CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — If you've been out on the Corpus Christi waters, you have probably caught a glance of them: large jelly fish, but slightly different than the ones we are used to seeing in the Coastal Bend.
"I mean there's some that are this big around," said Robert Gonzales, gesturing, when we caught up with him as he was fishing near Packery Channel on Tuesday. "All I've been seeing is a bunch of jellyfish, not much of anything else. I've been out here since 7:45 (a.m.)."
So, where are these blobs coming from?
According to Texas State Aquarium President, CEO and lead biologist Jesse Gilbert, it's the rain that has caused the recent sightings.
"So, we've had some precipitation over the last couple of weeks -- got some coming in this week as well," he said. "So these fronts kind of stir them up."
And avoiding them is not so easy when you're in knee-deep water, trying to cast a line.
"I've gotten stung already on my leg," Gonzales said. "On my knee. I've gotten stung already a few times."
Luckily, Gilbert said the sting isn't too bad.
"You can touch them and typically, you won't feel it, but if you're really allergic to bee stings or other insect stings, I think the rule of thumb is don't touch a marine animal unless you really have to," Gilbert said.
Gilbert said with these weather conditions, we can expect a large "bloom."
"There's probably always some in the Corpus Christi bays, but once we get the influx of fresh water, they tend to take off," he said. "It's kind of like a cue for them to reproduce."
So, if you plan on wade fishing, wear pants.
"They are getting caught in my cast net, and while it's a little annoying, it's their home and I'm out here, so. . . ." Gonzales said.