Last week our whole family spent the week at South Padre Island. We had all five kids, four spouses, and seven and one-half grandkids, all on two floors of one big house on the beach. The week didn't get off to a good start when my boat was rear ended on the first trip to the ramp. The lady's car had major damage, especially with the motor skag guard through her windshield. We weren't deterred, with a little, make that a lot, of JB Weld and a big hose clamp on the lower unit we were in the water very soon. It turns out there is no public boat ramp on South Padre Island. The private ones charge $10. A pint of shrimp goes for $9.50. After all that we ended up with only four keeper trout.

The surf fishing was different. Late one evening I tried a root beer colored bass assassin in the surf. On the third cast I had a big hit and all I could do was watch the line peel off my trusty Abu Garcia 280. The big fish thrashed the surface three times. It went over the third bar and I handed the rod to Ryan. I thought maybe he would follow it in the surf, but he thought it might be a shark that was already in a foul mood, so he just held on until all the line was gone and the fish broke off. I put on a DOA shrimp and tried again and two casts later the DOA got hit and all that was left was the head. I knew it was time to quit. Two days later, in the same location, an angler beached a five foot Black Tip (shown above). Later Ryan did catch a small Black Tip with cut bait. I was surprised at the fish in the surf with so many swimmers. The beach was really crowded.

I talked to Jerry Hill last evening. He said the trout are still pretty active. He said his friend picked up ten on the outside of Traylor on Monday. I had some friends say they picked up some really big trout at Long Reef about a week ago.

State Biologist, Karen Meador, reports that the annual Aransas Bay gill net surveys are nearly completed. The trout population this year is about the same as last year, but the sizes of the fish are up. To illustrate the fresh nature of the bay, she reports a Tilapia captured near the Rockport harbor and a fresh water catfish elsewhere in the bay. I believe the health of the bay system may be down because I have seen very few shrimp boats on the bay. I have personally seen a total of only six boats since the season opened May 15th. Also of note, very few crab traps can be seen. Usually, they are all over the bay and boaters have to be on constant vigil. Now I see only an occasional trap.
The tide has been really high. Some of the comments of the guides can be found at www.fishrockport.com. They note the higher tides and large trout.
For those who liked the food at the old Silver Anchor, you will be grad to know that Haun has taken over the Rocky Hill Bar and Grill and now calls it the 301. I have no idea what the 301 means, but I'll ask when I visit. Her catfish and new potatoes were the best.
I talked to Ben Crabtreee at the Boat Shop. He has boat repairs backed up for three weeks. His calendar is booked solid until late in June.
Randy(308) reported going out twice this last weekend and coming back with a total of one keeper trout. He tried Gulp bait.
I have noticed something new in rentals this summer. Previously there were no monthly rentals that I knew of. Now, I see parkings tags that indicate three three bedroom bayside units have guests for the month of June. That's probably a good thing because it may lead to a more stable cohort of guests and less arrivals and departures.
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