HI vs Surfside/Freeport

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Mythman
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HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by Mythman »

Recently I fished the Freeport jetties and offshore Freeport..............while out there I fished with a kayaker who questioned me about why I fish so much at the High Island area. So I thought I would compare the two...........this is just my personal experience:

High Island areas:
1. Unlimited launch spots
2; I catch fish there :clap:
3. Generally smaller surf and wind than Freeport
4. I catch fish there :clap:
5. Nonexistent boat traffic
6 I catch fish there :clap:
7.Manageable beach users
8. I catch fish there :clap:
9.Approx 110 miles from my home
10. And, did I say "I catch fish there"! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Surfside/Freeport:
1. Limited launch spots at Freeport jetties
2. I seldom catch fish there :x
3. A larger surf and generally higher winds than at High Island areas
4. I seldom catch fish there :cry:
5. One whole lot of boat traffic at the jetty channel
6. I seldom catch fish there :cry:
7. A totally unmanageable jetty users, jetty park users and the first few beach access areas of Surfside are crowded
8. I seldom catch fish there
9. Approx. 95 miles from my home
10. And did I say " I have never caught enough fish there to fill my hat"? :x

As I told the guy Saturday ( who insinuated that Freeport/Surfside was a better place than High Island), "I go to High Island area because I catch fish there"! BTW, he didn't catch any kings or many fish Saturday, either. And, I will give you 10 Smacks for every bull red/shark hookup.

If you have a kayak and the fortitude to go 4-6 miles off Freeport/Surfside, you might hook up on a king or maybe some other species like a snapper or whatever.

However I can go to High Island, paddle 3-600 yds off the beach and catch 10+ bull reds and a few large sharks thrown in. :D

I am going to continue going to High Island...............but that is just me! :wink:
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by Fla-Fish »

Not sorry I missed Freeport... Had a feeling
I should have gone to H I.... Next time...
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by treysdaddy »

I have to agree with you Mythman. For the last 2 years, I have fished High Island exclusively. Prior to that, I bounced all around with varied results. I am pretty much limited to good weather / conditions and Saturday fishing. Those tight parameters don't really let me fish a lot. With so few actual days to fish, I haven't been able to make myself go to another area because I have so much confidence in catching fish at HI.
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by nick220722 »

I would agree with you too Mythman. What has taken me to Freeport though is the ability to get to some structures further off shore like you mentioned to get into some pelagic fish like kings and cobia. Also, I see more turtles and dolphins out there and its pretty cool. I've also had some banner days on sharks out there drifting mullet back to the beach. However, the action seems more consistent at high island and the paddle is definitely easier.
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by forager »

Hey Mythman, after seein how successful y'alls trips are down at High island I think I may wanna join yall sometime for my first bull red. I'm booked with work and school through October but I should be able to go in November. Is the fishing still as good in November? And do you think yall will plan a fishin trip that month?
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by Mythman »

forager wrote:Hey Mythman, after seein how successful y'alls trips are down at High island I think I may wanna join yall sometime for my first bull red. I'm booked with work and school through October but I should be able to go in November. Is the fishing still as good in November? And do you think yall will plan a fishin trip that month?
Although the fishing in November is not as good as Sept/Oct., it is still decent. And yes a lot of us go during that month, but it all depends on wind/waves and temperature.

Watch the BTB forum for pre-posted trips and feel free to join in!
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by forager »

Alright sounds good, thanks! In the meantime, i guess ill make an anchor trolley for my kayak to get ready
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by fishgutz »

Hey MM have you ever tried the "middle" beach at Surfside? Or even farther down towards San Louis pass? I have had pretty good luck in both places with launch spots and fish. I am no way saying its as good or better than High Island btw. Just wondering
We used to go to the Crystal/Gilchrist area about 4 times a year all the time until Ike came along and wiped out all the affordable places to stay on the beach. When we go its a 335 mile trip (one way) so the over nighters are out of the question for us. Surfside was the closest option and the kids love it.
I do miss going to Crystal though..,,I am going coastal sometime in Oct. I may head that way if I can find affordable lodging...
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by Jolly Roger »

High Island is great, I fished it often, caught a trillion fishys. But my favorite beach to fish is Matagorda.
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by DelSol »

Gotta agree with you Mythman. HI is like a stocked pond of bull reds 8)
The fish at Surfside are few and far between :roll:
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by sheriff_john »

High Island rules!
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by SFAjacks »

sheriff_john wrote:High Island rules!
AMEN to that...
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by rod dawg »

High Island for the Big 3....buuuuuttttttttttt if I lived close to PINS, that would be a different story.

I will admit that High Island has been our backyard for quite some time. Great times, great memories and a crapload of fish. Thats where I learned how to crawl.
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by BigSerg10 »

how far is high island from lake jackson have family there and i always go to surfside hardly ever cath anything there just wondering if the drive to high island is close to LJ
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by SFAjacks »

BigSerg10 wrote:how far is high island from lake jackson have family there and i always go to surfside hardly ever cath anything there just wondering if the drive to high island is close to LJ
You're looking at about a 2.5 hr drive. It's not too bad.
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by AlanC »

[quote="rod dawg"]High Island for the Big 3....buuuuuttttttttttt if I lived close to PINS, that would be a different story.

PINS is a good place to fish and or camp. Good surf fishing if the wind and waves preclude going out on the kayak. :mrgreen:
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by BluPhi-Yak »

I guess I will have to try out HI because the last three times at surfside rig it has been a bust.
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Re: HI vs Surfside/Freeport

Post by TKFusedtobegreat »

It's not really fair to compare HI with the freeport ship channel/jetties. They're just different types of areas. But, I'd suggest before you write off the surfside area you try getting away from the channel where the boat traffic is.

For instance, you can run the brazos river outlet and catch more fish than off HI (in my experience). You can also fish the liberty ship reef there.

Or, you can fish between San Louis Pass and Surfside and be free from nearly all boat traffic. You will miss the nekkid people on McFaddin Beach however. lol
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