There is a seemingly limitless supply of seashells, and rumors allude to buried treasure beneath the sand—pirate plunder and debris from 5 centuries of shipwrecks.
Laguna Madre, the bay that separates the island from the mainland, has excellent fishing all year. Charter boats leave daily in search of red snapper, king mackerel, marlin, tarpon and sailfish in the Gulf. There also is fishing from the lighted 5,000-foot Sea Ranch Fishing Pier.
South Padre Island offers swimming, diving, windsurfing, sailing, parasailing and horseback riding. Boat ramps, slips and marinas accommodate all sizes of craft.
Visitor Centers
South Padre Island Visitors Center 610 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX 78597. Phone:(956)761-6433 or (800)767-2373
Things to Do
Schlitterbahn Beach WaterparkSouth Padre Island Birding and Nature Center
The University of Texas-Pan American Coastal Studies Laboratory
Recreational Activities