HillHopper

Hi Everyone,

Well, instead of west Texas or Hill Country this time, my GF asked to go beach camping. So, I'm taking her camping this weekend. (Memorial Weekend-Sat, Sun & Mon) Renting a Nissan Xterra 4x4, but there's no guarantee if it'll be 4x4. We're going Mustang Island and PINS.

Can anyone help with wind, weather, surf, fishing reports, hot spots for the places we are going?

Coming from Houston....
Saturday- Mustang Island - Beaching Camping 'til Sunday morning.
Sunday - Heading out to PINS in the morning and fishing until the night. Got a hotel reserved for the night (in case my GF gets tired of beach camping).
Monday - Fishing early again and planning in trying Bob Hall Pier and another spot near of the ferry landing about a few hundred yards down.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Me vs. Wild

PINS "hotline" for weather and beach conditions, tide, etc. is: 361-949-8175. It is an automated recording updated each morning.

A good place to find fishing reports for the region is: Corpus Fishing.com
The various fishing spots are listed in a column on the lefthand side of the page.

I'd encourage you to make sure you are well equipped to travel down PINS. The park website has a good writeup on traveling down island, or look at the "desperate for beach camping" thread here on Wild Texas.

Have a great trip!

__________________
"All those who wander are not lost."

HillHopper

Thanks a bunch! I have read through the stuff already. Just wanted to find out from the locals. I understand that after marker 5, it gets soft, but i have heard from some guys that say they drive in a 2wd car down to the 10 or 15. They say they fish there all the time and a lot of the getting stuck is due to lack of common sense or driver error. I don't kow if it's true and have never been to PINS yet. I'm usually good with walking my driving path and spot checking.

Thanks for the link on Corpus Fishing website. I ended reading more on the horror stories. Some guy got flipped out of his kayak by a shark 2 miles out in his kayak. His kayak was tied to his rod so the shark took off with his kayak and he had to chase it down, swimming for 20 minutes or so. He said he drifted off course to about 6 miles out and in complete darkness. Yikes!

Shannon

The sand/beach driving conditions are *highly* variable. We went to PINS many times in various vehicles (need to get back there soon!) and the worst driving conditions were always when the sand was especially dry -- such as after a cold, windy front or after a long period without rain since the coastal breeze dries it out readily. At other times, the seaweed and/or other debris will make you hard-pressed to navigate a non-4x4 vehicle even to the beginning of the 4x4-only area.

So, as it sounds like you plan to do, exercise your own best judgment. It's a very expensive tow from down-island unless you find a very kindly soul.

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HillHopper

Thanks guys. I really don't know what I'm getting into since it's my first time. I just want to catch me some fish. I guess my AAA card w/ 24 hr roadside assisstance won't work?

HillHopper

Thanks for the number. been using it every morning to get an idea of what is happening out there.

I gotta say, the sweet sounding lady on the phone makes my morning. She sounds so happy!

By the way - i talked the manager at the rental car place to get me a 4x4 4 runner. Now I have the vehicle to make it past the 5 mile marker and find out the the tide is coming in real high. Almost up to the sand dunes. Yikes!

Me vs. Wild

Haha.. had to call up to hear the happy lady's report.
"high tide was at 4:07 and it was REALLY high..." too funny.. what happened to 1 foot, 2 foot.. love her not so technical inflection!

High tide can be a good thing.. if you time your travel during low tide, the beach sand will be packed down and make for much easier driving.

Now that Yarborough pass is reopened, (at the 17 mile marker) be forewarned that this can be a good spot to stick your vehicle, so keep up the momentum as (if) you go through. I've pulled out a F350 Ford and a 2500 Dodge Ram here, both 4 wheel drive, but neither really prepared right.

Tips:

Lower your tire pressure for a larger contact patch which increases traction.

Take boards along to put under your tires for traction should you get stuck

Bring a small shovel

Bring an empty bucket for wetting the sand with ocean water should you get stuck.. you can pack it back down and get back on top of it.

Should you lose forward momentum, try backing up in your own tracks where the sand is packed down.

If there happens to be track that have gone before you, try to follow in those of course.

Bring drinking water and extra gas. (mileage will be bad on the sand) Keep an eye on your fuel... half tank means time to turn around.

And most of all.. have a happy and safe visit!

__________________
"All those who wander are not lost."

HillHopper

LOL.. I like how you added "if". Thanks for all the tips. i go by similar guidelines when we go way in the desert or off roading. The fuel info really helped. guess I'll be taking some extra brewskies in case I have to spend unexpected extra time.

I can see it now... "Boss, I can't make it in today. I'm out of town and really stuck in a bad situation

Me vs. Wild

No cellular service out there.. your phones will only roam forever and kill the battery. Switch 'em off along with the rest of life's worries once ya hit the sand.

Have a great time!

__________________
"All those who wander are not lost."

HillHopper

Oh no! That's not good. I'm attached to my phone like a siamese twin.

TopCatfishGuide

Wow, duly noted here. Nice piece of information to have, thanks.

rookiefisherman

Anyone gone to Big Shell / Little Shell recently?