Would like to expand my fishing range to Padre Island (PINS) surf past the 4x4 marker. I'm concerned about getting stuck in the sand. I have a Chevy Blazer 4 door with standard highway tires and Chevy 3/4 ton extended cab pickup with the high pressure "E" tires; both have 4-wheel drive. Which would you drive?

Chevy 3/4 ton. When you go don't drive near the dunes! Go down when the tide is on its way out. Drive near the water not in the water. It is very smooth but watch out for wholes and trash. We went down there thursday and we didn't put it in 4wd once. Do you have auto-lock, or manuel locking hubs? Have you ever driven on on the beach?

BigFish, The only beaches I've driven on were Mustang Island and up in Alaska. The 3/4 ton has an "auto" setting that variably engages when the wheels spin or it has an "on" setting for both 4 High and Low that keeps all 4 wheels fully engaged. I prefer the fulltime 4 High setting for unknown terrian.

This coming weekend won't have falling tides until the evening. I understand that the sand near the water is generally more compressed. But when that's not feasable, I'm unsure about transitioning up onto the "sand step" at the high water mark. Or, are you saying just stay away from that softer sand?

What do you drive? Any other tips?

Caster,

When/Where you headed?
I'm going to be down there this weekend.

I'll be staying in Rockport, Fishing the surf in Corpus Saturday...and Rockport Friday and Sunday.

We went down last weekend and the driving wasn't too bad. We only went about 6miles down, but there were a lot of front wheel drive cars that kept on going, and a lot of them headed back in when we were leaving. So, I would assume anything with 4wd and some ground clearance should be able to go a pretty good ways...

Let me know, maybe we can hook up. Last time we met we were blown out...

Shawn

Hey Shawn, I'm thinking about heading down thursday evening or friday morning but don't want to stay much into saturday to avoid the crowds. With all this rain, I think those bays will be mostly fresh. I'm going to focus more on the surf. Will use the Corpus naval station as our base camp. I'm a little apprehensive about driving that surfline since I haven't done that before. I still have your cell; we might swap fish reports.

AC, you might try the area south of the Bob Hall pier. Nine miles of beach no permit needed and usually good fishing. Will get the crowds but early or late can be good. Beach will be fairly packed sand and you can practice the driving there. Closer to the north sticks is usually a good place to fish.If the water is green try topdogs or Assassin types, of course a big rod with cut whiting/mullet whatever can do well. Also live croakers in the gut can do good.
There have been reports of the trout being in the wade gut early even on rougher surf days. Good Luck

I drive very close to the water. It is very packed and smooth. The beach has a cliff on down past the high banks. Be careful when driving down there. Its at the 25mm. The high road on the beach has softer sand which means more 4x4 time which equals more gas. Alot easier to get stuck in soft sand to. But if you drive the low road don't drive threw alot of water.

Thanks to all. I'm probably being overly cautious about the driving, but I'd rather be fishing than digging out.

Caster,

We caught trout last time about 20ft off the bank, less then shin deep. We were throwing silver spoons. The largest was only 20", but fun either way!

We also fished mid-day, which was definitely not to our advantage...but we still got a few. Give it a shot early and late, you should be OK.

Give me a shout when you are packing up, and let me know how it went.

Take care, good luck!

Shawn

Hey Guys

Headed down to S. Padre Island for the week and going to try my hand at salt water fishing. I've got a 7' rod w/ 20lb line on it...any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated. My father in law suggested standing on the 1st sand bar and throwing toward the second....

Any idea how much a saltwater stamp is? Any precauations?

Thanks!

JB

10 bucks for the saltwater stamp. I would fish for trout in the 1st gut with top dogs chart/ silver, fire tiger or soft plastics like tsunamis split tails or saltwater assassins. Look for schools of dusky anchovies or finger mullet and there should be some predators near. If the bait is in the second gut then get out on the 1st bar.
Precautions - Sharks, my brother and I hooked four sharks in the wade gut at north padre last week. The largest were both around 6 feet long hooked in less than 3 foot of water.