‘Cause fishin’ ain’t fishin if fishin’ain’t fun.

Hector Mendieta, would have totally agreed with Texas Gulf Coast musician Larry Joe Taylor’s song. Hector, passed away from a heart attack in November of 2014 leaving a large hole in the fabric of South Central Gulf Coast. Hector was a familiar musician around the Golden Crescent and a strong advocate of conservation of the recreational fishing industry.

Growing up in Corpus Christi, Hector developed a strong tie with the water and the creatures that live there. This led to him joining the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), formerly the Gulf Coast Conservation Association (members have a redfish bumper sticker on their vehicles). Hector’s desire to protect the coastal estuaries and its marine life to produce the fish he loved to catch led him up the ladder to being a national level director of the CCA.

In 2011, Hector, with the strong support of his wife Nancy, led a partnership with the CCA, Ecovantage, and several other companies, to construct a children and handicap accessible fishing pier at Texas Parks and Wildlife Marine Development Center in Corpus Christi. Hector and several volunteers personally constructed the majority of the two 226 foot long piers. The piers are made from thermally modified lumber, which is extremely weather resistant, and is now fairly common on the coast. Thousands of visitors have been introduced to the joy of fishing thanks to Hector and his team’s work.

Hector had another facet of bringing fun to the people of the Third Coast with his music. Hector’s bass guitar kept many a band member under control as he plunked out the beat beginning in the 1970s. Joel Nava, who had performed with Hector since 1986 in various bands such as Nightrider and Joel Nava and the Border, referred to Hector as the closest thing to a brother as he was a strong resource both on and off stage. Jerry James, another combination environmentalist/musician stated that playing with Hector was like magic, whether he knew the song or not, his bass jumped right in with the proper rhythm. Hector’s repertoire ranged from Jimi Hendrix to Tejano.

Hector Mendieta’s commitment to keeping both the fishing and music scene alive on the Third Coast has led to the creation of a scholarship fund in his name. The fund will support academic scholarships to youth in pursuit of an education in the music and/or marine sciences.

The Hector Mendieta Tunes and Tails Fishing Tournament & BBQ Cookoff will be held September 23rd & 24th in Port O’Connor. Friday, the 23rd, is set up and preparation time for a full day of fun on the morrow. Sunrise, Saturday morning the fishing rigs will be splashing in Matagorda Bay as anglers attempt to win the tournament. For those beach-bound participants the fires will be lit for the BBQ cookoff; and mid-day the music to celebrate Hector’s life will kick-off including some of the bands he played in. Sets by Jerry James, Pat Matula & the Lone Star Playboys, Bill Pekar & the Rainey Brothers, the Gin Tonics, The Hot Attacks, the Nightriders, and culminating with a concert and dinner featuring Joel Nava & the Texas Border at the Port O’Connor Community Center.

This special event is sponsored by the Texas Hill Country Distillers, Hartman Distributing, and RLB Contracting. Sponsorships are still available by visiting www.hectorstunesandtails.com.

Please mark you calendar for the fourth weekend in September to help celebrate the legacy of Hector Mendieta who a friend once remarked “His star is one of the brightest in the night. If we listen, we probably hear him playing in the Heavens.”

by Gary McKee, Reprinted from The Texas Polka News

To Enter Tunes & Tails Fishing Tournament or BBQ Cook Off: www.hectorstunesandtails.com