East Matagorda Bay
June 20 to June 22, 2008

The East Matagorda Bay / Beach is a 2nd year repeat as a PACK outing. PACK Membership is not required, however non-members are asked to sign a waiver form.

This area has been a favorite of many kayak anglers for years. This is a rather secluded spot with little pressure from power boat fishermen. 4-wheel drive transportation IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for off-road driving.

A $6 beach permit is required to drive on the beach. These can be obtained from Stanley’s Grocery in the South end the town of Matagorda. Ph: 979-863-7613. We can special orders those through the mail from Stanley’s if we know who needs one and they pay me in advance. Their hours are 5 AM to 10 PM; 7-Days / Week. Also available at Culver's Market 1290 Hwy. 60 South Matagorda, TX 77457. 979-863-1167

Matagorda Area Info: http://www.matagordabay.com  
 

Chris Arceneaux, phone: 832-216-2483 or mullet.key@gmail.com

Set up camp and fish at preferred locations. There is no organized schedule.

Log in to the PACK website, or if a first-time participant, register for a PACK login account and then use the Auto Enroll link above to automatically have your name added to the list below. You may also sign up at a monthly meeting and provide: name, email address and phone number (preferably cell phone).

1. From Houston, take Hwy 59 SW to Wharton.
2. Exit on Hwy 60 South to Matagorda (46 miles), passing through Bay City and Wadsworth. Continue to the town of Matagorda.

3. Get last minute supplies in town, cross the Hwy 2031 pontoon bridge, drive +/- 7 miles to the Matagorda Bay Nature Park and Campground.  

http://www.lcra.org/parks/developed_parks/matagorda.html

 

Click the photos below zoom

See Standard PACK List for items to consider for any PACK outing

Important items:
VHF Radio for communication and emergency contact
First Aid Kit

Recommended guidelines for participates:

• Make sure trip leader or an officer has your emergency contact
• Notify the trip leader if you have any potential concerns
• If inexperienced, then buddy up. Make sure the trip leader knows your experience level
• Communicate with the trip leader, if you are unsure of your skill level required
• Member dues are current
• Guests are invited to particpate
• Have performed deep water entries
• Cary a first aid kit
• Have a life jacket
• Have a VHF radio
• Inform the trip leader of your float plan if planning to fish alone or longer then the designated times.
• Sign in and sign out at the launch site. Inform the trip leader if you will be launching in a different place.

Recommended for Trip Leaders:

• Insures proper authorizations
• Secure sites
• Prepare emergency preparedness plan
• Keep abreast of weather conditions that might effect the trip
• Point out any potential area hazards
• Maintain a head count
• Have available a first aid kit
• Have a VHF radio

Expenses/Fees:

Campsites at the LCRA Matagorda Bay Nature Park Campground rent for $25/night. We must limit the number of tents per campsite to 3. Only 2 cars are allowed at each site, there is additional parking a short walk away. Reserve by calling the Texas Parks and Wildlife Reservation Center at (512) 389-8900. There is a special operator to take your reservations for this campground. 

Kayaks can be launched from Rawlings Cut across Rawlings Bait Camp a short distance away for those who want to enter East Matagorda Bay and don't have 4WD. Parkers Cut is a short distance away for those who want to fish W Matagorda (50-100 yard portage will be necessary). Surf and pier fishing are within walking distance.

Those with 4wd can venture down the beach and fish the surf or drive to the south shoreline of E Matagorda. Look for cuts, guts, sloughs to include Boiler Bayou, Hog Island, Cleveland & Kain Coves. Drive back up to “3-mile Lake”. The surf.

Frank Cannetto got there early and caught two big keeper trout in the surf from his kayak. Other attendees included Betty and Larry Pratt, Jimmy and Michael Morales. The Backlasher's and I had dinner Friday night at the Riverbend Restaurant. Jimmy, Michael, and I put in at Rawlings cut early Saturday morning. Frank tangled with another nice speck. I caught and released two slot red fish on a pink She-Dog Jr, my first reds on topwater.

The Backlashers mus have put in a little later, but were soon off the water due to the heat. The rest of us fished without a bite til about 11 and just had to get off the water. On the way back to Rawlings Cut, two pods of tailing reds passed me. They didn't like the white grub I threw to them. By the time I tied on a spoon, they went down. We all took shelter from the heat for the rest of the day. Frank, Jimmy and Michael went back to the beach for another go at fishing and some kayak surfing.

By 8:30 pm the local sheriff's office came by to warn the park guests that a dangerous line of storms were headed this way. The weather channel on the VHF described a 20-mile wide storm just to the north of us was headed our way. We tied everything down, even packed up one of the tents and rode out 50 mph winds and rain that lasted about 20 minutes. By 9:30 it was over. Cooler night for tent sleeping after that.

Sunday AM. Frank left to get back early, the Backlashers packed it in, The rest if us tried East Matagorda Bay again without luck. Tons of horse mullet on the flats but no game fish. Still a nice park to stay. No one drove to 3-mile lake. Chris