PADRE ISLAND, TX \u2014 Bob Hall Pier was once a surfing destination before hurricanes devastated the South Texas landmark. <\/p>\n
As the new Bob Hall Pier debuts on Tuesday, it could return more surfing to the South Texas coast.<\/p>\n
Longtime locals like Frank and Nathan Floyd remember the old Bob Hall Pier as a surfing destination before Hurricane Hanna and Harvey destroyed it. The father-son duo runs Wind & Wave Watersports, a shop that’s been serving Coastal Bend surfers for almost 40 years.<\/p>\n
“We’ve had a lot of people come through here over the years because the pier when it was working good had some really good waves,” Frank Floyd said.<\/p>\n
Surfers return to Bob Hall Pier as new construction creates promising waves<\/p>\n
Floyd has tested the waters by the pier and knows experienced surfers are excited to do the same.<\/p>\n
“There’s a lot of people who used to surf the pier almost exclusively who are chomping at the bit. You’re definitely gonna see a lot of people gravitate that way,” Floyd said.<\/p>\n
Marco Parkins, with Third Earth Surf, says he surfed waves near the pier on Sunday and enjoyed it. <\/p>\n
“It’s starting to actually work and it’s building the sandbars up,” Parkins said.<\/p>\n
There’s a history of tension between fishermen and surfers at the old pier, but surfers say that conflict is now rare.<\/p>\n
“98 percent of the time, 99 percent of the time we all get along pretty well. If we’re paddling out over there the guy will wait a minute before he casts,” Floyd said.<\/p>\n
“We don’t wanna get hooked as much as they don’t want to hook us,” Parkins said.<\/p>\n
In a few months when the sandbars start to pile up, experienced surfers and maybe even some professionals will return to chase waves around Bob Hall Pier.<\/p>\n
“The people that put on contests around here have already been putting out feelers for that. It’s a great venue for that it brings out a lot more people to watch and compete,” Floyd said.<\/p>\n
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