Corpusfishing.com

[noskunk]

After being caught down island during a norther or 3 it's amazing anyone would want to go fishing. High winds, high surf, sideways rain don't sound too much like fun. My buddy Ben was willing to experience his first norther so off we went. How bad could it be right?

Friday morning, the truck was loaded with cold weather and rain gear and enough food to last a week for 2 people if need be. We made the drive down from Boerne at 4 am and hit the beach shortly after 7am. The wind was moderate out of the southeast and water looked very fishable.



We got into the surf trout right away. Beautiful healthy fish. To this day my favorite fish on the beach.







We knew the front would be making its way down from the north so we kept moving down to the jetties in order to set up camp near the channel. Driving was amazing besides a few spots in the 50's that were going to be impassable as soon as the front hit. After setting up camp we raced down the jetty.

First fish was a decent spanish that was released after a few pics.



After that we hooked, broke off, jumped, and pretty much got schooled by several large tarpon. Great afternoon of fishing but that storm was breathing down our necks as the sun faded. I told Ben I was not going to get caught out on the jetty when that thing hit so I packed up and headed in. Ben had other plans and decided to keep casting. I got back to the truck and realized Ben had the keys and my headlamp was still in the vehicle. Ruh roh. I walked back to the jetty with lightning far to the east illuminating my steps. I could see Ben's headlamp looking into the channel about 200 yards down. I made my way down in the dark to see he was indeed hooked up with a nice fish. I told Ben to walk that fish down around the point and land him at the beach. I grabbed the truck keys and went back to get my headlamp and camera knowing that the storm would hit at any moment.

Here's what I found when I came back.





After a few pics and releasing the fish in the channel we made the short walk back to camp. I hid in the truck while Ben sat it out in his tent. Within minutes the front hit. The north wind grew from bad to real bad. The truck began to rock. Then the rain started. Sideways rain. After about an hour the rain stopped while the gust continued to grow. Ben opened the truck door completely soaked. His tent had 2 inches of water sitting inside the "bathtub" floor that was supposed to prevent this very thing from happening. I laughed as I went to check my elevated tent cot. Same thing inside. I dumped the water out of the tent cot and laid the air mattress back on top.
What a night. I mean how bad could it be? Well it got worse. The cold air dropped temps into the low 50's which is not very comfortable when everything is wet and the wind is howling. This too did pass. Just like every other storm.

We awoke to pelicans pounding the channel in the 25 mph winds. Ben was the first to strike with not one but TWO birds that got caught in the surf rod's braided line. While we worked to free the pelicans the rest of the hundred or so flock followed the bait down the channel. A missed opportunity that foreshadowed things to come the next day.

We spent the rest of the day picking away at feisty little snook in the channel with the fly rod. Here's Ben with the largest of the dozen or so we fooled that day.



Sunday was a completely different day as winds calmed and the blue water pushed back pass the end of the jetties. The mullet reappeared and the occasional jack soon followed. Then came the croaker.... Big ones. So many croaker that every jack with miles arrived at the buffet line. It was like the Golden Corral on Sunday afternoon. It was on.











The sight fishing was amazing while the sun remained high in the sky. As the sun faded and and the big croaker became the target rather than the mullet the only thing the jacks wanted were large 6 to 8 inch baitfish flies. Good thing I like tying those!



Finally as the gray light faded away our epic day came to an end. Over a dozen jacks were hooked and landed on 8 and 10 weight fly rods. We had a least 3 double hook ups. One jack even jumped on top of a jetty rock while chasing the croaker that were jumping out of the water in order to get away from the massacre.

Monday we fished our way off the beach. The mullet train was in full force. Pelicans were working over the jacks giving away their presence.

Here's Ben with two jacks caught at the same time on a double leader loaded up with mullet.



Here I am with a surf jack caught on the fly rod.



And our adventure came to an end. Wind, rain, and cold allowed for trout, snook, jacks, and tarpon. We'll be ready for those bigger tarpon next year.

[jeff89]

dudeeee....people go to Costa Rica and such for trips with the quality fish y'all landed. It's amazing what we have in our backyard.

Sexy tarpon your bud got. Water temps at BHP are 72.9 and we have another front coming...I'll have to wait til next year for mine

[riofrio]

Great trip! Thanks for posting.

[Jetty Rat]

Nice fish dude, i enjoyed reading this report

[ST1300]

Wow what a bunch of great fish catching!

[ratherbefishing]

Awesome report and great success!
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[brownivy]

Epic trip. Congrats!
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"enjoy every sandwich"
- warren zevon

[noskunk]

Thanks everyone.

[manuel9622]

Awesome report! Love that East cut jetty. I always go there when I'm in Port Mansfield.
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Shallow Sportn' it

[robo42053]

WOW

[lagunarat1975]

truly epic
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EAT,SLEEP,BREATHE,FISHING

[Monkeychow33]

Thanks for sharing, that was a truly spectacular trip.