Friends of Padre Beach Report 8/11/2015
By Tyler Thorsen
FOP REPORT 081115 Via Jeff Wolda Air Temp: 84 Water Temp: 76-79 Wind: 5SE Waves: 1ft Water: Dirty to the 2nd bar and trying to clear late day Weed: None Driving: Excellent with a little 4x4 south at high tide The cold water upwelling is back. Dirty to the 2nd bar north of the 35 with water temps around 79. South of there the water clears late in the day but is noticeably colder. There is bait the length of the beach with mullet and schools of dusky anchovies moving in late in the day. Most of the schools seem to have small skipjacks and bluefish preying on them. Hopefully a week of light SE winds and calm seas will help get rid of the upwelling.
The water began to show a little color as we traveled South and the last 10 miles North of the Port Mansfield jetties was the clearest water on the beach. 
Water temperature was in the 80’s the entire length of the beachfront. Scattered bait was observed with the largest concentrations of mullet being observed in the 30’s. Little bait was seen the farther South we went. Several mixed flocks of fish eating birds were observed South of the 30 mile feeding offshore and some shoals of Dusky Anchovies were seen although there was no fish activity observed feeding on them. Here is a video taken at the 41.5 mile area. The beach was a highway from the end of the pavement to the 18 mile and then soft spots were encountered frequently. They increased in number as we continued to the South and upon several occasions going into 4 wheel high was required. The Turtle Patrol moved out of the Turtle Shack and secured the building for the season. In late afternoon the water had cleared quite a bit the entire length of the beach. Birds observed included 2 White-tailed Hawks, 1 Osprey, 1 Caracara, 13 Dark Ibis, 3 Spotted Sandpipers and scattered Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderling. Thousands of Black Terns were observed as were lesser numbers of Caspian Terns, Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, Forester’s Terns, Least Terns, 4 Black Skimmers and numerous Laughing Gulls including juveniles. A shot of the windy surf just off the pavement as we prepared to leave. 
Have fun. Billy
"Median Mogul" Billy Sandifer 
Bait fish were observed throughout the 30’s and upper 40’s beach but no bait was observed inshore in the warmer, clear water south of there. Shoals of Dusky Anchovies were observed in the 2nd and 3rd. guts from the 35 mile south but none within casting range. One shoal had a school of skipjacks feeding on them. Flocks of mixed fish eating birds were observed offshore in various locations from the 35 mi. south. My friends were bait fishing and small Southern Whiting were caught from the 35 mi. to the 45 mile. Typically we catch Gulf Kingfish (Whiting) but these were Southern Whiting. They have small teeth, a yellowish trailing edge to their fins, and their bodies are rounder than Gulf Whiting. One Speckled Trout was caught in the 40’s on dead shrimp. We came upon a stranded Spotted Eagle Ray around the 48 mi. and with the help of Nick Meyer of Breakaway Tackle returned it to the sea. Nick said that earlier he and Brenda had came upon an even larger one stranded and returned it to the sea. 
One the way back North the water had turned varying shades of green from one end to the other although the water remained colder North of the 45 mi. An active upwelling of cold water was observed late in the day at the 31 mi. Driving North of the Big Shell was perfect and sadly I observed visitors leaving the beach at speeds of at least 70 mph. For some reason the Turtle Patrol is still on the beach altho they usually end their efforts around 15 July. There are many ledges forming at the water’s edge South of the 30 mi. That is typical at this time of year. On higher tides this forces drivers to go high on the beach into the loose sand and care needs to be taken at these locations. Biggest problem I saw with beach driving is an old one we have addressed countless times. People will not stay in the established track and drive across a wide expanse of beach making it tough on everyone and tearing the beach up badly. Have a good time; be careful, courteous and thoughtful of each other. The Black Terns are increasing in numbers as they return from their breeding grounds and this year’s crop of Laughing Gulls are on the beach. Good numbers of Brown Pelicans were observed. Other birds included Forester’s Terns, Sandwich Terns, Least Terns, Black Skimmers, Caspian Terns, and scattered Sanderlings, Willets, Long-billed Curlews and Wilson’s Plover. The overall number of birds on the beach will increase from now till Winter and will peak in late Sept. Billy
