Trip Initiator: Blake Colburn
Trip Description:
This is a fun trip that was done the last few years and the fishing was amazing! Yarborough Pass is a beginner trip and a great and easy way to catch fish but the caveat is that you either have to have a 4wd vehicle or ride with someone that has one. The pass itself is 4wd but everything else is 2wd friendly.
This is a multi-day trip. The game plan can go a few different ways. You can arrive on Friday if you want to fish that day and then with the rest of the group over the weekend. Another way to do this is to arrive on Friday evening and camp out that night only to fish with the rest of the group over the weekend. Some will head up early Saturday morning so that they can fish and camp with the rest of the group over the weekend. No matter how you do it, the main days will be to fish on Saturday and Sunday. I, personally, plan on arriving on Friday evening right after I get off of work and setting up camp with the kayak when I arrive that night. I will be ready to fish with everyone first thing Saturday morning.
The back side of Yarborough Pass leads to a body of water just on the outside of the non-preasured and famous Baffin Bay. Baffin Bay is known for its big trout! The tides are usually normal this time of year, therefore, giving us opportunities of redfish in the shallows. Trout are usually easy to find and big ones at that. I have no problems finding them on a popping cork in approximately 3 to 5 ft of water.
Two years ago we got a break in November and made it out. There were many monster trout caught. Last year the trip was held in October. The weather was warmer than the year before. This lead to smaller trout. There was some big trout caught but you had to thumb through the small ones to find the big ones. This is why I am putting this trip on in November again. Hopefully the cooler weather will be in just in time for us to catch big trout.
How to Sign Up: If you want to go, login, and Click on the [Enroll for this Event?] tab at the top of the page to automatically have your name added to the list.
How to Get There:
Launch time is at 6:30 am.
Once you arrive at the entrance of the beach to PINS (Padre Island National Seashore), you can only take a right. Set your odometer to "0" and go down 15 miles. There will also be mile markers at five mile intervals. Go by the mile marker but set your odometer just in case. Once you make it down the beach 15 miles (this part of the beach is 2wd friendly), the entrance to Yarborough Pass will be there (the break in the dunes). The pass is only 40 - 50 yards long (this is the only part that will be 4wd). Once on the other side of the pass, the road is 2wd friendly the rest of the way. It will be around 1.5 miles and then you will be at the camping and launch spot.
Things to remember to take when going on this trip are but not limited to traction boards, shovel, bucket, and heavy duty tow strap(s). If you get stuck coming in or leaving, be sure to walk to the side of the dunes where others are staying and radio on chanel 69 to others at the campsite so that someone knows to come and help you. Never leave on your own without others knowing. Calling a tow truck is around $1,600. This is why you want to keep others posted when you leave. It's always best to come in or leave with another vehicle.
(((One last bit of information. There is no celular reception once you arrive on the PINS beachline. If you get on the top part of your vehicle or the dunes, we found that some cell phones had a limited signal.)))