Andy Dear | Monday, 16 October 2023
“A pier is a disappointed bridge; you stare at it for long enough and you can dream it to the other side of the Channel.”
― Julian Barnes
The fifth pier that played an integral role in my fishing life didn't start out as a pier at all. In fact, it started out as a bridge that connected Live Oak Peninsula just north of Rockport TX, to Lamar Peninsula. Construction on this bridge started in 1930, and in 1968 it was decided that a newer, wider bridge needed to be built to accommodate the growing population of the area. This left the original causeway without purpose, so the state decided to turn it into a fishing pier!
The Copano Causeway Pier was a very well-known spot to catch the standard stringer of Redfish, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, and the occasional flounder. But it was probably best known for the GIANT Black Drum folks would catch during the run in the fall. I personally spent many nights on the Copano Causeway Pier during the 70's and 80's. It was a fantastic place to fish, not just because of the quality fishing, but because it was so long and so wide, that it could handle a large number of fishermen without everyone getting TOO cozy with one another. If there was one drawback to the causeway pier, it was the height of the pilings that the pier stood on. Since it was originally designed as a 2 lane highway it stood much higher off of the water than a standard pier did. Because of this, some "creative customization" was required to modify one's landing net to bring their catch to hand.
The last time I fished the Causeway pier was in 1999 when a couple of buddies decided it would be a good idea for us to go pier fishing in February. As luck would have it, the weekend we went on turned out to be one of the coldest and windiest that year. I still have pictures of us bundled up on the south side like we were getting ready to run the Iditarod sled race.
Unfortunately in 2017, part of the pier's infrastructure collapsed due to age-related wear and tear. The State decided that the Copano Causeway Pier was no longer safe for public use, and closed it down to begin demolition immediately. I can't help but think that during the demolition process, that a TON of rip-rap was left under the water that functions as a perfect fish-holding structure underneath the water. Just 50 miles north in Port Lavaca a similar disassembly took place and the submerged rip-rap from the old bridge can be during the colder months, one of the best fish-holding spots in the entire Lavaca Bay system.
Like many of the pairs I have had the privilege of fishing in my angling life, The Copano Causeway Pier is now gone, but certainly not forgotten. And, every trip over the new bridge will be an opportunity to revisit the memories of all those nights I spent during my youth pursuing the sport that still to this day consumes my life.
Hope you all are having a great week,
Andy