Friends of Padre: Reports

Via the National Park Service: Status update...the beach is RE-OPENED TO DRIVING as of this morning. That being said, conditions are not the best for driving, so use caution. Coastal flooding pushed up a lot of debris to the upper road and there is also much debris hidden by seaweed. It will be very slow going if you do not Buy Levitra want to damage vehicles. Finally, there is another system off the Yucatan that we are watching that has potential to force us to close once again. Stay tuned... Here's a photo of current conditions - it is LOW tide right now and the water is still pretty high, so the high tide this afternoon may be up to the dunes.

Via NPS As of this morning,the park's beaches are CLOSED TO DRIVING due to unsafe driving conditions. The disturbance in the Bay of Campeche is causing unusually high tides, bringing water and lots of seaweed up to the dune line. There is also a HIGH RISK of RIP CURRENTS. These conditions may continue through the weekend. We will post a notification when the beaches re-open.

Went to the 15 this morning. Weed OWNS the beach and the water. The only road is the high road and driving is good due to the rains. Strong NE-E winds the next few days will prevent the tide from dropping like expected so there may be no low road for some time. Weather forecast for the weekend does not look good as the water could go to the dunes due to the low pressure system in the southern gulf. Jeff

Air Temp: 88 Water Temp: 88 Wind: 5-10 SE Waves: 1-2 ft Water Clarity: Clear except from the 5-18 it’s dirty just past the 1st bar. Weed: The length of the beach has new and old weed in the first gut. The farther south you go the less there is but, until you get to the 58 it’s thick. With the SE winds it should all start moving to the north and clearing south. There is new weed coming in offshore. If it wasn’t for the weed, fishing would be crazy good this weekend. Bait lines the beach from one end to the other. Mullet of all sizes fill the 1st and 2nd gut in places. Dusky Anchovies are getting hammered by birds and fish. Jacks were blowing up bait in the first and second gut from the pavement to the 40. Most were small but there are some monsters cruising the first bar. Lots of sharks in the first gut early in the upper 20’s. Mostly black tips but I did see 2 decent Bulls at the 28. Caught Reds and trout today. All on the southern end and sight casted. Reds are showing up in good numbers and they are fat. The weed has been coming ashore for a week now. There are a couple of sink holes starting to form between the 8 and 12. This could be a real issue in the coming weeks with all the weed washing in. Be careful driving at the water’s edge over the weed. I could make for a long day. Those looking to make a run to the jetty for the weekend, it’s already packed with people. Birding was fair today. 9,230 Black Terns, 310 Cattle Egrets, 21 Curlew, 2 Marbled Godwit, 2 Caracara, 1 Night Heron, and the normal birds of summer.

Air Temp: 85 Water Temp: 85 Wind: 5-15 SE Waves: 2-3 ft Water Clarity: Clear the length of the beach. Weed: New weed coming in north of the 20, clear south. Driving: 2 wheel drive north of the 30. The low road north of the 20 is covered in weed and bumpy. South of the 30 there are spots where 4x4 is needed. With the constant cold up wellings this summer, it seems things are finally getting back to normal. The water is gin clear the length of the beach and bait is starting to move back in. Trout, reds, ladyfish and small jacks on artificial today. Birding was good today. 34 Curlew, 1 Cattle Egret, 4 Night Heron, 2 Marbled Godwit, 2 Black Skimmer, 1 White Tailed Hawk, 2 Caracara and the Black Terns were out in force with 16,790 and the regular birds of summer. Note: These reports are made possible by your donations. Friends of Padre appreciates your support.  If you would like to help fund these reports please click on the link below

Air Temp: 86 Water Temp: 87 Length of Beach Wind: 15 ESE Waves: 2-3 ft Water Clarity: Clear water from the pavement to the 35. 35 to the 59 is dirty to 3rd bar. Last mile is clear to jetty. Weed: No weed the length of the beach. Driving: Excellent at low tide. Some 4x4 needed south of the 30 at high tide. Very little bait in the water on the north end. Some dusky anchovies showed up from the 23-35 late in the day with birds pushing them to shore but no predators in the water. Did see 2 tarpon clear the water through a bait ball outside the 3rd bar at the 35. South of the 35 is a dead zone until just short of the jetties. No bait, no fish to be seen. It’s been that way since Saturday. Birding was okay today with 13 Curlew, 1 White-tailed Hawk, 1 Caracara, 2120 Black Terns, 11 Black Skimmers and the normal birds of summer. There was also a dead buck at the 36 at the water’s edge. I was reminded today, the speed limit on the beach is still 15 MPH and will remain so until after Labor Day weekend so watch your speed. Note: These reports are made possible by your donations. Friends of Padre appreciates your support.  If you would like to help fund these reports please click on the link below

FOP BEACH REPORT 080213 Air Temp: 84 Water Temp: 84 (8mm) 78 (51mm) Wind: 5 SE Waves: 1ft Water Clarity: Crystal clear to the 40. Beach at the 7 mile area South of 40 is dirty due to upwelling. Pictured below in the 51 mile area Weed: Dead grass and weed length of beach. Not much of an issue. No new weed. Driving: Excellent until the 30 with spots of 4x4 south. Birds: 1 White Tailed Hawk, 12 Curlew, 19 Marbled Godwit, 1100 Black Terns and the normal birds of summer. Cold water upwelling is still present south of the 40 but is only to the 1st or 2nd bar. Seems to be clearing to the south. Bait is present the length of the beach. Birds started working offshore around 1 o’clock. Note: These reports are made possible by your donations. Friends of Padre appreciates your support.  If you would like to help fund these reports please click on the link below

One row of surf early with whitecaps to the horizon in the afternoon. Lots of fresh grass from the end of the pavement to the 36 mile. No or little grass south of there. Very little bait observed and the full moon has everything laying low; as always. Driving was almost entirely hard packed and was good driving. I monitored birds but my recorder died on the way in and I lost the data. Marbled Godwits, a handful of Curlews, Turnstones and Black Bellied Plover were observed. I had a possible Brown Noddy fly by offshore down in the 40s but could not be sure. Lots of Wilson’s Plover and quite a few “Peep” Sandpipers. Capt. Billy The Friends of Padre organization works hard to provide funding and assistance to Padre Island. If you wish to assist our efforts we would greatly appreciate your donations. Our sole mission is to preserve the natural beauty of the island and all it's resources. Please click the donate button below to contribute. You will be directed to a paypal page in order to process your payment.