Location: General location of the fishing cabin is close to the mouth of Baffin Bay on an island across from the King Ranch shoreline. Once you complete the registration form, the site will email you the lat long coordinates.
We will put in at Bird Island Basin Boat Ramp on North Padres Island National Sea Shore and then take about 10-mile boat ride south down the intercoastal canal. Bird Island is a national park, so plan to buy a $10 boat ramp permit if you bring a car, but the office closes early and if you don’t have one, they usually don’t bother you.
Comms: Consistent 5G cell phone/ data coverage with AT&T in route and at cabin…..not sure about other providers.
Packing List: Standard packing list is below.
Cabin has pretty much everything, so no need to bring a lot of stuff: 7 bunks, generator, stove, grill, outdoor shower, outhouse, pillows, flatware, plates, cups, etc.
Meals: Usually, we wake up early, make coffee, go fishing, and then get back around 10 and make a large breakfast, which is also lunch. Dinner is usually something easy like steak and baked potato. We will get food before leaving once we have a head count. Just need to know ahead of time of any allergies or food restrictions.
Fishing: Only thing you must bring is a Texas salt water fishing license for everyone 17 years and older. You can get them at Academy, some HEBs, and Walmart. We usually use lures and don’t have a lot of experience with bait. Fishing for max 14lb fish so don’t go crazy with size or line. Bass fishing rod works fine. If you do want to wade fish, recommend waders and then some type of wading boot. Don’t need expensive ones. I use Magellan Outdoors Men’s Breathable Stocking-Foot Waders ($75) with the cheap wading boots couple of sizes larger than normal shoe ($30).
I have plenty of extra lures but feel free to bring your own. My standard lures are Bass Assassin Saltwater Sea Shad in Panama Moon with 1/16 shad head. Different colors bass assassin are also good. 2nd is Heddon Super Spook 5″ Topwater Bait fished walking dog. 3rd is some type of spoon or spinner. I usually just order my stuff online since hard to find in store but Academy does carry most.
Fish. You can either keep legal sized fish or release them. If you keep them, we can eat them at the cabin or take them home. If you plan to take fish home, we just need to know a head of time, so we bring enough ice. State law requires fish to be brought back to the boat ramp whole (gilled and gutted). They take up a lot of room and require a lot of ice to keep cold for several days.
| Gear | |
| Fishing License | |
| Toiletries | |
| Soap/Shampoo | |
| Sunscreen | |
| Wipes | |
| Medicines | |
| Hat x 2 | |
| Clothes | 1 Long Sleeve Fishing Shirt (nylon/polyester fast drying) |
| Rain Jacket (Lightweight) | 1 Long Sleeve Fishing Pants (nylon/polyester fast drying) |
| Shower Shoes | 2 tee shirts (Dry for Cabin/sleep) |
| Cell phone charger | 1 x Shorts (Dry for Cabin/Sleep) |
| Fishing Poles | Underwear (optional) |
| Tackle Box | 1 x Pants (Winter – Dry for Cabin) |
| Waders | 2 x Socks (winter) |
| Wading Boots | 1 x Fleece/Sweatshirt (Winter) |
| Flash/Head light | 1 x Long Under Wear (Winter) |
| Towel | |
| Twin Fitted Sheet | |
| Pillow Case | |
| Sleeping Bag (Winter) | |
| Fleece Hat (Winter) | |
| Gloves (Winter) |