Those making plans to head to South Padre Island are being told to watch for tarballs that have been washing ashore.

It's creating issues for families who are coming out to visit.

"There's a lot of tar, everywhere," Efren Garcia said. "I noticed there are a lot of black spots everywhere, all over the beach."

Garcia and his friends are visiting from out of town, and said the tar isn't easy to clean up.

The Texas General Land Office said they are aware of the tar balls, and reports started coming in last week.

The state says the tar balls are a clump, or blob, of petroleum washed ashore by the current. State crews have been sampling what's left along the shoreline.

"I would say, it's probably a 10-mile stretch of beach that has a one to two percent coverage on it right now," Texas General Land Office - Oil Spill Prevention and Response Regional Director Raymond Oliveira said.

Oliveira said the tar balls are currently being seen in the northern part of the island. There are concerns the tar is coming from an oil spill.

"I think something happened, somebody messed up, a spill happened and all the oil got it, started turning into this tar and somebody messed up and spilled, and they're trying to cover it up," beach goer Luis Diaz said.

The state says that's not happening.

"We have over 600 natural seeps in the Gulf of Mexico. We do not have a report right now of an active offshore spill. We have a 24/7 hotline. So does the Coast Guard," Oliveira said.

Those who come in contact with tar can use baby oil or WD-40 to get it off.

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