southern boating

rattlesnake rattles in their braided hair, cover themselves in
alligator grease and were portrayed as skilled bow hunters.
Myths about the tribe abound. The Spaniards believed them
to be cannibals, yet their diet mainly consisted of seafood
and oysters. They may also have been among the earliest
people to fly fish. The Karankawas were eventually chased
off South Padre Island by a group of European settlers
who roped a cannon onto a donkey and trudged it across
the sand dunes. While the loud cannon failed to frighten
the tribe, Spanish missionaries reported that it was the
“magical” donkey and its jumps from the cannon’s recoil
that scared the native tribe forever into the depths of what
would become Texas.
Today, billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX Corporation
is building a new launch facility (for things other than
donkeys) immediately south of Padre Island and Port

Isabel. With the Tesla fortune seemingly pouring into the

area, local government officials are already in the planning

phases to upgrade coastal parks and other launch-viewing

sites. Dockside restaurants such as Pier 19 in Port Isabel

are perfectly located to provide unobstructed viewing

areas for launches paired with delicious, locally caught

seafood—do not miss out on the (rocket) Blackened Baja

Tacos. This far south, expect a heavy Mexican influence on

traditional Gulf cooking.

Plying the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre,

locals—South Padre Island and Port Isabel count no more

than 5,000 permanent residents—fish the waters for their

prey offshore of the nearby and massive King Ranch.

Expect bridge delays as horsemen lead massive herds of

cattle to their next grazing lands. Charter boats head deep

into the Gulf of Mexico to hunt for tuna, amberjack, kings,

South Padre Island and

Port Isabel—where the

fish and seafood are

plenty and seasoning is

most likely unnecessary

By Troy Gilbert

MARCH 2016 s SOUTHERNBOATING.COM s 81

IMAGES COURTESY OF CITY OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU