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BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:31 pm
by Yakety_Yak
Even though the beaches are shut down for BTB this weekend down south, Surfside is open to launch. Here is the game plan for this date:

We will launch at the public boat ramp inside of the jettys right next to the coast guard station. Launch time is 6:30 am. We will work our way to the 5-mile rig. Cmon out if interested.

Weather and Conditions:
Weather: Sunny (10% chance of rain which means no rain in Texas)
Heat: 92 degrees (bring plenty of food and fluids, not beer, lol)
Winds: starting at 5 mph and working up to 11 mph
Swells: averaging 1.5 every 4/5 secs

As I mentioned to everyone on the last Surfside trip and the same thing for this one..... bring inshore and offshore stuff. If the conditions aren't what was expected once we get to the end of the jettys, we will turn around and can do inshore. There is plenty of marsh out at Surfside. You will not need to travel far at all to fish inshore. That is merely a backup plan. Things should be good to go though for Friday. Bait shops open as early as 5:00 am and some at 6:00 am. Call the shops in advance if you need bait so you know what time you need to get there to launch on time.

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:49 pm
by niswanger
Thank you Blake!

It's a bummer that Corpus/Mustang Island is shutting down. Appreciate you setting up an ad-hoc for this Friday, I'm divided, do we try to meet with you and do this BTB thing this Friday, our wait it out until July 17+ for the prime area of Corpus and off-shore rigs/platforms? I fear if we do wait it out that things will further shut down and we may never see the light of day for BTB in 2020 :(

Can you give a google maps location link?

Can you give a rough finish time?

Can you give the locations of a few nearby bait shops that open at 5AM that carry ribbon fish?

Can you promise me that I'll hook up with a 50"+ King?

Thank you,
Roy

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 3:02 pm
by MRitz
Can you recommend a list of gear/tackle for cheap? Thus far I have only done inshore and beach/surf/pier fishing. I have a few squid lures that I have been told might be good for trolling and a few steel leaders but that is about it. Money is a little tight right now though so I'm not looking to get all the bells and whistles.

Also, could you share the coordinates of this rig?

Thanks

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 3:54 pm
by justin-branam
Uuuummm...basically, what Roy said, haha! I think this will work out much better for me anyways. Galveston is a much easier drive from Northwest Houston, for a 6am launch, haha!

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:49 pm
by TexasDrew
Are the Port Aransas Beaches closed, per the Chamber of commerce they are open so if you know otherwise lemme know.

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 6:11 pm
by justin-branam
Is this going to mess us up?

"Updated: 5:29 PM CDT July 1, 2020
GALVESTON, Texas — Galveston city officials are doing their part in order to eliminate large beach gatherings this Fourth of July weekend.

Access to Galveston beaches will be closed and parking along Seawall Boulevard will not be allowed. Exercising will be the only allowed activity on the seawall.

The closure begins at 5 a.m. Friday and will be lifted July 6 at 12:01 a.m."

Link: https://www.khou.com/mobile/article/new ... I_jW6sjAo4

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 6:22 pm
by justin-branam
Looks like we should be okay, just no vehicular traffic between certain hours.

"The beaches will be CLOSED to vehicles on July 3rd, 4th and 5th, 2020 from 9pm to 8am.

At that time pedestrian traffic only will be allowed."

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 6:55 pm
by Yakety_Yak
niswanger wrote:Can you give a google maps location link?

Can you give a rough finish time?

Can you give the locations of a few nearby bait shops that open at 5AM that carry ribbon fish?

Can you promise me that I'll hook up with a 50"+ King?
1) No, but if you look out past the jettys when you exit them, you will see it. It's the only rig out there within state waters.

2) The finish time is usually when you make it your finish time. I have had days we were off of the water as early as noon and other days we were off of the water around 7:00 pm. As you learn more on BTB, you will find that there is no finish time exactly (unless weather/conditions start acting up).

3) Google Surfside bait shops. Call and verify the time they open and if they have ribbon fish. Usually, I go to Bridge's Bait.

4) Catching a 50+ inch king is a very good possibility in Texas waters.

MRitz wrote:Can you recommend a list of gear/tackle for cheap? Thus far I have only done inshore and beach/surf/pier fishing. I have a few squid lures that I have been told might be good for trolling and a few steel leaders but that is about it. Money is a little tight right now though so I'm not looking to get all the bells and whistles.

Also, could you share the coordinates of this rig?
Since you are probably not going to be able to find ribbon leaders a few days out from the outing my suggestion would be to go to the store or online and buy offshore rattle traps, Yo-Zuri deep divers, Rapala divers, Halcos.... things of that nature. If you live in Houston, stop by FTU. Let them know you are going offshore but in a kayak. This way they know not to give you lures that are made for trolling at speeds equivalent for boat. In regards to the coords to the rig, you can see the rig from the end of the jettys. I am betting that you can Google that rig and find the coords for it. I've never had a need to get the coords for it on my GPS so I don't have them. The rig sticks out like a sore thumb from the jettys and the landmarks to get back to land are very visible to see as well.

TexasDrew wrote:Are the Port Aransas Beaches closed, per the Chamber of commerce they are open so if you know otherwise lemme know.
The beaches are not closed. From now until July 11th, there is no camping on the Nueces County beaches (curfew 8pm - 6am). Also, no vehicles on those beaches either from now until Monday. All roads leading to those beaches will be blocked so that you can walk on the beach but a vehicle can't access it.

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 5:59 am
by Chubs
Count me in!

I have all the gear except for a good fish bag. Have a Sam's club soft side bag, it will have to do :S

For the inshore gear, I assume leave it all in the truck when we launch, and if we need to change plans well go back to the trucks 1st?

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:28 am
by MRitz
Is there a fee/charge to park at and/or use the boat ramp?

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:54 am
by justin-branam
MRitz wrote:Is there a fee/charge to park at and/or use the boat ramp?
I believe this is a public ramp, with a good amount of parking. Here is a link to the coordinates.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/28%C2 ... 95.3015406

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 5:35 pm
by Yakety_Yak
MRitz wrote:Is there a fee/charge to park at and/or use the boat ramp?
This is a public boat ramp. There is no fee to park or to use the ramp. (FREE)

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:03 pm
by texastuan
I called Bridge's Bait, they open at 5 am tomorrow.

Re: BTB Surfside - July 3rd

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 5:27 pm
by Killerbee
Sure wish I could have made this one:(