Riding the waves
Surfers love Corpus Christi and Port Aransas beaches, among the windiest places on the Texas Gulf Coast.
If you’re looking for a local hot spot for surfing and kite boarding, try J.P. Luby Surf Park at 101 N. Shoreline Blvd. in Corpus Christi. Entrance to the beach is free.
The Gulf waters grab a consistent offshore wind from the west/northwest, which always promises for good surf.
Bob Hall Pier, which is perhaps the most crowded surf spot in the area, offers fishing and surfing accommodations. Surfboards can be rented for $20 per day until 8 p.m. Bob Hall Pier is located at 15820 Park Road 22 in Corpus Christi.Other beaches include:
- South Packery Beach
- Newport Pass Beach
- Upper Padre Island Seawall
- San Jose Island
- Padre Balli Park Beach
- North Jetty at Port Mansfield Cut
- Fish Pass Jetties at Mustang Island State Park
- "Big Shell" and "Little Shell" located where the currents meet at the northern end of the barrier island in Corpus (also a good place to find seashells)
- Horace Caldwell Pier in Port Aransas
Look at swell reports and keep track of the best waves by logging on to swellinfo.com. The site tracks hurricanes and provides live video cams and the latest in surf action all along the Coastal Bend region.
For those interested in the history of surfing, visit Corpus Christi’s Texas Surf Museum at 309 N. Water St. in Corpus Christi. Admission to the museum is free. It showcases more than 35 classic surfboards from the 1960s to the mid-1970s. The attraction is worth a look on a cloudy day or just a break from the hot summer sun.
