Buy and Sell Surf Stuff! Buy and Sell Surfing Equipment Texas Surfers on Facebook Texas Surfers on Twitter Texas Surfers on Myspace Send Us an Email
Texas Surfers Logo
Subscribe | Archives

Advertisement

Surf Media

The Drifter DVD

Rob Moachado in The Drifter: Info and Reviews on the Way!

Endless Summer DVD

Two surfers travel the equator for a never-ending summer surf trip: Info and Reviews on the Way!

Step Into Liquid DVD

Step into Liquid: Info and Reviews on the Way!

Surfing’s Best Kept Secret

Last year Surfer Magazine named their choices for the top 10 US surf towns. Here they are, and as you can see, South Padre, Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, and Galveston are still US surfing’s best kept secrets. I saw the founder of Quicksilver by Bob Hall one time; even the insiders are keeping their lips sealed about the 8-12 foot waves, beach privacy, and warm water on the Texas gulf.

TOP 10 US SURF TOWNS:

1. Santa Cruz, CA
2. Haleiwa, HI
3. Encinitas, CA
4. Paia, HI
5. San Clemente, CA
6. Kill Devil Hills, NC
7. Malibu, CA
8. Montauk, NY
9. New Smyrna Beach, FL
10. Ocean City, NJ

  • Share/Bookmark

Shark FAQ

Found in Safety, Shark Attacks, Surfing — Tags: , , , — Texas Surfer

These are questions that people are actually typing into Google, Yahoo!, and Bing, and ending up at TexasSurfers.com. Some of these are questions they search for using the search box you see at the top of this web page. I figured I'd share them with you and answer what I can.

First I’d like to point out that sharks aren’t “mean.” They’re just hungry and if you’re in the water they just might taste you. A shark might decide you don’t taste good, and only eat your leg or arm; sometimes a shark will be so hungry it doesn’t care how you taste, and it’ll throw you around and eat you up.

Can you survive a shark eating you?

Probably not, but it really depends on how much of you it eats, what parts, and how much blood you lose before you get to the hospital. If it eats 1/2 of you, you probably won’t make it. If it eats your head, you’re doomed. If you lose 1/2 your blood before you get to the hospital, you probably won’t even need to go to the hospital.

Are you more likely to be kicked to death by a donkey than bitten by a shark?

I don’t know, man. I looked for info on this, ended up at Snopes.com, and they don’t know either.

Are you more likely to survive a shark or lion attack?

I don’t know. But one time when I was little I put a tarantula and a scorpion in a jar, and the spider won.

Is there a shark repellant for surfers?

They best thing I’ve found is Shark Shield, but I haven’t tested it out. If they’ll send me a free setup to test it for you, I’ll let you know how it goes.

What colors attract sharks?

Bright colors. Shiny things. So the wetsuit I have that has yellow and blue and red all over it is not a good thing to wear in the water, and jewelry isn’t a good thing to wear in the ocean either.

You also shouldn’t skinny dip in the ocean… the one time I got bumped by a shark, I had just slipped on my shorts under the water.

What do you do if a shark is near you?

Get back to shore quickly but without splashing and screaming. Splashing and screaming could excite the shark and cause it to attack you. But I’ll admit that the one time I was bumped by a shark, I got out as fast as I could and I did quite a bit of splashing.

Are there a lot of sharks in Galveston surf?

I’ve been told sharks like to hang out between the second and third sand bars. This sucks because the best waves are right in front of the second bar. I’ve never had any trouble with sharks in Galveston though, and I used to surf it nearly every day. This includes San Luis Pass, which people tell me is infested with sharks and has crazy rip tides. Never had any trouble there, it was just a great place to surf.

Do sharks attack people alone or in groups?

Sharks mostly attack people when people are alone, but they’ll attack people in a group also. It’s best to surf in a group. You probably won’t get attacked, but if you do, you have people to help you. And it’s more fun in a group anyway.

Do sharks come out in the rain?

Rain stirs up the water, and fish are known to bite more during or just after a rain. It seems likely that sharks are more prone to “attack”, or feed, during and just after a rain.

How fast do sea lions escape shark attack?

Hmm. I’d say sometimes it isn’t fast enough.

If a shark is involved in a fight and loses a limb will that limb grow back?

No.

Can you surf during menstruation?

I wouldn’t recommend it. Blood and even urine attract sharks.

Sharks attack surfers because they think they are:

Turtles. You look like a turtle from under the water when you’re on your surfboard and your legs and arms are hanging off the sides.

Staying calm around a shark…

I don’t think I could stay very calm around a shark, so I don’t have any mind tricks to share.

Will a shark leave if you hit them in their sensitive spots?

It might, and that’s what you should do. But the spot you should hit is their nose. I’m thinking it’ll be easy to see their nose in order to hit it because it’s right above the teeth they’re trying to eat you with.

Texas Shark

  • Share/Bookmark

Texas Surf is Up!

It looks fun because it is fun.
Texas Surfing

  • Share/Bookmark

Fun Surf on the Texas Coast Today!

Get on it :D
galveston surf 300x268 Fun Surf on the Texas Coast Today!

  • Share/Bookmark

A Christmas Swell for Galveston, TX

I suppose we can thank Santa (:

image5 A Christmas Swell for Galveston, TX
  • Share/Bookmark

Texas Surf TV

This is all surfing in Texas.

These videos are provided by Texas Surf TV. On their website you can see a lot more surfing on the Gulf Coast. Really cool stuff, I like what they’re doing. Check it out:

texas surf tv Texas Surf TV
  • Share/Bookmark

The Best Surfboard for Texas

Thin/Athletic Groms: Shortboard.

Thin/Athletic Men/Women & Large Groms: You’ll have the most fun on a mid-sized surfboard, anywhere from 6-8 feet long.

Everyone: Your surfboard needs to be at least 4 inches taller than you.

A longboard (any surfboard 9 feet or longer) is useful for the following:

  • Learning to surf.
  • Thin/Athletic/Large Men/Women & Large Groms when the surf is really small.
  • Thin/Athletic/Large Men/Women & Large Groms who feel like taking it easy and having an enjoyable surf.

But I Really Want to Ride a Shortboard

If you’re a large adult, forget about it until you’ve changed your body composition; a shortboard simply won’t hold you right now. If you’re a grom, go for it. If you’re a thin/athletic man/woman or large grom and the surf is hitting really hard (lots of power behind it, difficult to paddle through), you have a good chance of having a lot of fun on a shortboard.

One thing to keep in mind as you look through surfboards to use in Texas is that a surfboard isn’t a boat. These boards are really thin, so most of the “float” comes from the surface area of the board. Basically, this can be interpreted as: the smaller the body, the shorter the board needs to be. The larger the body, the longer the board needs to be. Also, the weaker the waves, the longer the board needs to be, and the stronger the waves are, the shorter the board needs to be.

Learning to Surf

If you are an adult or college-age and you’re learning to surf in Texas, you need to purchase a longboard. It is possible to learn how to surf on a shortboard at these ages, but it’s very, very difficult! Learning to surf on a longboard at these ages is enough of a challenge; don’t make it harder on yourself by starting out with a shortboard. You can always “graduate” to a shortboard in the future. And remember: The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun. Don’t worry about showing off, just have a blast!

  • Share/Bookmark

Texas Beach Towns

Texas Beach and Texas Coastline, Vacation and Surfer HavenGirls Performing a Sand ShowPort Aransas beach, TXSalty Dogthe four pillars

Vacation on the Gulf of Mexico

The Texas Gulf Coast isn’t always the first place people think of visiting for their summer vacation because of some of the other things that Texas is known for: cattle, rodeos, cowboy hats, large belt buckles, barbecue, dirt roads, etc. But the Texas coastline is lined with 373 miles of beach and the Gulf is known for its year-round tropical temperatures. And while the Pacific Ocean’s water is cold over in California, Texas beaches enjoy water temperatures in the 80s during the summer and 60s during the winter. While most serious surfers do own a wet suit they put on regularly during winter sessions, most don’t bother owning booties (the shoes that accompany a wet suit). There are always hotels and condos available for vacationers, and people can be found nearly every day of the year walking the beaches of Texas. In fact, at the time of this writing, much of the U.S. is experiencing a winter storm disaster that has prompted President Obama to declare a state of emergency; while many people are snowed-in and without power, we’re wearing shorts and surfing.

The only real decision you have to make when you want to vacation at a U.S. beach is which Texas beach to go to. This depends on what you want to do when you get there and how far you’re willing to travel. Fortunately, whichever beach you decide to visit, you’re very likely to find some rideable surf, and you’ll definitely find plenty of space to layout and get a great tan, play fetch with your dog, and enjoy other water sports such as kayaking and sailing.

Galveston Vacationing & Surfing

There are numerous beach houses to rent in Galveston, as well as hotels and condos to stay in. Galveston is a popular vacation spot so it’s advised that you make room or beach house reservations before you make the drive or flight.

Galveston has two primary beaches and tons of little pocket beaches where everyone can have a great time. East Beach is the most popular beach. Many parties take place here and the annual sandcastle contest is held at this Texas beach. The only downside is that during the summertime you have to pay a few dollars to park, and there are also restrictions on surfing at this beach when the summer crowds show up.

We have a full article on where to surf in Galveston, so we’ll just touch on a few places here. 31st Street and 61st Street are prime surf spots in Galveston, with 31st Street being a more popular beach hangout. As you head south along the Seawall, you’ll see turn-ins to little pocket beaches you can visit for free. These areas are fairly private areas, and you could even be the only people at these little beach spots. The downside is that there are no lifeguards on duty at beach pockets, so swim and surf at your own risk.

Waves in Galveston tend to be ankle to waist high, with winter and tropical storm sessions bringing some head and over-head high sets.

Surfside Tourist & Surfer Info

Surfside is a little beach town south of Galveston that you’ll inevitable get to after driving about 45 minutes down Seawall. This area has 21 miles of beachline. The Octagon is the most popular beach spot, which is named after an octagon shaped building that use to be there. The waves here are known to be better than the ones in Galveston, with many Galveston surfers driving to Surfside when their waters aren’t going off. No one is suppose to walk along the jetties to enter the water, but you see it happen, especially when the paddling is tough.

There are many beach houses for rent in Surfside.

Other Coastlines in This Area

  • Crystal Beach
  • Seawolf Park
  • Dellanera RV Park
  • East Beach
  • Galveston Island State Park
  • Stewart Beach

Coastlines Between Galveston and Surfside

  • Pirates Cove
  • Jamaica Beach

Coastlines Further South

Mustang Island & Port Aransas

Port Aransas on Mustang Island has some very nice waves, usually waist to chest high. Port A, as it’s locally known, is a small beach town with some very nice tourist shops and eateries. This town reminds me a little of Mayberry, with couples holding hands and crossing the street very often. People drive slowly, always watching out for pedestrians. This is a very rural area that requires a lengthy drive to get to, but it is a very pleasant vacation spot with some waves any surfer will love.

Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is a prime vacation spot that is largely metropolitan. There are tons of hotels and condos to stay in, as well as many beach houses if you want to stay close to the water. You definitely want to make your room reservations before going to Corpus. To surf you have to go a little further south, but you can still lodge in the metropolitan area. In fact, there’s a beach you can hang out on right across the street from down town Corpus Christi, but the conditions aren’t right for surfing. Fortunately, we have a complete map to Corpus Christi surf spots to help you get properly wet.

Sea Rim State Park

About 45 minutes south of Corpus Christi you’ll run into the Sea Rim State Park, where you’ll enjoy complete privacy and some decent waves. There is no lodging out there so you’ll have to make the drive, unless you’re up for some beach side camping.

South Padre Island

South Padre is also a very metropolitan beach city, with tons of hotels, condos, and beach houses to rent. You need to make room reservations before you make the trip. This city has everything you could possibly be looking for, with many restaurants, clubs, and plenty of Texas beach area to hangout on and surf at.

If you’re coming to Texas to surf, Island Blanca Park in South Padre is the place you seriously need to visit. With 8-10 foot waves year round that peel off the ocean surface in perfect form, and relatively few surfers in the water, you’ll be in surfer heaven.

Go to: Detailed Map of South Padre Surf Spots

  • Share/Bookmark

Surf Galveston

galveston surfer Surf Galveston

Galveston surf is usually knee to waist high, with some head high days in the mix, especially at the Flagship Hotel. Please note that the Flagship is now called something else but still known as the Flagship, and it will be called Flagship on this website. However, it isn’t difficult to find and we’ll include a picture for you.

Galveston Surf Map

Click to Enlarge Map

1. East Beach

The first spot on the Galveston surf map above is East Beach. This beach gets a little crazy sometimes and there are some great parties out here. The annual sand castle contest is also held here, which is a lot of fun. Beer + tons of awesome sand castles; can’t beat that. Technically we’re not allowed to surf out here anymore, but during the best surf season, winter, there are no life guards on duty, so surf away. The only reason surfing is ever off limits is because of the crowds that gather in the water; they don’t want anyone getting knocked out by a surfboard. Surf at East Beach is usually really choppy.

Flagship Hotel

2. Flagship Hotel

The Flagship Hotel has the best surf in Galveston, without a doubt. It’s also the most crowded surf spot and the easiest to find. Surf is usually best on the west side of the hotel, which is built on a cement pier (see picture above). To know which side to surf on – east or west – just watch the other surfers. Wherever they’re having the most fun, that’s where you should surf, assuming you’re not brand new to the sport. If you’re brand new to surfing, you should practice on the opposite side, that is, the side with the least surfers. You don’t want to get in everyones’ way and cause a safety hazard.

To find the Flagship Hotel, you’ll want to turn down 61st Street as soon as you get over the causeway that leads to Galveston Island. Head down to the end of 61st Street, which deadends into the Gulf, and hang a left. Drive until you see the big hotel that’s hovering over the water, and park.

3. 61st Street

The surf at 61st Street is a lot of fun, and you make the shortest drive to get to it if you’re coming from the causeway. Park, get out, and surf.

4. Pocket Beaches

Pocket beaches are little beaches that have small entrances, and the whole beach is relatively small compared to other beaches. These are mostly used by the homeowners that leave on either side of them, and by the hotels and condos that are placed beside them. They offer a lot of privacy and you’re likely to be the only surfer in the water if you surf at a pocket beach. There are no lifeguards on duty and often there isn’t even anyone else at the beach at all. Surf isn’t the best at these spots, but they’re the perfect spots for learning, as long as you go with someone who can save your life if it’s necessary. You’ll want to paddle out to the second, if not the third, sandbar. Note: One of the guys from Endless Summer 2 told me that the sharks like to roam around between the second and third sandbars.

5. San Luis Pass

Warning: San Luis Pass is known to have killer tides and sharks.

San Luis Pass is about a 30 minute drive from 61st street, but if you gotta get wet and there’s no surf anywhere else, drive out this way. You don’t want to go over the toll bridge. If you see the sign that says Toll Bridge Ahead, turn around and look for an entrance to a beach. There’s a long beach out there that has some large homes on either side of it. Surf there can get really nice, although it’s usually choppy.

  • Share/Bookmark

Galveston Island: Daily Beach Pics and Wave Report | Surfside: Live Web Cam & Wave Report | Corpus Christi: Daily Wave Report
South Padre Island: Live Web Cam & Daily SPI Wave Report | Port Aransas: Surf Cam | Surfrider Foundation, Texas ChapterBlue Bar
About | Site Map | XML Site Map | ROR Site Map | Beach Life For Sale Board | Stoked Pictures
© 2010 Texas Surfers