Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

ADD; there IS a right nice beach, just on the east side of the mouth of the Brazos River, that is called "Surfside", to the best of my recollection... Again; I can't clearly recall whether or not there's jetties on both sides of the mouth of the Brazos, or NOT; neither can I tell you, whether or not people fish off that beach anywhere... If they do, I'm supposing that it's a short ride to the east, as I DO recall people swimming right there, JUST east of the mouth of the river. Never made it all the way to the Gulf, on the west side of the Brazos, as I didn't really spend much time "at the hill", while in Texas, even though I had rented 1/2 of a duplex house, in Freeport, for 3 or 4 months. I prolly only slept there, for 6 to 10 nights or so, if that.

Mustang66 Loc: Lake Palestine,TX

The jetties at Freeport (south jetty) and at Surfside (north jetty) are on the mouth of the Freeport Ship Channel, not at the actual moth of the Brazos river that several miles south and does not have jetties.
The Surfside jetty is the best one. Fished it often when I lived in Houston.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I agree, even El Paso. LOL

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Well, Texas has about 347 miles of Gulf shoreline, not couting the bays. I would suggest anyone from up north, seek the best part, or far southern section. I do that simply to take advantage of the warmer climate, which I noticed someone compared it favorably to that of Miami, FL.

You will have less impact of the Northers that regularly blow thru, particularly if you wish to camp out and fish a lot . South Padre Island/Port Isabel would be my first choice. Just Sayin...RJS

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

If you honestly would rather be in Midland or anywhere around there than on a lake or stream in the Sierras, I gotta feel sorry for ya.

padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

ADD, I live in Brownsville, TX, about 30 min from South Padre Island and surf fish there often. If you're going as far as Corpus Christy, I suggest you invest in a little bit of extra driving and go to SPI, you wont regret it!
I'm attaching some links to various live cams on SPI and some instructions;

https://www.spadre.com/beachcam.htm This site has 3 cameras wait and they'll advance automatically. The cam on the jetties is facing East and doesn't really give good image till mid morning. PM is best.

https://www.sopadre.com/about-us/live-webcams/north-beach/ this site also has 3 cams. They're just a bit North of the first site.

https://www.sopadre.com/about-us/live-webcams/north-beach/ this site also has several cams but advance a bit slower.

You mentioned camping; there's a very nice KOA site very near the jetties. Here's a phone # (956-562-9724) call them for info and visit their website: https://koa.com/campgrounds/south-padre/

If you come to SPI you can also go to Boca Chica Beach were you can also do some surf fishing or off the jetties, and check out Boca Chica (small mouth) where the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf. While you're at it you can visit SpaceX, Elon Musk's pad site for eventual launchings to Mars.

If you're planning to do much surf fishing, and you can drive on County beaches, I suggest a 4WD and check the tide tables. That's not to say you can't do it on a 2WD but you'll feel a bit more secure if the sand is loose.

There, I've given you a lot of info, except how to bait a hook......you'll have to bait your own. (smile)

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Spirit: Why did you pick Midland? That is several hundred miles from the Gulf. Texas is a BIG state. I live in Houston and that is over 300 miles to the area we were recommending to the person looking for some sunshine in the winter, ie South Padre Island/Port Isabel, where in January and February you can set out in a cabana, sip on Margaritas and nibble on Nachos, wearing shorts and flip flps. The area you posted would probably be covered in ice! just Sayin...RJS

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

Well, thanks for the education there, M66... Like I had said in my post, I'd prolly not actually SLEPT in Freeport, more than 10 nights, if that. I'd rented the 1/2 house, mainly for the benefit of having my girlfriend from Cleveland handy, while at the hill.
I HAD all this while, been under the impression, that the body of water which is "protected by the guillotine"; WAS, in fact the Brazos River... Truly, I've burnt up alotta brain cells, between 1983 & now. The memory just doesn't function, quite like it did, prior to 1973. (The year I'd started consuming booze, beer, wine & dope; "with a purpose".)
We tied up there, just north (& west) of the guillotine y everyone at the time, referred to that bit of water as "the Brazos River". I also have just been reading today, about how the present day mouth of the Brazos, is not where it once was.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

why? because papacon and then bapabear agreed (including El Paso) that ANYWHERE in Texas was better than being anywhere in California. Well Midland is in Texas last time I was through there it was anyway, it's right on the way from El Paso - a real garden spot - to Dallas on I-10 if I recollect. I've been told by Texans that Midland is in the land that God forgot. Tumble weeds and rattlesnakes. Plus it stinks. And I'll repeat, if you'd rather be in Midland (or El Paso for that matter) than in that picture I posted (which is in California by the way) I do sincerely feel sorry for you. Now I've never been to the Texas Gulf Coast, other than Houston and that is a right nice city, as cities go - but I wouldn't trade it for San Diego. Or San Francisco for that matter. But - to each his own.
You're right - that little lake is at 8500 feet and you don't want to be up there in February - or right now either. But I can run around in shorts most days right here in my back yard and I'm 650 or so miles from San Diego. If I'd wanted I could have posted pictures of San Diego - I'd put it up against just about any other city in the world - the world - for beauty, for food, for night life, for culture, fishing - you name it, San Diego's got it, including climate. Lived there over twenty years and never a hurricane or an earthquake, no tornadoes, no snow storms, no ice. Sunshine and lollipops. It's one of the good places.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Well, Spirit you keep San Diego, I'm sure it's nice. But neither me or 99.9% will never bother you. At 8500 feet altittude, I suspect the little lake is ass deep in snow about now.

All I was referring to the person who was inquiring about a sunny beach where he could camp NOW and fish. That's why I was pointing south, in fact far south Texas.

I would never tell you or any other Californian that the best in California is worse than the worst In Texas. That is simply silly. After all if Californian's would admit the truth, an awful lot of them came from Texas/Oklahoma and there abouts. But most of them have conviently forgotten their roots. After all, picking fruit there is better than starving to death here. Just Sayin...RJS

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Well sir, I felt my chain being jerked and so I did what I normally do. Of course you are correct - there are many ex-patriot Californians living all over the country, many in Texas. The grass is always greener. Ya know? And I'm sure that SPI is a beautiful place - I would love to visit it and fish it. Ass deep? Probably way more than that, depending. 30 or more feet in the Sierras is normal, not unusual. Remember the Donners. I stay away from there this time of year.

padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

ADD, just realized I sent you an SPI link twice. This is the correct one for the third link in my previous email.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agmFDeP5u_w

BTW, as far as gear, bring:
-- a rod you can cast about 50 yds on so, sputnik type sinkers,
-- line (about lb. test) and whatever reel you prefer
-- sputnik type sinkers, pyramid or any sinker that'll grip the sandy bottom
-- circle hooks
-- silver spoons
-- red shad with white paddle tail or golden brownish with chartreuse paddle tail
-- fish bites, either shrimp or sand flea scent
-- of course, live shrimp is best. Most species will go the the bite.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Spirit, unless I am mistaken, that Sierra's lake Has rattle snakes and poison oak not to mention incredible amounts of snow. L.A. Stinks, Riverside has tumbleweeds, and worst of all the whole state is swarming with Californians.
Actually, I love the Sierra's as well as fishing Shasta to Lake Berryessa. I went to high school in Monterey and collage in Sacramento. I fished The American river whenever I was not studying or working. I used to fish behind the Monterey canneries before they were rebuilt into tourist traps. I surf fished Seaside beach long before strippers showed up and I fished Lake Berryessa when it had only one public boat ramp. P.S. I was born in El Paso.

Papacon357 Loc: West Texas (Permian Basin)

Well sir, that “stink” you smell is pure MONEY! It’s a gas off of the crude oil that is used to make everything, including shoes, clothes, vehicles, cosmetics, reels, tackle, boats and motors, etc., etc. Texas has a little bit of something that all the other states have including sun, snow, ice, desert, mountains, friendly people, and our share of a$$holes. We don’t mind out-of-state visitors. But don’t really want all the Idiots from the east and west coast coming to stay! I live about fifty miles southwest of Midland in a more tranquil setting. Have a good day, sir.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Hey I love you Texans, if I didn't I wouldn't give you the time of day. So I figured some chain jerkin was in order. I know real well that smell and I know what it represents. "sun, snow, ice, desert, mountains, friendly people, and our share of a$$holes". - ain't that just about the perfect description of California? maybe I'd say "more than our share"? From the lips of a true son of Texas, Willie Nelson - "you can always tell a Texan, you just can't tell him much." I'd say that's about right Willie.

San Diego used to be a very nice place to live and raise a family. Then it got discovered and now there's about 3 million too many people living there. I'm with you, LA is a pit. I don't go there.