Wassaw the little Bay club is about 1 mile from the park where we're having the event.
Since this is a first time event, a lot of it's free floating. There is a lot to do and see in the Rockport Area and here's some ideas. Of course some of what we end up doing will depend on how many people come.
1. Friday evening we might have a casual picnic and sign in at the Park. This would be for those who had come down early Friday. For the folks who make it in early, I hope to hook up some people with boats with folks who want to go fishing Saturday morning. You can also fish at the park. We might have a casual fishing tournament, with a low entry fee ($1-5) if people are interested.
2. Saturday morning we will have people to sign you in at the Rockport Blue Wave beach. If they get the outdoor Pavillion built by then, we will be there, otherwise we will claim a set of picnic tables near the Beach Pavillion and restrooms. The beach is a good place for sunbathing, and is very kid friendly as it's shallow. It's also a great place to use a cast net to catch finger mullet for bait (which I think is a lot of fun too). This park also has kayaks and paddle boats to rent and there is a protected ski basin for those who might want to jet ski or water ski. There's also a fishing pier. There are also sand volleyball courts and a saltwater swimming pool.
3. Saturday afternoon, I'd like to bring a group out to my place on Salt Lake (about 4 miles from the park) to go bowfishing for mullet. Plan would be to have a little contest, but also give some folks a chance to get a mullet to enter into the Texas Bowhunting and Bowfishing Records book. Minimum for that is 1 lb and there are a lot of mullet in that lake bigger than that. I have a couple of skiffs and a boat we might be able to use or we could shoot them off of the pier.
4. It will be hot in the afternoon and for those who don't want to fight the heat, but would prefer some sightseeing (and AC), there are some nice shops in town as well as some art galleries and a art museum. My wife can always find something to buy in the shops.
Close by (Say two miles from the park is the Fulton mansion). The Fulton mansion is a Parks and Wildlife historic structure and it's worth a tour if you're into fine old houses built in the 1800s. Further up the road is Goose Island State Park one of it's attractions is the "Big Tree" which is the biggest live oak in the state of Texas. Of course Aransas Wildlife Refuge is also in the area, but it's about 30 miles away, so I'd recommend it on some other day than Saturday.
5. Saturday night we will have a big fish fry on the beach (we'll either catch them or buy them at H.E.B., but either way we will have a fish fry). I hope to have blue crab as well. If I recall correctly the EC voted to make this free to members and family, either that or we will put out a donation can. Idea though is to get together for a big feed. We will sell souvenir t-shirts and I think we may do some raffles on Sat night.
6. Also on Saturday night there has been some discussion of going on a Flounder hunt. This might be gigging, or it might be with a bow. This one is still a little hazy, as I figure I'm going to be pooped by that time, so it will have to be either volunteers with boats or perhaps a group going together on a guide. I know of at least a couple of guys who say they are coming who are big on floundering down here. If that doesn't happen we can still chill on the beach after supper, and then go night fishing on the various piers.
This is a first shot at a beach party and I'm open to suggestions. Emphasis is somewhat on a do your own thing with friends and fellow bowhunters rather than a lot of planned activities. We will get together Saturday night for the fish fry and perhaps to hand out a trophy or two.
Time permitting, I would suggest people plan on an extra day or two. If you haven't been here before that would allow you to go to Aransas Wildlfe Refuge, which is worth a trip and also to take a ferry ride over to Port Aransas.
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