Surfers lured to Port Aransas by hurricane swells

Nick Jones, foreground, of Port Aransas, enjoys the Hurricane Ike-generated surf next to Horace Caldwell Pier on Thursday morning. (Staff photo by Murray Judson)

THURSDAY, SEPT. 11 -- As Hurricane Ike approached Port Aransas, six-foot swells in the Gulf of Mexico announce its pending arrival, expected tomorrow night.

That was enough to bring on local and area surfers to enjoy waves that usually only show up when hurricanes move into the Gulf.

A popular surf spot is next to Horace Caldwell Pier. The closer a storm gets, the bigger the swells are. As the winds pick up, the waves should set up, making for better-formed swells.

Rip tides can pose a danger for surfers who enter the hurricane-spawned surf at their own risk.

Tropical force winds 40 to 49 mph are expected starting about 8 p.m. tomorrow. The winds and high tides should begin subsiding about 8 a.m. Saturday.

For more on the hurricane, click on the Hurricane Info bar at the top of the menu on the left of the screen.