Capt. Chuck with front row (L to R) Kolt Leiker, Nicholas Ragusin, Madden Guevara, Beth Boone, Laney Leas; Back Row: RJ Shelly, Emilee DeForest, Chuck Naiser

Hello guides and gals! This is Beth Boone from the Calhoun County 4-H Sportfishing Club. We are a new 4-H Club with a common interest in fishing and all things fishing-related. Sportfishing meetings and programs have been held in Port O’Connor. All Calhoun County 4-H members are eligible to participate in Sportfishing. Students 3rd through 12th grade are eligible to join 4-H by calling 361-552-9747.

The idea of forming a Sportfishing Club through 4-H has been the vision of our Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agents for a while. In 2020, we were able to make it happen thanks to a generous donation from the Jere Parrish Youth Stewardship Fund. Mr. Parrish was an avid Sport Fisherman who loved the Texas coast. In honor of Mr. Parrish’s life and love of fishing, his friends and family contributed to a Memorial Fund through the FlatsWorthy organization. The funds that the Calhoun County 4-H Sportfishing Club received will be used to purchase bait, tackle and supplies for the Sportfishing Projects. The club’s first fishing outing was held on Friday, December 18. The fish were biting along the shoreline that day. Each of our five fishermen and fisherwomen caught at least one fish. We caught Mangrove Snapper, Piggy Perch and Redfish.

I am pleased to share the creation of the new 4-H Sportfishing Club with our community. The Calhoun County 4-H, along with the FlatsWorthy organization and the Jere Parrish Youth Stewardship Fund, is educating youth to appreciate and conserve the natural resources in our coastal community.

On behalf of everyone with the Calhoun County 4-H Sportfishing Club, I would like to wish you all a “reely” great new year.

Beth Boone,11 years old
VP of the Calhoun County 4-H Sportfishing Program