Bob Hall Pier & Packery Jetty Quick Question

Gonna be down there this weekend and have heard that Bob Hall is permanently closed. I did a search on the forum but couldn't find any info on this. Does anyone know if it's closed for good?

Also, does packery channel near the packery jetty have lights for night fishing? Long story short, I'll be staying on North Padre and wanted to do some night fishing...just didn't know a spot as I normally go to Caldwell for my night time fix.

Thats news to me. Bob Hall was opened a few days ago and if it had closed, I am sure I would have heard about it. That would have been big news on the other local fishing forum I read daily.

Packery jetty does not have lights. Also, Horace Caldwell has had their lights shut down recently, and I don't know if they have ever got them back on again.

I have had some luck at the jetties at night w out lights...live croaker under a popping cork. Give it a try!

Question, what's the best way to get croaker? I have traps and cast nets but don't know the best place to start, I will be in port a in a week and would like to actually catch something off the jetties, so any help finding croaker and advice on jetty fishing would be greatly appreciated.

If you have a cast net, thrown right in the corner where the jetties hit the surf. Usually you can load up pretty quick on good sized baits. There are tons of bait shops, but I like Marker 37. Pinfish, croaker, shrimp, they got it all!

That's awesome. Thank you sir.

I always heard you should free line live baits for best results? What are your thoughts vs a poppin cork? I don't mean to ask questions, I just really want to catch something when I get down there.

Free lining is a great way to fish em...just make sure you can "feel" your line. I like the cork at night just so I can see it and its more active fishing. During the day I free line.

Also, try some of the piers along the intercoastal...the lights can be productive at night. You can always get a sabiki rig, they sell em at Academy down there, and catch your own bait and its something to do if the fishing is slow!

Best/easiest way to get croaker is buying it at $9-$10 a dozen. Cheapest is small hook, small piece of shrimp, squid, etc and fish for them, you'll deal with piggies and other fish, but piggies are great bait as well.
Put your trap along any area of grass beds for Pigfish (real piggy perch), or just about anywhere for Pinfish, aka piggy perch. Close up the trap opening so the smaller bait can get in, the big baits are not idea bait size, unless slip cork rigging for reds on the jetties.

Free line a silver dollar sized piggy or 3-5 inch croaker at dawn either surf side if tide is coming in, or channel side if tide is going out. If surf is smooth enough and green'ish, ditch the jetty and fish the surf with same bait.

Drift a hand sized piggy on a slip cork on the channel side any time on a falling tide (evening falling tide is best and morning is second best time) for chance at upper slot and over sized reds. Certain areas are better for reds on the jetties on a falling tide.

Use 5/0-6/0 Kahle hook to minimize snagging, but still will probably lose some tackle.
Good Luck

Thank you TOO. That is great info and I will follow it carefully.
Thank you again.

How effective are mullet vs piggies and croaker? I always seem to have no problem catching them.

Hey Jeremy- Just got back from Port A/PINS/ Rockport about an hour ago. I'm no Inshore expert by a LONG SHOT, but the bite is off, as far as bank anglers. bays are shitt unless you have a boat to get you to salty water
channel water looks like green milk, only fish I saw in 100 miles of shoreline was mullet & turtles @ the jetties. Brown water there, very few fishing, nobody catching. water is better @ PINS the further south you go. we hit the 12 mile marker (easy driving right now!) & the surf was "trout green", but I was unsuccessful.
A few of the locals told me the massive influx of freshwater, & the resulting offshore cold water upwelling has it screwed up so bad it won't be right till fall.
I tried to see some of the offloads @ the Scat Cat, but I missed them both days I was on the Islands.
just one guy's observations.
good luck & post up if you catch!

Go to Oso Bay, there are flounder there.

I too just got back from PINS and Big Shell.
Everything Lite Liner said is what we I experienced.

I did catch a couple reds from Red Dot Pier on the causeway. small 12 13 " redfish and I got a hit or three misses on plastic swim baits.

Then we went surf fishing at Big Shell around mile marker 27. caught a few croaker and a hardhead or two. Didn't fish too hard.

Next day we went all the way to Mansfield cut (Marker Mile 60) and fished the jetties. Saw a few turtles and a couple small spanish mackerel schools but no takers.
Talked to some campers at Mile 60 on jetties said it had been slow for 5 - 6 days.

Freshwater blues. I left Dallas to get away from too much fresh water. (Cannot launch boats ramps are closed) and get to coast to too much fresh water. Oh well will have to go back.

Thursday 7-16
We went off shore on Scat Cat 11.5 hour trip. My son and I limited out on Red Snapper and a couple extra Vermillion Snapper. others on the boat caught a few sharks two in the 7 foot 150 # range. One decent Amberjack was caught next to us. Probably 50 lbs. Not in season so back it went.

IF YOU GO ON SCAT CAT BRING YOUR OWN TACKLE if you have it. The boat is top notch for a head boat but their tackle is tired.
Pretty good time
Mark

Horace Caldwell pier is doing pretty good right now was there 2 days ago and caught several black tip shark along with alot of sand trout but also caught alot of hard heads there lights work. the Jettiies are producing much fish right now the surf is kinda turned off its murky the bays unless you have a boat forget it but the piers are producing some fish not alot good luck

Thanks for the report guys, keep them coming if possible. I am still going to go and give it hell and will report back.
Against the wife's will, I bought a pretty nice kayak and am gonna see if I can find some areas in the bay that are producing. I am also doing a 24 hr trip with dolphin docks and a 11.5 hr trip with fishermans warf. Until I hit the lottery I am going to have to pay someone to take me offshore.