PINS Camping/fishing trip

[rklazajr]

Best thing you can bring to PINS is common sense. Drive at low tide. Drive defensively. Drive slow and enjoy the scenery. You don't need a big 4x4 to make it.

I remember one trip when I was in college. We were camping near the jetties. At about 3am, we heard a car coming with very loud music blasting. It was a Ford Escort with 4 very drunk/stoned surfers. They came in at low tide and had no problems. Said they did it all the time and never got stuck. I only arrive and leave at low tide and never come close to getting stuck.

Also watch the weather. First sign of a storm, get out.

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[DarrellS]

What we need is a TBH PINS trip for those of us that have never been. I'd absolutely love to go but a little leary about going solo not knowing the ins and outs.

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[Hunt life]

That's a big 10 4 BLACKFINTURKEY and I are headed down last weekend of March if the weather conditions are rite if anyone wants to join!

[Hunt life]

I hauled a 22 foot enclosed (non-pop-up) camper down there this past August in a 2005 Toyota Sequoia that was loaded to the gills with extra water/firewood/food/etc for a 5 day camping and fishing trip with the wife and daughter. Never once put it in 4wheel drive and never once spun a tire. Take your time and drive smart and you'll be fine.


Richard.

Richard
You planning on a trip this year?

[Canoe1]

What we need is a TBH PINS trip for those of us that have never been. I'd absolutely love to go but a little leary about going solo not knowing the ins and outs.

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I agree, we need to have a few.
I spend a lot of day or two day trips out there.
Once we get a '17 surf fishing thread up and going, I'll post when I'm going and anyone is welcome to come along.
I personally don't like driving far (20+ miles) down the beach solo, I don't fully trust my truck. Hasn't let me down, but always better to be safe.

[Breezy]

Best thing you can bring to PINS is common sense. Drive at low tide. Drive defensively. Drive slow and enjoy the scenery. You don't need a big 4x4 to make it.

I remember one trip when I was in college. We were camping near the jetties. At about 3am, we heard a car coming with very loud music blasting. It was a Ford Escort with 4 very drunk/stoned surfers. They came in at low tide and had no problems. Said they did it all the time and never got stuck. I only arrive and leave at low tide and never come close to getting stuck.

Also watch the weather. First sign of a storm, get out.

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Bingo. Just use your head. If you think you can go thru it. Don't.


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[Hunt life]

I agree, we need to have a few.
I spend a lot of day or two day trips out there.
Once we get a '17 surf fishing thread up and going, I'll post when I'm going and anyone is welcome to come along.
I personally don't like driving far (20+ miles) down the beach solo, I don't fully trust my truck. Hasn't let me down, but always better to be safe.

There's already a 17 surf fishing thread hopefully we get some updates soon on a trip coming up in march

[Canoe1]

For a multi day trip, biggest problem will be Sun/wind burn and chafing.
Use diaper cream at night to heal, and grease up good during the day (several times) with Vaseline and as said before, cut mesh out of swim shorts and wear tights under it.

I like sleeping in my hammock, tent cot gets to hot for me.
Funny thing is I HATE being gritty and sandy, but have learned tricks to stay "cleaner".

[Canoe1]

There's already a 17 surf fishing thread hopefully we get some updates soon on a trip coming up in march

Didn't see it, I'll check for it. Been too busy catching white bass the past few weeks.

[Breezy]

This was 41 miles down earlier this week. There is one thing you do. Turn around.


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[Canoe1]

This was 41 miles down earlier this week. There is one thing you do. Turn around.


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Should of tested out the Toyota and seen how it handles Baptism by salt water.

[sharkhunter]

Some of you will remember robstruelies.com...old Tyger. I kept some of his stuff from back in the day and one of them was how to camp on PINS.

" Padre Island National Seashore

Camping on Padre Island National Seashore can be heaven or hell. If you are not fully prepared it can be a miserable experience, bordering on outright dangerous! On the other hand it can be very comfortable with the right preparation. The heat, sun, and salt can beat you down if you are not ready for it.

I once helped four people who's Blazer had died and they could not get it restarted. They walked for 5 miles until I was the first one they saw. From where I was camped, in the middle of the week, I could not see another camp in either direction. Stuck late in the afternoon, they spent the night in the water to get relief from the mosquitoes. The morning, with the long walk up the beach to where they found my camp left them badly sunburned. They had no insect repellent or sunblock. After they rested a while I drove them back down to their Blazer. The reason it would not start? It died in Drive and was still in Drive! I shifted it into Park, and to their utter disgust and embarrassment, started right up.
I mention this as a reality check for Padre. It could have been worse for them. They were simply not prepared.
Let me get this out of the way now. You must have a dependable 4-wheel drive vehicle. DO NOT attempt Padre without one, you will not make it.

I always camped at Big Shell Beach 35 or so miles down, give or take a few either way depending on the read of the water. Here the water is at it,s deepest drop off from anywhere on the beach. A lot of fish congregate here due to the convergence of north and south currents. More on the fishing on the Salt Water fishing pages.

Hear this: You can never take too much fresh water! I pull a pick-up bed trailer loaded with 5 gallon water cans, at least 10 or 12. This is for a trip lasting 10-14 days, so use your fresh water wisely and you will have more than enough. Also at least 4 or 5 ice chests for food and drinks, packed to the brim with ice. I take a 182 quart Igloo for a back up ice stash. I line it with newspaper to keep it from cracking and wall it with 40# of dry ice. Then fill the middle space with 6 ten pound blocks of ice. As soon as the screened in shelter is put up, I bury it just shy of the lid in the sand, in the middle, just inside, on the north wall of the shelter for maximum shade. Then I pour sea water all around it to cool the sand. This way, after all your other ice has melted, you can pull a 10 pound block out once a day.

Comfort is relative. Personally I'll take all I can get. After all it's rough down here in the summer! I always take a screened in shelter, 12x14 and use it for headquarters. Lots of shade and a sand barrier too.

Set the door of the shelter so that it is facing duneside. This way the ever present mist from the surf will coat the seaward screen and make it impossible for sand to enter. Also pile up sand around the entire bottom edges to keep sand from blowing through there. This makes for great sand free food! Put your Coleman stove, folding table, lanterns, ice chests, making sure the reserve ice is buried just inside the north wall for maximum shade. Any other non sleeping, non fishing items in here too.

To keep tents and shelters anchored in the "dead sand" forget about tent stakes. Take 2x4's cut to 12" for every tent stake. Tie off to tent and shelter loops with at least 18" of mason's line and tied to a 2x4. Bury the 2x4's in the sand the length of the line. Guaranteed to hold in any condition but a hurricane!

After setting up your tent, place a small tray or pan, filled with an inch or two of fresh water, just outside the tent door. Inside the door put down a towel or small carpet remnant. Rinse your feet off and step inside to a sand free tent.

I could never get by without my double bed size air mattress and pillows, complete with pillow cases and fitted sheets. Add a couple of deep cycle 12 volt batteries and you have electric lights and power to run a 12 volt TV! I use 15 watt RV 12 volt bulbs in polished clamp on fixtures. 15 watts of light can look like a flood light on a dark Padre night. Recharge the batteries with jumper cables every afternoon.

In the morning take a 5 gallon can of water from the shelter and leave it in the sun all day. At the end of the day, with supper going, take a HOT shower from the can, get the salt off, and eat with a glorious sunset.

Safety on the Beach: Make sure you take at least 5 or 6 cans of fix-a-flat. Driftwood often has nails. A good spare tire, 2 shovels,and a chain or cable should you need a pullout. Most fellow 4-wheelers will help you especially if you have the equipment and tools. Also a complete first aid kit (911 may take a while). The Coast Guard helicopter only flies over once a day. If you really need them, dig out an SOS or HELP! in the sand. You may never see a park ranger. Watch out for sharp knives and hooks. Be extremely careful with flammables. Use sunblock liberally. Drink plenty of water or Gatorade to prevent dehydration. Save the alcohol for sundowner's around the campfire while waiting for a drag to sing.
One other thing. Basically there is no quick response official presence on the beach. This means you are own your own. Although firearms are forbidden on Padre Island National Seashore I take my pistol anyway. Who knows who might drive up to your campsite in the middle of the night, with the nearest cop probably hours away? I was sitting in a chair one night, watching two rods, and out of the dark I was startled to see two men walk into the light. It was just two guys illegally put ashore from Mexico and were just thirsty. I gave them water in milk jugs and they disappeared up the beach toward Corpus Christie. The thing to consider is what if they or someone else shows up to rob or due harm? I was glad I had my .45 auto in my waistband. Protect yourself. Enough said.

Coyote's will prowl your camp after dark. Make sure all foodstuffs are safely stored. Also, for rods you are not using, make sure they are put away for the night also. Even the scent of old bait on a hook can get a coyote's attention and nothing is worse than a lipped hooked dune dog at 3AM! Use caution if you take a walk into the dunes as Diamondbacks and Pygmy rattlesnakes live there. This is no place to get snake bit. On the beach watch for man o' war jellyfish. These nasty little purple jellies pack a bad sting in or out of the water. Use meat tenderizer for jellyfish or insect stings. It's the Papaya in it that does the trick."


Rob was quite a character and died in 2003 I believe.

Fished a few times with Rob, Artie and Gundoctor. Those guys were old school for sure. Robs ashes rest in the surf at High Island I believe.