Friends of Padre

On 25 Feb., 2017, we completed the 22^nd. Annual Big Shell Beach Cleanup.  We were very blessed and very lucky.  Very blessed to have so many wonderful, hardworking volunteers and sponsors and lucky that the strong Northeast winds did not push water completely up to the sand dunes making it impossible for us to travel on the beach.  We did have to modify the work area we covered during the event due to higher than normal tide levels.  We cleaned 18 miles of beach from the 5 to the 23 mile beach rather than being able to work all the way down to the 30 mile beach; which we try to include in the work area every year.  This was due to high water and the fact that there was a very narrow stretch of beach at the 24 mile that we feared might trap volunteers as the tide level rose during the day.  We broke last year’s record all time number of volunteers with an amazing 750 volunteers this year.  50 tons of trash was bagged and removed from the beach including over 12 tons of plastic trash destined to be recycled.  This was our first ever attempt to recycle any of the trash and it went amazingly well. Hopefully we will be able to continue and maybe even enlarge the recycle effort during future events.  The hardworking and dedicated members of the board of the Friends of Padre have got the organization and the kickoff of the event in the Malaquite parking lot down to a science and I’m proud of them and they should be proud of themselves.  In the early years of this event we could never have handled the large numbers of volunteers we have had in this and last year’s event.  I heard several people mention during the event that it would really be awesome to get one thousand volunteers at an event and if the current trend continues that is a possibility and it is manageable.  The event remains something of a family homecoming for me as I get to see many friends that I have known for many years and who have attended any number of cleanups.  And it is always great to see so many children and families working together to help keep our beaches trash free. We would be lost without the support of Mr. Leon McNinch and the Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation and Curtis Mai and Sharkathon.  CITGO brought 36 volunteers to the event lead by Mr. Lindsey Shows and their participation is greatly appreciated.  Scott and Brian McKinsey went above and beyond with their efforts including acting as our repair/rescue truck.  West Oso I.S.D. had many students including their Navy Jr. ROTC group.  A big thanks to Rollin and Norma Hyatt of Woodstock Tree Trimming.  Other wonderful sponsors included Daniel Dain of Domino’s Pizza, Corpus Christi Chapter of the CCA, Michael Lawkowski Sr. and Jr. of Trac-work Inc. Railroad Maintenance of San Antonio, Stephen and Donna Gregory, David Webb, the Texas State Aquarium, Value Bank, NuStar, Graf Plumbing, the Coastal Bend Audubon Society, H. E. B., Federal Iron, Padre Island National Seashore personnel and Ben Beaty.  Without getting the word out this event would never happen and we are extremely appreciative of David Sikes and the Caller Times, KRIS T. V., KKTX News Radio, Everett and Pam Johnson and Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, the Padre Island Moon, the Salty Angler and Corpusfishing.com for doing such a great job of this. This year’s cleanup bring the overall totals for the event to 7,350 volunteers removing 2,556,000 pounds of trash removed from the beach of the Padre Island National Seashore.  YOU ARE, AS ALWAYS, MY HEROES. Billy Sandifer 

Via Jeff Wolda and Jennifer Merchant

2-8-17

Air Temp: 70 degrees

Water Temp:  66 degrees

Wind: 5-10 mph out of the West, shifting Southeast at noon

Water: 2-3 ft. swells, dirty until about the 50 mile marker and clearing a bit the last 10 miles.  Front tonight should mess that up and dirty the water even more.

Driving: 2wd with the exception of high tide.  4wd in the high banks.  Water should go to dunes tonight with the front.  There was a couple of washouts especially at the 55 mile marker.

A few stray winter trout, bluefish (which is uncommon this early), stingray, whiting, pompano, and bonnetheads were all being caught.

 On our way off the beach there was a huge grass fire on the north part of Padre Island National Seashore.  Traffic from the guard shack was backed up while firefighters worked hard to get the fire under control.

Birds seen:  Forester Tern, Royal Tern, Caspian Tern, Double Crested Cormorants, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Sanderlings, Turkey Vulture, Brown Pelican, White Pelican, Rudy Turnstone, Curlew, Willet, Blue Heron, Eared Grebe

Thanks to Ben Beaty!

Air Temp: 70

Water Surface Temp: 64

Wind: 10-15 mph SSE

Weed: None on beach.  Moderate weed in the surf

Water: Visibility about a 5, with 3-4ft swells

Driving: Recommend 4wd after the 5 mile marker at high tide.  2wd possible at low tide along waters edge but wouldn't recommend it.  The beach narrows in some places especially in the high banks around the 20's

Fishing was slow.  There were pompano, black drum and redfish caught.  A bit of weed in the surf weighing down the lines and breaking the weights free.  The bite was slow.  Lots of debris and trash washed up.

Birds seen: Curlew, Blue Heron, Snowy Plover, Wilson's Plover, Brown Pelicans, Willet, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Royal Tern, Least Tern, Cormorant, Rudy Turnstone

Via Jennifer Merchant

1-19-17

Air Temp: 70

Water Surface Temp: 62

Wind: 5-10E

Weed:  Sargassum on beach until about the 20 mile marker

Water:  Trout Green.  Clarity was about 7/8 out of 10.  Waves 2-3ft.  Tide still coming up high.

Driving:  2WD up to the 30 mile marker.  Then it's 4WD in some spots.  Lots of sargassum hiding glass bottles so use caution not to run over them and get a flat.

Redfish being caught, pony mullet jumping, and birds diving in second gut.  There was an overcast all day.  I saw lots of wildlife.  A lot of trash washing in with the sargassum.  This would make for the perfect time to do some beach combing.  I found plenty of seaglass and sand dollars. 

The driving is still not that great and the sargassum has actually made it a bit difficult to spot objects like glass and wood or other debris that could damage your tires.  There is still a bit of a washout around the 38 mile marker.  The water looked like it is starting to clear up pretty good.  Let's hope it stays that way.

Birds seen:  Crested Caracara, Cormorant, Curlew, Pelicans, Willet, Blue Heron, Ruddy Turnstone, Royal Tern, Least Tern, Sandwich Tern, Laughing Gull.

Friends of Padre Surf Report

by Jen Merchant

1-9-17

Air Temp: 64°

Water Temp: 53-55° surface temperature

Wind: 5-10 NW

Weed: None

Water: 3-4 ft. waves with water clarity looking like a 5 on a scale of 1-10.  It is is a little better but still muddy.  High tide to the dunes still.

Driving:  Two wheel drive for the most part.  Some places required four wheel drive after about the 20 mile marker.  Tide was up and pushing all traffic into the thick sugar sand near the dunes in places.  

By far after looking at the weather and swells, Monday was the day to go to the beach.  It doesn't look like another good day until next Thursday.  Winds will be kicking for the next couple days and waves will be 4-6 ft.  Be sure to check the tide times.  For the last couple trips down Padre Island National Seashore the best times to drive were at low tide.  On my way on the beach at 10:00am there were very little birds.  By 2:00 on my way off the beach birds were diving in the second and third guts.  This would have been a great moment to sink some baits had I had the time.  The water was moving in with the tide change being at 3:00.  Redfish and black drum were being caught.

Birds seen:  Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Wilson's Plover, Curlew, Willet, Blue Heron, Double Crested Cormorant, Crested Caracara, Least Tern, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Ruddy Turnstone, White-tailed Hawks, Brown Pelican, Red Knots

Via Dr. Donna Shaver

UPDATE: Yesterday, an estimated 227 cold stunned turtles were found in Texas, including 1 in Galveston Bay, 1 on Padre Island National Seashore Gulf Beach, 65 in the Upper Laguna Madre/Corpus Christi Bay area, and an estimated 160 in the Lower Laguna Madre/Boca Chica Beach area. An exact tally will be provided when all forms are received.

Water temperatures are still cold, so searches will continue today. However, warm air temperatures are predicted for the rest of the week.

The numbers of cold stunned sea turtles found to date during the 2016-2017 cold stunning season in Texas are as follows:

All were green turtles.

Thank you to staff and volunteers from the National Park Service, ARK, Sea Turtle, Inc., Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Sea World San Antonio, NOAA-Fisheries, Texas Sea Life Center, Texas Master Naturalists, Gladys Porter Zoo, University of Texas, Texas State Aquarium, other organizations, and private citizens for their help to find, document, rehabilitate, and release cold stunned turtles on the Texas coast this year.

Friends of Padre Surf Report

Jen Merchant

12-26-16

Air Temp: 70

Water Temp: Low 60's

Wind: 10-12mph SSE

Weed: None

Water:  4-5 ft. swells. Still muddy.  Green water could be seen past the third sandbar.

Driving:  Four wheel drive after the 5 mile marker at high tide with driving open in one lane or less at time.  At low tide what looked like hard packed sand was actually like mush or sinking sand.  Very difficult driving conditions.  If you decide to go out make sure you go at low tide and take four wheel drive.

On the way in we saw birds diving past the third sandbar.  We managed to make it to the 50 mile marker but turned around because we wanted to conserve gas for the much needed four wheel driving.  We stopped once for fishing and caught redfish and whiting.  Bird viewing and picture taking were difficult because of the driving.  It was impossible to slow down or stop in most places.  A lot of debris was washed in.  Beach combing was excellent.  Lots of wildlife seen on the way off the beach.

Birds Seen:  Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Reddish Egret, Willet, Curlew, Sanderlings, Blue Heron, Cormorant, Pelicans,  Sandwich Tern, Caspian Tern, Royal Tern.