Beachcombing Report: The Best of 2025
If Beachcombing had a highlight reel, 2025 would be the year the editors quit trying to narrow it down and just hit “play.” From bizarre sea life to mystery objects that broke the internet, this year delivered some of the most exciting beach finds I’ve ever seen along the Texas coast.
Let’s start with the viral stars. The pink meanie jellyfish stopped beachgoers mid-walk and sent social media buzzing with questions, photos, and the occasional “Is this thing real?”
The fireworm, beautiful and mildly terrifying, reminded us that not everything colorful should be touched.
And then there were the sea pig piggy banks — a phrase I never expected to type yet somehow became one of the most shared beach stories of the year.
The objects were just as wild. A 35-foot sailboat, sails still up and GPS still on, appeared like a ghost ship from another timeline.
Bales of rubber from ships sunk during World War II washed ashore, turning an ordinary beach walk into a living history lesson.
And perhaps most mysterious of all: seven messages in a bottle, all from the same sender, scattered across the coast like breadcrumbs from the past.
Personally, I logged more than 2,800 miles on my electric bike, blew out three tires, and got stung by more sea critters than I care to count. I beachcombed through high tide events, sideways rain, howling winds, miserable cold snaps, and brutally hot days that left me with heat rash on my back — more than once. Glamorous? No. Worth it? Absolutely.
Because every mile, every soggy notebook page, and every sting was in service of something bigger: helping people connect with the Gulf of Mexico. Through newspapers, videos, radio, TV, and conversations on the beach, the goal remains the same — education, curiosity, and stewardship.
As I look ahead to 2026, I’m energized and grateful. Thank you to everyone who reads, shares, asks questions, volunteers, and cares. The Gulf still has plenty of stories left to tell, and I can’t wait to find them with you.
Jace Tunnell is the Director of Community Engagement for the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.