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T’S AN EXPENSIVE WORLD, but fortunately, inexpensive and accessible alternatives are avail- able to any able-bodied Texas angler. Walking the rocks and wading the surf offer a drive-to
double play, and this beachfront potential can be best during summer. All resident and migratory inshore fin- fish species are within reach of the beach on a green tide.
clear water improve on a day of mar- ginal conditions. Green water on the beach never is a sure thing along the Texas coast (especially the upper coast). Twin jetties framing a channel or
pass offer various buffers against wind and sandy chops. Also, different tide phases can come into play. For example, an early-morning incoming tide might put speckled trout close to the beach on the Gulf side; conversely, an outgoing
And, with either option, the “inex- pensive” factor doesn’t get any better. If you discount vehicle gas for the beach run, the trip is free.
The “accessible” factor also is a big plus. Drive-to beach entry may not always be available but, with a little research, you can find a stretch of public sand that you can drive to and walk to the surf — a plus for the Lone Star angler not always available in other states. Only don’t blame me if you get stuck. Ditto for the long Gulf jetties. Some, such as the Surfside Jetty near Freeport and the Padre Island Jetty at Isla Blanca Park, offer blacktop parking lots and places to wash off. Both the rocks and the surf have advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a look at this drive-to double play.
THE ROCKS
The Gulf jetties offer several major pluses for the angler without a boat. Perhaps most important, the major jet- ties extend well off the beach. For the rock walker willing to go the extra dis- tance, the odds of reaching fishably
TIDE
Even if the jetty has a flat top for easy walk- ing, the best fishing usually is closer to the edge of the water.
tide often concentrates schools near the end on the channel side. The long rocks provide great struc-
ture and cover along an otherwise monotonous stretch of beach. The granite blocks slope down, attracting and holding bait and predators at vari- ous levels of the water column. Truly, jetties are fish magnets.
But the jetties have negatives. First,
the rocks can be dangerous. You can fall. Hard. Use adequate footwear (no place for flip-flops or loose-fitting deck shoes) and never get in a hurry. Be wary of seemingly safe surfaces washed with spray.
Even if the jetty has a flat top for easy walking, the best fishing usually is closer to the edge of the water. A bit
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of creative stepping might be required to reach a favorable position. And, on summer weekends, the drive-to jetties can get crowded. Prime stretches can be almost elbow-to- elbow. The savvy jetty rat strives to stay as mobile as possible in order to reach reasonably open water. Finally, it’s really easy to get snagged with a subsurface lure or bait. Fish often are near bottom and the angle of retrieve up the sloping rocks can be tricky. Pay attention to sink rate and retrieve speed. You don’t want to do a lot of daydreaming with a $5 plug descending near the granite. Because break-offs are frequent, many experienced rock walkers use relatively inexpensive sub-surface lures, such as plastic tails, and reserve costly plugs and spoons for near-sur- face use. Topwater plugs can be very effec- tive for big trout early and late when worked parallel to the rocks. Keep the casts tight to the shadows and edges. Down south, a snook might latch onto a surface plug against the rocks. Larger topwaters can be killers out in open green water when big fish such as king mackerel, jack crevalle, and tarpon race through frantic schools of mullet. The live-bait angler can do very well on the rocks, although transport- ing a bait well or aerated cooler can be a hassle. “Free shrimping” with a pinch of split shot is a deadly tech- nique, but snags will occur. At least bait hooks are cheap.
Suspending the bait under a slip- type cork should minimize snags, but you may fail to reach the best fishing. Regardless of tackle or technique,
landing a decent fish can be a real issue unless a long-handled net is within reach — even then, it’s no sure thing. Many great trout and mackerel have been lost during desperate rod flips. Again, pay attention and be careful with your footing. Abad wipeout over a bent rod can ruin an otherwise great experience.
THE SURF Ahuge advantage to the surf is that
there is plenty of it. Some stretches of beach might offer more wade-fishing potential than others (near a free-run- ning pass or a wrecked shrimper, for example), but open water always is available. And this is easy fishing. You can “wet wade” during the prime summer months and the typical bottom is hard sand. Channels or “guts” run parallel
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