PINS Fishing Trip Is In The Books - W... Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Fishing Texas Network » At The Ramp » Archive through January 4, 2005 » PINS Fishing Trip Is In The Books - Wow! « Previous Next »

  Thread Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post
  ClosedClosed: New threads not accepted on this page        

Author Message
Atthewall
Minnow
Username: Atthewall

Post Number: 16
Registered: 11-2004


Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Friday, December 31, 2004 - 4:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

My son Austin and I needed a salt water recharge. After spending a majority of our lives living and working on the coast, these last 5 years in the Austin metro scene has really made our trips South very special. A full blown beach trip to South Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) is tough to beat when a saltwater recharge is desperately needed.

PINS weather conditions are light South winds, low's 60 and highs 75. Gulf water temps are a little cooler than I prefer at a cool 58 – 60 degrees. The water is on a slight warming trend after the Chrismas evening snow storm and we are not sure how this trip will unfold fish wise but a few mild days on the Texas coast is what it's all about anyway.

We start our trip leaving Austin a little later than I wanted on Tuesday December 28th, but it’s better late than not at all. We finally roll onto PINS at 8:00 pm and make decent timing to Big Shell and decide to stop at the 30 mile marker. Pitch the tent, gather firewood and settle in for a few hours staring at a full moon before turning in for the evening.


Sunrise greets us in only the way PINS can.

This trip we plan on soaking shrimp to catch whiting and then using the whiting for cut bait and tossing that out on the long rods. The Gulf current is running pretty hard to the Northward typical of PINs near Big Shell. We fish the 1st gut hard with dead shrimp on fish finder rigs and only manage one whiting and several hardhead catfish. I note a lack of seagulls and Brown Pelicans here and figure with the recent snow fall, the fish have been pushed further offshore? We don’t have a Kayak (we will soon), and wading to the 3rd gut is out of the question. I only brought chest waders and the thought of cold water, with slow fishing action, swimming baits offshore isn't going to be an option. So the decision is made to head further south to find cleaner water and better fishing opportunities near the 40's or 50's.

PINS is a great place for a 14 year old to get a little stick time behind the wheel.

Pelicans are finally spotted below the 40 mile marker.

We roll just below the 50 mile marker and decide to set the long rod out on the North side of Wreck of the Nicaragua.


Water is clear and clean without seaweed in the 1st gut. I toss plastics without any result and only manage one more whiting. Slow going and I know deeper water beyond the 3rd sandbar would be the ticket. Finally the big rod is banged after a 3 hour soak and a sputtering dismal run barely pulling 5ft of line? Not big at all and it’s time to check the bait. Austin reels in a Bull HardHead Catfish :-( and we realize it’s time to move on farther south to the Port Mansfield jetties, setup a new camp and possibly find some action near the rocks in the Gulf or Mansfield channel.

Gathering firewood on the trip to the Port Mansfield jetties.

We pitch camp and decide to rock hop the jetties. I toss plastics and Austin soaks shrimp. Austin manages to catch a few hardhead catfish and I only have a few taps (short hits) on several different shrimp tails. Slow fishing and we note the Extreme Coast Fishing crew are camped and soaking baits with big Penn Senator shark rods on the sand just North of the jetty rocks. Slow going this evening between both parties but the water is absolutely clear and beautiful with a full moon in store.

We decide to build a fire, eat Pope & Young deer sausage and watch the sunset.

I change one long rod from a Newell 338J (Penn 4/0 size) and rig it up with the Ambassadeur 7500 CT Big Game reel (long caster) and blast a long cast out into the Port Mansfield channel. My bait is a cut bait whiting offering. I get a good bang and set the hook only to have my rig snag in the channel and breaking my entire leader with fish the fish hooked up. I guess it’s not to be today and we opt to watch the moon rise around and spend some time around the campfire.




Since fishing has been so slow, I decide to sleep in a little this morning and skip the sunrise wake-up call. Well that plan is interrupted by the US Border Patrol as they fly right over camp in a roar looking for suspects.


I note a couple of the Extreme Coast Fishing crew working their small rods on the jetties casting plastic or chrome artificials. One of them finally gets a good rod bend and I realize it’s a Rat Redfish. So Austin and I shift gears quickly and rig up.

We skip hopping the rocks since the tides running out and the only real good spot is occupied by the Extreme Fishing crew and one boat riding the hook. I noted two rock points that cut out into the channel, back away from the jetties and I tell Austin let’s wade the pair of points and work the down current side. Our tactic is to cast beyond the points and work the spoons just above the rocks following the angle of the point. I note "excited water" just on the down current side of the points and the strong current certainly provides a "rock rap" bounce to the surface, easily identifying potential snag points and areas where reds will sit in ambush.

The water is absolutely clear and I decide to toss ¾ ounce Johnson Sprite Chrome spoons to limit break-offs around the rocks. Jigs would be too hard to fish here, casting into a stiff breeze, lots of rocks underwater and working a swinging bait presentation in a strong current.

Austin’s first cast is fully rewarded.

8lb test mono and a 14 year old with that first cast red = memories for a lifetime.

I finally hook up on my first Redfish and of course Austin thinks we need a pic :-)


We end the day with 18 reds caught and released. Austin has four and I manage the difference :-) We look at other boats and folks on the rocks in the area, and we are the only pair on fish. A couple of winter Texan's try to motor in close with a skinny water boat to no avail. They try a couple of drifts and decide to move on.

The tide eventually runs down to low slack and our fishing action comes to a close. We cook up a quick lunch, break camp and head home.

As Austin points us North and starts his driving duties. As we run the 50's & 40's we note the Pelicans winging their way South into the wind riding the wind uplifts off the dunes.


Running the beach Northward, my mind drifts back to the South in anticipation of our next PINS opportunity.



Till next time – Austin & Rob
Barnaclebill
Bluegill
Username: Barnaclebill

Post Number: 213
Registered: 8-2004


Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Friday, December 31, 2004 - 7:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Way to go Rob,,, looks like Austin spanked ya!!!
Great report !!!
Born to fish-Forced to work
Texfisher
Minnow
Username: Texfisher

Post Number: 56
Registered: 8-2004


Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Sunday, January 2, 2005 - 10:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Great write up Rob. Looks like the two of you had a great trip.
I see my rod is longer than yours.
Bigun
Minnow
Username: Bigun

Post Number: 67
Registered: 8-2004

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, January 3, 2005 - 8:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Great write up and pictures as always Rob! Great quality time with the kid. Can't beat it. I'm hoping to finally get out fishing this next weekend here in South La. I've got plenty of deer and now need some speckle trout in the freezer!
Fishinaggie88
Bluegill
Username: Fishinaggie88

Post Number: 161
Registered: 8-2004


Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, January 3, 2005 - 10:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

alright!! Sounds like a blast. I miss saltwater as well. Grew up 15 min from a dozen differnt fishing holes. 10 years in Kansas and Ohio does not make for a lot of salt water. Still quite a haul from Tyler.
Love to fish and hunt.
Dean
Minnow
Username: Dean

Post Number: 82
Registered: 4-2004


Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, January 3, 2005 - 2:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hard to imagine the Texas sky being that beautifull!! Great Write Up!
All In A Days Fun!!!
Picou
Crappie
Username: Picou

Post Number: 501
Registered: 8-2004


Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, January 3, 2005 - 8:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Excellent coverage Rob... Looks like ya'll had a blast out there and congrats on sticking it out and getting on some fish. Great pictures and great read. Thanks for thinking of us after that trip and providing a great report. They may have been some rats, but they were probably very welcome and a lot of fun.

Great memories there buddy... Great memories...
Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish
Atthewall
Minnow
Username: Atthewall

Post Number: 17
Registered: 11-2004


Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, January 3, 2005 - 10:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thank you gang, we certainly had a quality fishing trip even if we hadn't caught a single fish.

BarnacleBill knows exactly what that PINS experience is all about and there is a big outing planned for June this year. Hopefully everyone can swing out for this one, it's a must experience.
Charles
Moderator
Username: Charles

Post Number: 162
Registered: 7-2004

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 6:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Nice recap Rob. Great pixels too.
Dang'it Rudey,Greg and mike look like ooompa loompas from Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory up against Charles !!!!

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration