Padre Island National Seashore, Saltwater Outing
Event Date: September 20, 2024, 10:00 AM - September 22, 2024, 1:00 PM Export event
Texas FlyFishers of Houston: 2024 PINS (Padre Island National Seashore), advance planning
Trip Description: We will take four-wheel drive vehicles down Padre Island National Seashore during the anchovy migration, and target blitzing schools of ladyfish, jacks, redfish, and tarpon. We will beach camp Friday and Saturday nights, returning on Sunday.
When: Sept 20th thru Sept 22nd, 2023
Where: Padre Island National Seashore, 20420 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, Texas
Start Time: 1100, Friday morning, Sept 22
End Time: Sunday, at noon, 2 days later
Meet at Malaquite about 11am on Friday to be prepared for a noon departure. Plan is to leave Malaquite around noon and run down to about MM 40+ fishing, and camp in that area.
A quick run to the jetties Saturday morning, move back to a camp spot between the 40 and 30 mile marker and then the next day, Sunday, fish on the way back. Showers at Malaquite, load for the return about 1400 and drive home.
About the area:
At 60-70 miles long, Padre Island is the longest, undeveloped, barrier island in the world. Anglers with four-wheel drive vehicles can access almost all of it.
Fall brings bait migrations and large schools of predators. The water is typically clear (much more so than Galveston).
The typical fishing method involves cruising the beach while looking for signs of fish. When a school is sighted, anglers bail out of the vehicles and start casting. The Port Mansfield jetties (at the very end) offer deep water access.
Driving on the beach can be difficult. Four-wheel drive vehicles are required. Realize that a tow for a stuck vehicle here could cost you thousands (yes, thousands). Cell phones do not work on the island, except at the extreme ends.
The Malaquite Pavilion offers public showers to get off the sand and salt before the drive home.