Surfside is truly a wonderful Texas coastal city, with miles of unspoiled shoreline, coastal marsh, rivers and bays, Surfside is the perfect retreat for the hard working city dweller or laid back retiree.
From downtown Houston go south on Texas Highway 288 through the towns of Angleton, Lake Jackson, Clute and Freeport, it takes about an hour or so. Once you top the Surfside bridge you'll get a panoramic view that you won't soon forget.
From Galveston, just go west. Once you reach the San Luis Pass bridge you'll know you're getting close, pay the $2.00 toll, and keep going. The road, named the Bluewater highway goes straight to Surfside.
Whether you're coming from Houston or Galveston, the stretch of road between Surfside and San Luis Pass is your access point to fun and adventure.
On summer weekends, especially holidays, the beach is usually crowded and there is an access fee, however, if you travel east from the Surfside bridge until you reach "beach access road" number 3 or 4, there is no fee and you can find some room to spread out a bit. Although, Its always wise to get an early start and stake your claim to a prime location.
If you like to fish, then you've come to the right place. Early morning is an excellent time to try your luck, your choice of fishing the bay or the surf will depend on many factors, such as the direction of the wind, movement of the tide, water clarity, abundance or scarcity of bait fish or just personal preference and experience.
Whatever you decide the chances are good that you'll come away with some pleasant memories and maybe even some fish fillets you can share with your friends and family.
The kayak has become a popular tool for the once shore bound angler, access to prime fishing spots and the ability to get away from the crowd is a huge advantage to those in the know.
Other fishing options include the Surfside jetties or the San Luis Pass fishing pier. Both are outstanding choices, especially if you want to keep your feet dry.
For birdwatchers, Surfside is hard to beat. Hundreds of different species have been spotted, including residents like the reddish egret and rosette spoonbill.
Rare species like the osprey can sometimes be seen on the telephone poles overlooking the shallow marsh and lakes. A short drive to Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge is a must for any serious birdwatcher, also Quintana and Bryan beach are excellent places to search.
If you have access to a boat, their are some outstanding bird rookeries in Christmas and Drum Bay that are definitely worth the trouble. You will be amazed at the abundance and variety of birds that gather in this coastal habitat throughout the year.
Surfside is also a great place for outdoor and nature photography. Landscapes, birds, wildlife and flowers are just a few of the subjects you will find, you never know what you may stumble across while cruising the back roads and beaches, this wrecked shrimp boat made for some unusual pictures.
An hour before and after sunrise and sunset are usually the best times to be out with your camera, wildlife tends to more active at this time, plus the softer light makes for more appealing images. Try to include some graphic element into your beach scenes, like people, birds, boats, etc., this will make your pictures more interesting.
Texas isn't known for its big surf, but on rare occasions when the conditions come together, surfers converge at Surfside Jetty Park to take advantage.
Usually, hurricanes in the gulf bring the monster waves Texas surfers crave, although, anytime the waves get big you'll likely find the parking lot full of anxious surfers.
Gary's Surfside Surf Cam
Surf House Surf Cam
Surfrider Foundation Texas
Coastal Bend Surf Information
Superior Surf Boards, Surf Shack
Surfside is also home to the beach house, hundreds and hundreds of multi-colored, bizarrely shaped dwellings line the gulf, ready and waiting for you to call home for a week or a weekend.
It doesn't matter if you're looking for a rental that sleeps 2 or 10 or whether you prefer a bay view a gulf view or both, there's something for everyone.
If staying on the beach is not a priority, there are also several hotels a few miles away in Clute ( see below ) you might want to consider.
If roughing it is your preference, camping on the beach is another option.
If you want to get out of the big city for a while and enjoy a relaxing day or weekend on the Texas coast, consider Surfside. Friendly people, mild weather, and lots of open beach make for a fun and exciting time you won't soon forget.
Surfside Chamber
Clute Visitor Bureau
Freeport Chamber
Surf Cam Surfside
Clute Motels & Hotels
Best Western Clute Inn & Suites
900 West Hwy 332
979.388.0055
Days Inn
805 W. Hwy 332
979.265.3301
Holiday Inn Express
809 Hwy 332 W.
979.265.5252
Motel 6
1000 Hwy 332
979.265.4764
Pam Motel
601 N. Brazosport Blvd.
979.265.1435
Parker Motel
560 N. Brazosport Blvd.
979.265.2561
LaQuinta Inn
1126 S. Hwy 332 W
979.265.7461
Main Stay Suites
1003 W. Hwy 332
979.388.9300
For a Map of Brazoria County: Click Here
Full Moon Rising
Texas Explorer Productions
Photography be George Hosek
On Oct 26th the moonrise coincided with the sunset and clear skies. I knew the sun would set at 6:41 and the moon would rise 14 minutes later, so I positioned myself on the westside of the San Luis Pass pier and waited for the moon.
After a few minutes a large full moon started to appear, after a minor adjustment to my position I started recording the scene with my Canon XH A1 video camera, I also shot some still images as well.
Although, I didn't get the color in the eastern sky I was hoping for, the impressive blood red moon had all the color the shot needed.
Surfside Sunrise
Texas Explorer Productions
Photography be George Hosek
There are many options for the shore bound angler at Surfside, you can try your hand at wade fishing the surf ( as the fishermen in this video ), if the surf isn't producing you can fish the bay, any number of the gravel-dirt roads will get you there.
If you prefer to stay high and dry, the jetties at both Surfside and Quintana, or for night fishing both the San Luis Pass fishing pier and the Brian Beach fishing pier are lighted.
Sunset, San Luis Pass Fishing Pier
Texas Explorer Productions
Photography be George Hosek
Texas Coast
San Luis Pass Fishing Pier is an outstanding place for a day or night fishing. Located next to one of the largest natural passes in Texas, you never know what you might hook including, redfish, speckle trout, flounder, even large fish such as shark, ling and tarpon gather around this deep water pier.
San Luis Pass, the water connection between the Gulf of Mexico and West Bay, lies between Galveston Island and Surfside. The pass is about two miles long and between ten and forty feet deep.
Old Valasco History
Historic and key Texas Port of entry. During the civil war was fortified by troops and eight gun batteries at the mouth of the Brazos river.
To provide shelter and landing facilities for blockade runners; to protect rich farmlands; and to prevent Federal invasion. The south exchanged cotton for European guns, ammunition, milled goods for army and home use. Valesco was one of the busiest ports.
Federal vessels attempted to stop vital trade, and constantly fired upon runners as well as the shore defenses and patrols. The runners would approach the port on dark nights when the waters were smooth, and by the use of sounding lines could determine the nearness to shore and avoid blockaders.
Boilers would be kept well fired with hard coal that burned with a minimum of smoke. In case it became necessary to outrun enemy patrol ships. Union ships had to go to New Orleans for drinking water, food and fuel, because Texas marines on rafts or dredge boats or Texas cavalry and infantry units kept them of the shores.
The raw courage of the Texas coastal defenders made this a most dramatic story in the history of the confederacy.
Old Valasco
Here was fought a battle--The first collision of arms between Texas colonist and the Mexican military. A conflict preliminary to the Texas war for independence.
On June 26, 1832, when Texans under John Austin and Henry Smith came down river with cannon for use against Mexican forces at Anahuac, they ran against the resistance of Lt. Col. Domingo De Ugartechea refused passage through the mouth of the Brazos river to the vessel carrying the cannon to Anahuac.
Some 112 Texas attacked the fort at midnight, and after nine hours under the fire of Texas rifles and cannon, the Mexican garrison was forced to surrender. The battle of Valesco was brought on by a customs quarrel at Anahuac, was unknowingly fought after the dispute at Anahuac had been peacefully settled.
After the victory at San Jacinto four years later, President David G. Burnet moved the capital of the Republic of Texas temporarily to Velesco.
Here the treaty of Velesco, ending hostilities between Texas and Mexico, was signed on May 14, 1836.
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