remained important enough to me that I spend at least one week a year indulging myself in my favorite hobby.
Not every trip has been sucessful. There are many variables that contribute to a good day, and if any one of them isn't just right, you won't catch fish. For example, you need clear, green water if you plan to catch sea trout. If the wind is blowing from any direction other than the prevailing southeasterlies which lay down the sand bars, the water will turn muddy brown and your chances of sucess are close to zero. The wind can pick up, raising the waves high enough to batter you as you stand casting on the sandbar, making you feel like you just went a couple of rounds with a prize fighter. Sometimes the fish just aren't where you are. But the good days make it worthwhile to try.
Overall, fishing was good on the Texas coast when I first took up surf fishing. Then, in the mid-eighties, millions of gamefish were decimated by a killer freeze. Fishing was poor for years. One positive outcome was that the State of Texas, spurred on by groups like the Gulf Coast Conservation Association, constructed hatcheries to bring back the redfish and sea trout populations. This, combined with more restrictive size and bag limits, has served to bring the gamefish populations to levels that are better than ever. If you've ever thought about giving surf fishing a try, now is the time!
My 1997 trip was one of the best ever. I took three fishing buddies with me who had never fished saltwater before. For years, I had been telling these guys surf fishing stories, and they were mildly interested, but not interested enough to commit to a trip. Last year they decided to give it a try. I remember well their saltwater baptism - we had about 45 minutes of daylight left when we reached the beach, and schools of sea trout, bluefish, spanish mackerel, redfish, pompano, and skipjack were working right in front of us. Before the sun set, we caught at least one of each. Now these guys were veteran bass fishermen, but they had never encountered fish that would knock you off balance when they strike, then tear off line for 20 seconds on a run. I had created a monster! They were making plans for this years trip a week after our return, and the topic never fails to turn to surf fishing whenever I see them.
They in turn have spread the word among their friends, and we anticipate a good turnout for this years trip. So, it is primarily for those who have an interest in surf fishing, but lack any firsthand experience, that I assemble this page. Listed below is the sum total of my humble knowledge, which should be enough to get you started. It is geared specifically toward Texas surf fishing since that is all I know, but I imagine the general concepts are pretty much the same all over. For those Old Salts who still hang out at Big Shell, if you have any important tips to share that I've left out, send me an email - I'd be glad to hear from you.
Tight Lines to All,
Fishin' Rod
Surf Fishing Topics:
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Hazards and Dangerous Critters
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The
Fish: What Might You Catch?
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