Port Aransas Spring Break in Texas

Huge Fish Caught in Port Aransas Texas

2011-07-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

Man thats a big ol' Fish! I thought that kid nearly lost it for a second. Glad to see he recovered. I need to go out on a big boat again. I miss fishing the big ones.

How To Choose The Best Sunscreen

2011-07-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

Its a little overwhelming. Every time I go into any store whether it be Walgreens, Walmart, Target, or any super market, they have many different types of sun screen, or sun block. Which one is best for you to use? Which one is best to use for your baby? Its hard to tell right now, and trust me we aren't the only ones confused. The FDA has announced last month that they will require all sun block lotions to report how effective they are on both UVA, and UVB rays. Both types of rays have been linked to both skin cancer and wrinkles. This doesn't however cover what chemicals are safe to use on your skin, but it is a step in the right direction. The last thing we need right now is to be giving our kids something that could give them cancer in the future. It is not the sun block that gives people cancer and wrinkles, it is the UVA, and UVB sun rays. This is why protection is key in preparing for the future, no one wants to get a sunburn either on their family vacation. A recent report and advisory from the American Academy of Pediatrics talk about the importance of putting on as much sunscreen as you can on baby infants. This is because they are more likely to get skin cancer if you don't put the sunscreen on them. If you are pregnant the best way to go is to use a mineral sun screen with titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide. These are more topical creams that are meant to stay on top of the skin, rather than be absorbed into the skin like most popular sun screens. Its hard to get away from the chemical sunscreens but alternatives do exist, and I recommend everyone take a look at them. The topical mineral sun screen's aren't as water proof, but they definitely do the trick, and are great if you are an expecting mother and worried about the added chemicals in some of the more popular brands. Just keep your eyes opened, be informed, and make an informed decision. Remember, its going to be a lot easier to get sunscreen soon, for now we are all a little more informed. Have a great summer, and don't let the sun beat the fun out of you!

Cool New Beach Toys Every Kid Must Have

2011-04-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

GeoSafari's sea scope offers a nice way for kids to explore the murky waters in search for sea life. This is the perfect toy for the little scientist in your family. Watch as they discover many interesting things that wash up on the beach. You may even get lucky, and they bring you back some jewelry that was lost by some of the spring breakers. I have this toy for my little sisters, and when we get started its hard to put this thing down. It keeps the curious kids busy for hours!

These Trailin Tracks Dinosaur flip flops are fun for the younger kids. They put these things on, and they make tracks like their favorite dinosaur. It also helps protect their feet from the hot sand. Younger kids really get a kick out of these, and they come in a variety of sizes. Make sure you get the right size for your kid, and he will be running around in circles around your beach spot making scary dinosaur tracks! This is great for kids that love dinosaurs!

This Gowi water pump set is both fun and educational for kids of all ages! It is PVC free and it was made in Austria. Kids will be amazed how this aparatus pumps water from their bucket and turns the water wheel. It will also expand their minds and show them that a little bit of ingenuity can go a long way. This toy is great for kids of all ages. This is not your regular beach bucket toy!

We all know that building a sand castle is hard, especially when you are trying to build it up to your child's expectations. This Beach Builder kit developed by iPlay is a great new way to build your sand kingdom brick by brick. This makes it very easy to do, and it comes with very extensive instructions on how to teach your kids to make a great looking sand castle every time. You will have the best sand castle on your side of the beach! This is great fun for the whole family.

The OgoSport Super Sport discs are very fun to play with. You can paddle the kush ball to each other and try to keep it in the air while your doing it. They are all weather, and can really stand up to the beach temperatures. Instead of using the provided kush ball, you can even use water balloons so that the person that hits it too hard gets a splash of water. These discs are great fun way to play at the beach, and are a little more advanced than those Velcro paddles that fall apart at the beach.

These sand wheels are really cool. No one thought of this stuff when I was a kid. This is perfect to spark the minds of the toddlers in your life. They will keep pouring sand in the top, and watch the wheels come to life. This is a great way to spark the imagination of your kids. They will play with this simple toy for hours on end and they will want to take it to the beach every time they go. Its easy to clean, and it stands up to weather very well.

This is not your normal remote controlled car. This is called the Kid Galaxy Morphibians Shark. It is a very sturdy remote controlled car that can drive both on the sand, and in shallow water. Most remote controlled vehicles that can do this are quite expensive. This new remote control car is only $30. If you have an older kid in your family, or if you are that older kid, you will love playing with this toy and chasing your dogs with it. This thing can really stand up to the elements.

The Back Porch Bar in Port Aransas

2011-02-17T14:08:00.000-08:00

Its almost that time again for the crazy spring break that goes on in Port Aransas. The back porch bar has remained closed for a long time but in March 2011, it will reopen! This is a great hang out spot, and has a great view to watch while you get really messed up. This is one of my favorite spots to go to. They have great food, and even better drinks. You won't be disappointed this year, they are opening at the right time, and i'm sure its going to get crazy. The beach during spring break has huge lights, and people listening to Tupac and Biggie Smalls. So if that gets old for you, and you don't feel in that kind of mood be sure to head to the back porch. I can't promise that they won't play Lady Gaga, but it sure as hell won't be South Park Mexican. This is going to be great fun!

Here is there contact information:
132 W Cotter Ave
Port Aransas, TX 78373
(361) 749-2800

What is The Best Metal Detector For the Beach

2011-02-15T10:18:00.000-08:00

The truth is there are many different types of metal detectors and they range from $100 - $1000 dollars. You want to find the best detector that feels comfortable to you. Don't worry about spending a lot of money on one of the higher end metal detectors. Some of these aren't worth the money anyways. I would start off by spending no more than 300$ and seeing if metal detecting is something you are truly interested in. Another great thing to remember is before you go out and start waiving your metal detector on the sand, do some home tests to make sure that its detecting various types of metal. Try testing it by burying some coins, or a ring, and seeing what it looks like to get a signal. This is also good for adjusting your settings and making sure you understand the ins and outs of the metal detector that you have just purchased. There is nothing worse then going out to the beach and being ready to find some serious booty, and you don't even know what a real signal looks like. Be ready, and make sure you know what to look for. Another great tip before you hit the beach is to make sure that the metal detector you are using has a headphone jack. Some people get weak signals because some of the metal is further beneath the surface, and they simply can't hear the beeping of their metal detector because of the waves, music, or other noises that come with being on the beach. It is best to have headphones so not only can you hear the signal, but you can also, not bother other people that are around you. Another great tool to have is a "bailer" a bailer is a scoop that people with boats use, so that they can bail water out of a leaking boat to keep it afloat. I would recommend obtaining a bailer, and then drilling holes in it so that you can scoop sand up and waive it in front of the detector to see if you have scooped up your find. The holes help the sand filter through and leave the metal object in the bucket. Be careful not to drill your holes to large, but at the same time not drilling them too small, so that wet sand can get through easily. They sell scooping buckets with holes already in them, but they can cost as much as $50 dollars! If i were you I would get a bailer from a boating shop, and drill the holes yourself. This way it costs you only $5! This is a great tip that I wish I knew when I first started detecting. The last tip is to be patient. You don't want to do things in a hurry, because you will skip over many things that you wish you would have picked up. Make fun out of it, bring some beers, or water, and stay out there a while. I guarantee your patience will pay off. I hope my tips have helped you! Happy Metal Detecting! Here is a video I would like to share with you of a guy detecting on the beach...

List of Shark Attacks in Texas

2011-02-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

It is very rare that shark attacks happen in Texas. They do happen however, and when they do it can become pretty bad really quickly. Many people that live in the Port Aransas, and South Padre Island areas of the Gulf of Mexico, say that there has been no deaths from a shark ever. They are clearly wrong. I will go through a list of people that have died from sharks. This wasn't made to freak you out, as you can see from this list it doesn't happen often, but take note of the location, and don't be caught unprepared to see a shark when your fishing, or riding wakes with your surf board.

In August 19th 1962, Hans Fix (40 years old) was fishing in waist deep water in Andy Bowie Park, in the South Padre Island, Port Isabel area when he was attacked. He died from this attack, and it was confirmed that it was a bull shark.

In June 16th, 1937, A. Thompson Jr. (16 years old) was swimming in 4 feet of water in Galveston, Texas when his right arm was torn off by an unknown shark. The shark also mangled his right leg. He survived the incident but was made a cripple because of his encounter. This was probably also a bull shark that attacked him.

In September 23rd 19ll, John Bloomquist was killed and eaten by a shark in the Galveston ship channel, after jumping overboard to save a companion. This is a sad story, and although the shark has also been unconfirmed, I would say it was also a bullshark, they are common in the area.

So there you have it 3 unprovoked cases that have happened in the Gulf of Mexico here in Texas. Remember that these attacks were all unprovoked, and it just goes to show that it can happen, always be prepared, and never go to far out in the water alone, just because you haven't heard of Shark attacks in Texas, doesn't mean that they don't happen. That is why I have assembled this list. To generate awareness of things that could happen. Always travel with someone and if you are fishing always have your pocket knife handy in case you have to stab one in the belly so that he lets go of your arm or leg.

Places to Stay in Port Aransas and Mustang Island

2011-01-31T11:21:00.000-08:00

Port Aransas is a very beautiful beach in Texas. It is one of the most unique beaches, in all of Texas, and has a lot of activities to do from bird watching, dolphin watching, and even fishing. If you want to plan a get-away to Port Aransas here is a list of all of the places to stay in the area. Make sure you get the best deal, and I will include their contact information so that you may call them and find the best place that is right for you.

3rd Coast Inn
718 S. Station St.
361-749-5032
7 units that are 3 blocks away from the beach, kitchens, pets are ok, hot tub, pool, and a picnic area.

A Laughing Horse Lodge
503 E. Avenue G
361-749-5513
17 cabanas near the beach, and pets are allowed.

Alister Square Inn
122 S. Alister
361-749-3000 or 888-749-3003
50 units refrigerators, microwaves and kitchenettes

America's Best Value Inn
306 S. Alister
361-749-5450
23 units complementary coffee in every room, centrally located, pool, spa, and wifi Internet

Aransas Harbor Condominiums
230 Cut-Off Rd.
361-749-4122
84 fully equipped units some with view of channel, wifi internet

Aransas Princess Condominiums
720 Beach Access Rd. 1-A
361-749-5118
112 Condos on beach, 2 pools, covered parking

Balinese Flats
121 Cut-Off Rd.
361-749-1880
12 Units, full kitchens, channel view, and wifi internet

Bay Tree Condominiums
900 N. Station St.
361-749-5859
28 condos on ship channel, private marina and pier, wifi internet

Beachcomber Motel and Condos
539 12th St.
361-749-6191
12 apartments with kitchens, pool, enclosed hot tub, overlooks the surf

Beach Bums Antiques in Port Aransas

2010-12-29T11:36:00.000-08:00

Beach Bums Antiques is located on the main strip in Port Aransas. They are a great fun loving couple above is a picture of Chris standing in his shop. He is a very nice man along with his wife Rhonda. They get antiques from all over the world, and have a great selection, and offer good decor to any of your beach houses in the area, or in South Padre Island. I love coming to the shop and just talking with Chris and Rhonda, they know so much about antiques, and Chris even does his own restoration of certain pieces. One time I went in there they offered me free Sangria, which I thought was really cool, even though I had been drinking beer all morning! I love Texas. I just figured I would do a post about this shop to promote the business, and to show my thanks to such a great shop with tons of history being so close to us in Port Aransas. God bless you Chris and Rhonda.

To contact the shop call: 361-332-8333

They are located at:
1726 S H 361 Sweet 6
Port Aransas TX, 78373

Casa Bella Salon in Port Aransas

2010-11-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

Do you need to get a hair cut at a premier salon? Give Casa Bella a try! This place is filled with nice people that do your hair, nails, and even specialize in hair colors. My 2 little sisters love going to this place to get there nails done. Not only are these people pros at beauty maintenance but they also are very inexpensive. Pamper yourself the right way before or after you hit the beach. They also specialize in Skin Care products. Casa Bella means "The House of Beauty" and this is truly a unique experience filled with the nicest people, and good client base. If you live close to Casa Bella, or are visiting, and need to get your hair and nails done in Port Aransas, then this is a great place to consider.

The Best Coffee Shop in Port Aransas Coffee Waves

2010-11-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

It is called Coffee Waves and its no Starbucks, but it does have Italian Gelato Ice cream and a great variety of great tasting Coffee. This place is excellent to go to if you have had a rough night drinking, or just a rough night of any type in general. If you have to jump on internet wi-fi with your laptop, this is a great place to stop and enjoy a nice cup of coffee. They also have private rooms, so that you can work in peace without anyone bothering you. The atmosphere is very nice, and they have a beautiful chandelier in the middle of the place that is beautiful. Next time you need a good cup of coffee in Port Aransas, or need to get some work done, be sure that you check this place out. I love gelato Ice Cream!

Port Aransas Helicopter Ride

2010-10-28T09:35:00.001-07:00

This was not filmed by me, but if you want to ride a helicopter in Port Aransas Texas it will run you about $100.00 a person, and it will last about 20 minutes. It looks like great fun and I plan on trying it next time I go so I can take my own video. Have fun watching the scenery is great!

The Coast Club Bar and Lounge in Port Aransas

2010-10-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Coast Club in Port Aransas is a pretty good chill spot that has a full bar, and even stuff to eat. It has a great ambiance at night, and they play good music. If you are looking for a decent spot to drink, and eat, with good music, thats not always country western...I suggest you check out The Coast Club. They have bands that come out and play live music, and its located right on the strip which makes it very easy to get to no matter where you are at in Port Aransas. Don't waste time driving all the way to Corpus from Port Aransas to listen to good music....Check out The Coast Club instead!

Horace Caldwell Fishing Pier in Port Aransas

2010-09-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

Horace Caldwell pier is in I.B. Magee Park on Mustang Island. This pier is made of concrete, and its well lighted at night. It also is very easy to access so you cannot miss it. The pier is 1200 feet long so that provides tons of access to the Gulf of Mexico, without having to worry about people getting to close to you. You get your breathing room i guess you could say on this pier. The fact that its made of concrete makes it feel much more safe also during a storm, or a potential storm. It provides great fishing both in the summer and winter months. In the months of July, August, September it is very easy to catch offshore fish on this pier, like king mackerel because of how big it is and how deep you can go. I have seen Tarpon fish, Red Fish, Speckled Trout, Black Drum, Sheepshead, and Shark being caught at this pier. The I.B. Magee Beach Park has public showers, and camping available, with RV hookups. You can even camp at the park with a tent. Make sure you check in for camping or parking your RV at the Visitors Station.

Charlie's Pasture Pier in Port Aransas

2010-09-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

This fishing pier is located at the very end of Port Street. If you are coming from the Ferry Landing take a left, from Cotter street, to Port Street. Keep on going down Port Street until you see the parking, and the pier to your right. This pier is a bit more protected during the summer, than robert's pier because of the strong southeastern winds. There is no bait shop by the pier so make sure you come prepared with your fishing gear, and tackle. This pier is known for the HUGE schools of fish that swim by during the fall and spring months. Right now though this pier is closed due to a boat that crashed into it. They are currently fixing it and it should be up and running soon!

Robert's Point Fishing Pier in Port Aransas

2010-09-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

This pier is located right at the edge of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. It sits right between where the Gulf of Mexico waters, and the Bay waters meet. This makes for truly excellent fishing. This pier is free to the public and has lighting for night fishing. This is definitely recommended highly by me. If you bring your own gear, have a case of brews, then this is a great spot to spend your morning, noon, and night. Just make sure you have a fishing license, and your real license if your drinking....just incase the game warden, or police officer shows up.....It happens on occasion ;-)

Port Aransas RV Parks

2010-09-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

I have done a lot of traveling to Port Aransas Texas in the past, before we got our beach house. There are many great RV parks in Port Aransas, and we would take our RV out there all the time. Here are a list of all the RV Parks in Port Aransas so you can make your best decision to spend your summer or vacation.

Pioneer RV Resorts, Inc.

( My personal favorite we stayed here for 5 years. Good price. Good people. )

120 Gulf Wind Dr.

State Hwy. 361

Port Aransas, Texas 78373

Phone: 361-749-6248

Gulf Waters RV Resort Community

5601 Hwy 361

Port Aransas, Texas 78373

Phone: 361-749-8888

I B Magee Beach Park

321 North on the Beach Park

Port Aransas, Texas 78373

Phone: 361-749-6117

Island RV Resort

P.O. Box 1377

700 6th Street

Port Aransas, Texas 78373

Phone: 361-749-5600

Marina-Beach RV Resort

241 W. Cotter

Port Aransas, TX 78373

Phone: 361-749-7823

Surfside RV & Resort

P.O. Box 179

1820 11th Street

Port Aransas, Texas 78373

Phone: 361-749-2208

Toll Free: 888-565-5929

On the Beach RV

907 Beach Access Rd. 1A

Port Aransas, Texas 78373

Phone: 361-749-4909

Toll Free: 800-932-6337

How to Make an Easy Bait Fish Trap

2010-07-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

I have heard many people that have made these types of fish traps using 2 2-Liter Soda bottles. What I am about to show you is a better way. If you use 2 Liter soda bottles you will have to use tape or glue, just to hold the thing together. I find that this is a negative thing because fish will be even less attracted to your trap because of the chemicals in the adhesive used to make it. I was looking at the Ozarka sport bottle one day, and i saw that it had ridges on it that would be perfect for holding together the trap without the use of tape or glue. The first step is to remove the plastic wrapper around the bottle, and to throw away the lid to the bottle.

You see those ridges towards the top of the bottle? This will allow the trap to stay together underwater, without the use of any type of adhesive. The next step will be to cut the bottle at the first ridge. This will be relatively easy to do just let it be your guide when cutting. When your done this should be what it looks like...

Now that you have cut the top off of the bottle you are done! Go find some old cheese, or even some bread and throw it inside the bottle, also find a few heavy rocks or shells that you can put at the bottom of the bottle so that it doesn't float at the top of the water when you put it in....I recommend you tie a rope in the middle of the bottle so that you can let it sink and easily tie it somewhere on shore, or on a boat. This way you can easily pick it up to check it, and at the same time it won't float away. This is how the trap will go together once you have filled it with bait, and weight rocks...

Now its time for you to drop your filled trap at the bottom of the ocean and tie it down....Wait a couple of hours, or at least 30 mins, and come back to check your trap. This is the easiest way to make a fish trap from a plastic bottle. Small fish check in, but they don't check out :-) Have Fun!

The Port Aransas Brewing Company

2010-07-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

The Port Aransas brewing company is a great place to have a great time. If you like sports and need to find a great place with a couple flat screens i highly recommend this place. What makes this place unique is they actually brew there own beer as the name implies. My favorite beer to have there is the "Beachy Blonde".

The alvacado stoffer is my favorite burger that they make. They even have unique sweet potatoe fries that taste wonderful. You need to check it out. They make pizza, and other things too i just haven't tried them yet because I love this burger so much. Thank you Port A Brewery.

Ferry Landing in Port Aransas Texas from Google

2010-06-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

Here are some cool pictures that I took of Port Aransas. The first one i want to show you is one taken from Google Earth. Its so pretty to see all the ferries working away...I wonder how often Google takes these images? Oh well, I just wanted to save it here so that in this point in time I can know what the ferry landing looked like in 2010, of June :-) !

Here is a beautiful picture of what the current skyline of Port Aransas looks like so far, i imagine, that this town is definitely not done growing, I love it here, I love the fresh air.

Some great Fish caught by some Fishermen in Port Aransas, and Rockport

2010-06-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

I love fishing in Port Aransas in Rockport with our boat. Its great to get out there. You don't have to go very deep before you start pulling Red Fish like the one you see above. They are everywhere out here. I plan on getting a bigger boat, and going even farther, maybe the Mayan Riviera....But still I will always come back to Port Aransas for good fishing and good folks...

Wow.... I don't know who this guy is but i know this monster fish was caught over by Rockport Texas. Man that fish looks almost prehistoric! That is an awesome catch...Now that is something to hang on the wall. I hope you guys like my blog, feel free to post comments in response to any of my posts, I am always sure to answer all my nice comments :-) !

Beach Permits are a Must have on any Beach in Port Aransas Texas

2010-06-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

We are veterans when it comes to the Port Aransas beach side experience. We have been coming to Port Aransas many years even before we had a beach house. I still remember hauling the Airstream trailer to the Pioneer Trailer park every Memorial Day. Make sure though if you are going to go out on the beach to spend the day with your family or alone, you still need to get a Beach parking permit. This is so that you can take your vehicle onto the actual beach next to the place where you are staying so you can set up camp, the grill, the ice chest etc...There are Beach Patrol constables that are always on patrol and they WILL write you a ticket for violating this rule. It is always important that you plan ahead and buy your beach permit for the year. This way you can enjoy your beach experience the best way possible. Make sure you also don't bring glass bottles on the beach. They also write tickets for that. Have fun on your next vacation and thank you for visiting SpringBreakTexas.blogspot.com!

Real 3D IMAX Movie Entertainment In Port Aransas Texas

2010-06-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

There is no current IMAX movie places in Port Aransas. We found this out the hard way. The best place to go is StarPlex Cinemas in Corpus Christi. There they have all the latest movies too. It is a little drive, but it is worth it when the kids get to see there new movie in Real 3D. If you would like to see whats playing now you can click here

Starplex Cinemas
5218 Silverberry Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78417
(361) 814-3100

The Coast Guard in Port Aransas and other Cool Photos

2010-06-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

We went on a fishing trip on the Island Queen. It costs $28.00 a person, and i caught some amazing shots of other boats, and even the coast guard. They were very nice on the island queen. There fishing equipment was adequate and we even got good bait that had mostly been frozen. It was awesome. My Grandfather even caught a baby shark. It was very cool. These are must see images i took these shots with a Kodak Slice 14mp Camera. I hope you like them.

Dolphin Dock Deep Sea Fishing Port Aransas Texas

2010-06-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

I have been deep sea fishing on a number of paid fishing trips. I love going with the guys at Dolphin Dock, i always pull HUGE fish when fishing on there boat. All the fishing and tackle equipment that you need is included on your trip. There are many packages to choose from. Here are the available fishing trip packages...

(Call for availability)
4 hour fishing trip - $45.00 - Departs 8:00am - 1:00pm.

5 hour fishing trip - $55.00 (Spectators are half price) - Departs 3:30pm - 8:30pm.

8,9,10 hour fishing trip - $86.00 + fuel - (Spectators are half price) - Departs at 6:30am Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun.

12 hour fishing trip - $100.00 - Spectators are half price - Departs at 6:00am Wed and Sat. (on Sat and holidays add $5) - Departs at 6:30pm Saturday night

All of the boats have air condition, and heated cabins. Full concessions are available including Beer, Soda, Water, Snacks, Crackers, Chips, and Microwaveable Sandwiches.

Dolphin Dock, Inc.
300 W. Cotter Ave.
Port Aransas, Texas 78373
1-800-EYE-FISH

Where to rent Golf Carts in Port Aransas Texas

2010-06-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

While in Port Aransas it is great to go driving on the beach, however sometimes you don't want to use your car...Especially if your car isn't quite equipped enough to make it in the Sand without getting stuck. The best thing to do is to rent a golf cart. Not only can you get around the sand very easily, but you can also get to the quick stores and shops in the area without jumping in your hot car every time. I love to rent my Golf Carts from Nautical Wheelers. They have many great designs to choose from so you can be sure that you are the hippest nautical vehicle on the beach!

Nautical Wheelers Island Fun

Electric Buggies, Electric Limos, and Beach Bike Rentals

428 S. Alister

Port Aransas Texas, 78373

Phone: (361) 749-3003