A Day on the Beach at Padre Island National Seashore

The poles were all out and everyone waited patiently for a bite. Still nothing was happening and so Pete and then Dale got out their ghost shrimp sand pumps to use the time wisely by looking for their own bait. Betty brought hers over and while the fish were not cooperating, at least everyone was collecting some of their own sheep head bait for later use.

It had finally warmed up, it was almost seventy, and we were at Padre Island National Seashore., (PINS). Our happy hour group had been waiting for us to show up from Florida and lead the group to my secret spot, (as if I really had any).

Arriving at the seashore, there were thirty of us, we had planned on a day of fishing, soaking up some rays, and shelling. Greeted with an extremely low tide, the lowest I have seen there, the Gulf’s surface was almost calm with small one foot waves. Too small in fact and I couldn’t see any sign of a break, what I look for, a place where the wave sets were interrupted.

See I don’t really have a secret place but instead always look for a place where rip tides will form.

There any bait would be naturally washed out to a waiting big red or black drum. That was my theory anyway and it had worked before.

The water temperature was only forty five degrees and the water was as clear as I have seen it. A ranger had told us that eighty nine stunned sea turtles had been rescued from the cold conditions. Several people pointed out the lack of feeding birds, I guess you can see what I am doing, finding fishing excuses for no catching.

Still it was a nice day, some shells were collected and Pat found a live star fish, (she released it). A few fish were caught, although small, and Renita loved her new chest waders. Every day on the beach is a blessing. It will warm up and we will return again because PINS, is one of our favorite places. Clear skies