Going to Port A.

[swiatrek]

How and where can I catch livestock at Port A. Saw some threads in past of shrimp and other stuff caught at the coast and was wondering what methods were used to catch and transport. Really would like to catch some peppermint shrimp, heard they were abundant there. Leave on Saturday, so would like to know what I need to buy for the harvest.

[Shu]

You would actually put livestock in your tank from port A. That water is filthy

[swiatrek]

Just read some posts about finding livestock there. Should it effect my tank if I do add wild caught from there?

[moe]

Just read some posts about finding livestock there. Should it effect my tank if I do add wild caught from there?

no it will not effect it. as long u quarantine, you will be fine, I have 4 damsel, and a anemone and there are doing great in my tank.

[Mr Cob]

You would actually put livestock in your tank from port A. That water is filthy

You don't add the water or rock or even sand from our coast. But, there's an abundant amount of livestock great for our reef systems.

I have a bunch of peppermint shrimp from Port A. Lots of snails, mollie miller blenny, and 4 different types of macro algaes.

Last time I went I caught over 150 peppermint shrimp. We went on the Port A Big Bird collection trip. It was a blast! Just go to the main jettie in port a. Both sides of the jettie are loaded with all kinds of stuff.

[Mr Cob]

was wondering what methods were used to catch and transport.

I bought a couple of "pool" nets from wal-mart and attatched them to pvc and or broom handles. Get a "miners light" to wear on your head. Preferably the ones with a red light as to not scare the shrimp/fish.

Scoop your nets under the rocks and you'll catch something everytime, especially in the macro algae areas. Have some 5 gallon buckets with lids. Drill a hole in the lid and add airline hosing and a portable battery operated air pump.

Bring extra batteries for the trip and I even brought a couple of water containers to fill up at the jetties so you can do a water change or two durring the trip. Put macro algae in the buckets to help keep the water clean and give some cover to the livestock.

[roscozman]

Rob has some great advice. I would add:

Go out on the Jetties right at dusk. This way you see where you are walking. We bought some Energizer Headlamp at Wal-Mart for about $15. Here is a link: http://www.botachtactical.com/en6ledhe.html As Rob said, take extra batteries because we learned the hard way.

With the red LED on, look for the peppermint Shrimp eyes to "glow" back at you under the rocks. We found a place on the canal side about 100-150 yards down the jetties. We didn't go all the way to the end.

Good Luck...

[Shu]

Thanks for the info guys you learn stuff new everyday here.

[RayAllen]

Maast has a search function and you can find tons on Port A trips

For Example

http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48881&highlight=Port

[Shu]

yepo the search feature is nice

[Gilbert]

where/ what are the jetties? i don't think i found the right place the last time i went.
the place i thought it was, was right behind the university. but those are some big cube bolders. and body have a pic of what the place looks like.

sorry to hijack the thread...

[Squiers007]

The jetties are the long stretch of granite boulders that actually create the ship channel. Without the jetties we would just have one long continuous coast and boats would not be able to get in and out unless there were natural passes. Go to Google Earth and you will see them very clearly. Hope this helps.

[txav8r]

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o125/Micahtwo/Port%20isabel/IMGP0045.jpg

[Mr Cob]

Dat be dem.. lol

[diego]

I have also caught peppermint shrimp at the Packery Channel jetties. Though not as abundant are very accessible. Drive up and walk in the water. Just remember you cannot sell anything you catch there and you also need a texas fishing license. Good luck.

[moe]

when do u plan on going? and how long would u be there for? I dying to go back to port a.

[swiatrek]

Thanks for all the help, hopefully I will have tons of stuff for identification or for trade next week

[corkyGramma]

when do u plan on going? and how long would u be there for? I dying to go back to port a.
Let go sat!

[moe]

Let go sat!

love to go gonna talk to the boss i think there a rosario on sat for gus (RIP). LUK:thumbs_up:

[moe]

I could use the time out.

[corkyGramma]

ok cool.

[phrog]

I'll be there with the family Friday and Saturday.

[Squiers007]

Ya'll may want to PM Third Coast Tropical to see how the water quality is. It probably will not be a factor if all you are trying to get are the pepps, but if you plan on doing any snorkling unless the visibility is good you wont be able to see anything. I know he hasnt been around much lately, but it would be worth a shot. Hope this helps and good luck collecting.

[Third Coast Tropical]

Peps are there still....just got back to town yesterday and it looked nice...was told it had been crystal clear most of the week since the north wind blew everything out.... I can look tomorrow/ well guess later today....

[Third Coast Tropical]

You would actually put livestock in your tank from port A. That water is filthy


What makes you think its filthy?....Compared to Fiji or Hawaii, ya, probably so.....but its really not that bad.....We have alot of debris accumualte on our beaches due to 2 converging currents that tend to dump alot of the gulf's debris on our coast at certain times of the year, but overall, the water quality is not "filthy"....and when properly filtered/treated (which anyone should do when using water directly from ocean...prevents disease, kills potential parasites, and removes pollutants if present) could be used ......UTMSI uses water right out of the channel to raise thousands upon thousands of fish yearly for research/ and to support stock enhancement efforts along with TPWD. This wouldn't be possible without good water.....

[Squiers007]

Good to see you again Lindsay! How is SA treating ya?

[diego]

Third Coast thanks for the information. Very informative!!!!

[Dee]

FYI...if you catch any fish like small butterflies...don't leave them in the same container with the shrimp or you'll end up with a little skeleton.

One thing that we learned that was great at helping keep water a little warmer during our trip...take a small cooloer and drill a hole in the lid for an air tube. We did this last year and had better luck with livestock not dying overnight.

Enjoy! I can't wait to go back...hoping I don't have to wait until the next BB Trip.

Dee

[Jolly]

you might want to add do not wear flip flops or any other type sandel out on the jetties and it wouldn't hurt to start out before dark. some of the walking out there is scary.the little dip nets work fine too, for reaching down under the rocks and scraping the bottom of them. good luck and have a great time

[Kyle46N]

Anyone know if the peps are still out there in mid October?

[Third Coast Tropical]

they were there last week...I plan on going to get more Wed nite......
For mid-October...it just depends on the water temperature......at this rate, they will probably still be around...its been hot and it doesnt look like its going to stop being hot

[snfkotara]

My daughter and I went to Port A on Sat. and the water was the water was so clear. I have not ever seen it like that before. I really wanted to catch a blue angel but no luck we did catch pepp. shrimp about 40 and some damsels, blennies and a toad or stone fish. He is big. we also got some urchins.

[brewercm]

A little off topice but if any of you end up with more Peps than you need let me know. I can find something to trade for them, just PM me if you do.

[nubz]

[QUOTE=Third Coast Tropical;699958]What makes you think its filthy?....Compared to Fiji or Hawaii, ya, probably so.....but its really not that bad.....We have alot of debris accumualte on our beaches due to 2 converging currents that tend to dump alot of the gulf's debris on our coast at certain times of the year, but overall, the water quality is not "filthy"....and when properly filtered/treated (which anyone should do when using water directly from ocean...prevents disease, kills potential parasites, and removes pollutants if present) could be used ......UTMSI uses water right out of the channel to raise thousands upon thousands of fish yearly for research/ and to support stock enhancement efforts along with TPWD. This wouldn't be possible without good water.....[/QUOT

its good to see another islander on the forum! and one that works at utmsi!!! i practicly live on the jetties and can be found there any day the water clarity is over 4' i cought a french angel in september and have been catching peps and blennies well into december. if anybody as any q's about the jetties i would be happy to help!

[Jarob]

hows the clarity as of late? Im considering goin right now

[nubz]

no bueno por nada mi amigo!!! the fronts and thunderstorms bring the sediment into the water and nasty it up until about may. its way to cold to snorkel anyhow! all the trops migrate offshore!

[4fun]

Last time I went I caught over 150 peppermint shrimp. We went on the Port A Big Bird collection trip. It was a blast! Just go to the main jettie in port a. Both sides of the jettie are loaded with all kinds of stuff.

does any one know if and when this will happen next year

[tonyintx]

Just out of curiosity could someone post some pics of things caught down at Port A??? thx

[corruption]

the main ones are very common, and you will find plenty of pics online: peppermint shrimp, and Sargent Major damsels... others are rock anemones, Molly Miller blennies, a few species of goby, and some other assortments..

-Corruption

[Kristy]

does any one know if and when this will happen next year

Hey Richard -

Have not posted the 2010 calendar yet, but need to do it very soon. (Look for this coming end of this month or early in the next month.)

The Port A collection trip is going to be late July. I believe it is July 23 - 25, but I don't have that in front of me. Confirm it on the annual calendar when I post it.

[nubz]

Just out of curiosity could someone post some pics of things caught down at Port A??? thx
i cant give you pics but i can give names of things ive caught personally


French angel ,grey angel , webbed burrfish , spotfin butterfly, lookdown jack , sargassum angler, seargeant major, tessalated blenny, molie miller blenny , octopus, beau gregory damsel, rock basslets , redlip parrrot fish,
highhats, pep shrimp, pistol shrimp grey trigger fish ive seen queen triggerfish , spotted scorpion fish, pork fish jackknife fish, plane head file fish, i saw a dead blue sargassum trigger on a shrimp boat, mantis shrimp, a friend caught a golden tail moray amnd put it in his 125, and ( keep you maturity ) slippey **** wrasses

[1fstlightning]

Im gonna have to look at doing this the next time I go to the coast.

[jesserettele]

Would you be willing to meet up and "show a brother the ropes"? I would like to navigate the jetties in the darkness while battleing the current without loosing an arm or a leg. But in the end it is all worth it!


they were there last week...I plan on going to get more Wed nite......
For mid-October...it just depends on the water temperature......at this rate, they will probably still be around...its been hot and it doesnt look like its going to stop being hot

[Third Coast Tropical]

They won't be there until late Spring/early Summer....water is too cold

[clay]

being a native islander from port a i thought i throw a nother lil tibit that is fun. Really fun for kiddos.
take a lil ole 10 gal tank preferbally acrilc or plastic, and a ice chest to the beach. great this time of year with all the sargusam washing up

have the kiddos or yourself wade out with the cooler and gather up big bunches of fresh seaweed, take them back to your tank and shake the hell out of them. You would not belive the whole ecosystem in one of these balls of seaweed. I have caught thousands of shrimp, crabs, a lil octipus once, and at least a dozen sargausum fishes. You also get a lot of seaslugs that the kiddos will love.



*edit*
Sorry bout bringing back a dead thread i am new to forums in general and didn't realize i was 6 months late

please let me know if i am doing andything else that is frowned on in forums.

[jrsatx20]

Your doing nothing wrong. There's nothing wrong in reading n posting your own experiences. I've pulled starfish out of the seaweed also.

[jesserettele]

I tagged along on this thread for just this reason, I have three kids and this sounds like a lot of fun, thanks!


being a native islander from port a i thought i throw a nother lil tibit that is fun. Really fun for kiddos.
take a lil ole 10 gal tank preferbally acrilc or plastic, and a ice chest to the beach. great this time of year with all the sargusam washing up

have the kiddos or yourself wade out with the cooler and gather up big bunches of fresh seaweed, take them back to your tank and shake the hell out of them. You would not belive the whole ecosystem in one of these balls of seaweed. I have caught thousands of shrimp, crabs, a lil octipus once, and at least a dozen sargausum fishes. You also get a lot of seaslugs that the kiddos will love.



*edit*
Sorry bout bringing back a dead thread i am new to forums in general and didn't realize i was 6 months late

please let me know if i am doing andything else that is frowned on in forums.

[ZeroHour]

Okay so here we go.....I just moved here and have been building what seems now to be 3-4 tanks lol....I HAD NEVER EVEN THOUGHT OF THIS....Is this going on right now? I know the storms mess things up but is this the right time of year? Is it only effective in the evening?

Anyone wanna go lol?

Im in S/A and have most fridays off..