Everything.
For example, I heard that there have been terrible jellyfish outbreaks in the recent past. I mean, to the point where you couldn't swim. True?
Also, we rarely saw pleasure boats in the water while we were there. Since this was during spring break -- presumably peak time -- this seemed really odd. Why so few boats/jet skis?
How is property tax? What's the local shake on who goes to Mustang Beach? Families? Only college kids? Port A doesn't seem real ritzy (which, to me, is part of its appeal) -- why is that?
Anything you might think of is appreciated.
Thanks!
Below is completely non-scientific but based on personal experience surfing, fishing, sailing and swimming for a number of years:
Cabbage heads aren't really a big deal, they will leave your skin feeling like it is on fire but don't really do much. It seems that the times they have swarmed has been in winter when wearing a full suit.
Moon Jellies are nasty. As you paddle along, your hand will come down on the top of one, hitting it. It will release its toxins in the water, essentially lighting it on fire. It can be quite painful.
Man-o-wars simply need to be given plenty of clearance. Stay away from them. Their tentacles are long and hard to see. I have known many friends who have gone to the hospital for bad stings.
For all, tourists need to pretty much stay out of the water when they get bad. It does happen, but not all that often. Some years are worse than others.
The majority of pleasure boaters do not go out into the gulf. They will stay in the bay, laguna, etc. Yes, you will find plenty of opportunities to go off shore fishing but they do not go along the shore so you will not see them from the beach, most of the time. The marina is usually fairly busy as well as the Port A Yacht Club. If you are there during a regatta, you can go down to the docks and ask around, eventually you might get a ride on one of the boats during a race.
To the taxes, I would have to ask my parents. I have not owned there myself.
The majority of kids go to JP Luby, if it is still called that. I haven't really been there since they dredged Packery. It gets to be a bit much. We tended to not surf there as there were too many people. Bob Hall Pier is another popular spot, south along the beach from JP Luby/Packery Channel. Horace Caldwell Pier in Port A gets crazy in spring break as well. Most families go to Mustang Island State Park at Fish Pass as there is a fee to get in and it keeps most undesirables out. Although, it is very easy to drive down the beach from the North, park at the jetties and cross over, but normally only surfers do that.
Port A is definitely not ritzy. The main reason is that Port A is a fishing/shrimping community, not a resort town. This, like you said, is its charm. The ones with money who live there moved out to Port A to get away from the social scene in Corpus. There is also a large local contigent who do not have money. If you haven't been there already, go to Beuhlah's which has moved to the flats and is called The Pelican Club now.
I looked at your website and really like the idea. I, personally, would love to stay there. That said, I do not know how well it will go over there on the island. Most people that travel to stay there from out of town want to stay on the water. I guarantee that spring break will be a booming business for you but they will trash your rooms. That said, it could go over well. Port A could use a new and interesting place to stay. Most of the places are really old.
As far as hurricanes, if you are there long enough you will experience one. The storm surge, alone, well away from a storm, can be fairly destructive. Quite a few homes in Padre Isles have had to rebuild decks and first floors from storms that made landfall miles away. The "coastal bend" is due for a major storm. We have dodged the bullet a number of times the past couple of decades. I have family in Pensacola and know all too well how lucky we have been.
