Cedar Bayou at Matagorda Island
Sept 21 -23 2007

Cedar Bayou is the channel that separates Matagorda Island from San Jose Island. The pass is subject to change but when we last visited Cedar Bayou in 2004 the pass was open from the bay to the Gulf. Note that it is illegal to paddle to the gulf, the pass is closed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. Kayaks must be pulled out approximately 0.5 miles from the Gulf. The outing camps at Cedar Bayou are on the open beachfront to provide comfort from mosquitoes and heat with the ocean breeze.

 

To get there we will use the services of Rockport Birding and Kayak Adventures. Captain Tommy Moore has a 40 foot long vessel called the "Skimmer" which draws only 2 feet of water and can carry up to 45 people and our kayaks.

 

Click here for an aerial view of Cedar Bayou (click on 'Topo Map' tab for a different view).

Frank Canneto (home: 281-257-2644, office: 713-215-2830, cell: 713-444-0614).

Depart Friday, Sept 21, 8:00 AM (it takes 1-1.5 hours to load boat prior to departure at 9:00 AM)
Return Sunday, Sept 16 , 2:00 PM

If you want to go, contact the trip leader (or sign up at a monthly meeting) and provide: name, email address and phone number (preferably cell phone).

The Skimmer is located directly behind the Charlotte Plummer’s Restaurant in Fulton (near Rockport), approximately 3 hours driving from the Sugar Land area. (Click here for directions and map)

All food, water, stoves, etc. must be brought to Cedar Bayou via the Skimmer. The mother boat will deliver us as close as possible to the camping location. It may be necessary to offload from the mother boat as far away as a half mile from our ultimate camping destination depending on the tide level. Remember, your personal camping gear will need to be transported via your kayak the final distance plus so don't overpack! You may need wide tent pegs or anchors for a solid hold pitching your tent on the sand. See Standard PACKing List for items to consider for any PACK outing.

Primitive Camping: We will be tent camping on the beachfront. The area allows you to leave your kayak pulled up near the campsites for easy re-launch (remember to deploy your anchor at night in case of high tides). There are no shelters, water, or restrooms.

The cost is $60 per person including kayak transport. We must have a minimum of 10 people for this trip. Also, to secure the mother boat we must pay a deposit so please acknowledge your intentions if you plan on going and bring your check for $60 (payable to PACK) by the July PACK meeting or mail it to:

 

PACK
P.O. Box 540285
Houston, TX 77254-0285

(See Top Spot map #F116 - Upper Laguna Madre to San Antonio Bay)

  

Beachfront: The beachfront is good for trout fishing, as well as, redfish, sharks, and tarpon. These species were caught in the last two years, and likely there are more types of fish present. Note there were a lot of large sharks in the surf in 2003, wading past 8-inches requires caution. Waders must be especially cautious when dragging stringers of fish.

Cedar Bayou: Last year the first redfish was caught within five minutes of unloading from the Skimmer. And there are pockets all along the bayou that hold fish.

 

Mesquite Bay: One disadvantage of our camp location is that to get back to the bay, you have to paddle several miles back up the bayou. But Mesquite Bay provides excellent fishing for Black Drum, redfish, etc.

 

Vincent Bayou: This portion of the bayou was filled with sand and mostly inaccessible but a few fish were caught there last year.

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