San Antonio Bay Day

On Saturday, September 28 folks young and old celebrated National Estuary Day in Seadrift participating in the second annual San Antonio Bay Day activities. Very special thanks to Nan Burnett, Commissioner Finster and their group for conducting the kids fishing tournament. Whether the kids or adults had more fun is a toss up! Nearly forty fish were caught & released along with one pretty little stone crab.

Although the stiff winds detoured the kayakers from paddling across San Antonio Bay, they had a delightful adventure launching from Seadrift Marina and exploring the shoreline south toward Seadrift island.

Meanwhile the birding group spotted a plethora of our local avifauna. Thirty eight species of shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, passerines and icterids were enjoyed on a private ranch in the Welder Flats area.

After the events everyone enjoyed the great hot dog lunch with all the fix’ns. A very special thank you to Lynn Reeves and the Seadrift Lions Club for their kindness and culinary efforts as well as to HEB in Port Lavaca for sponsoring the lunch and beverages.

San Antonio Bay Day came to a dramatic close with the announcement of the silent auction and raffle winners. Congratulations to Patrick Rios of Rockport for winning the Matagorda Island Marsh Kayak Trip & Dinner of the Beach. Special thanks to the sponsors of SA Bay Day: San Antonio River Authority, First Victoria National Bank, Dow Chemical, Mid-Coast Chapter Texas Master Naturalists, and the Victoria Advocate.

San Antonio Bay Day is hosted by San Antonio Bay Partnership as a community outreach and fund raising event. SABP is a regional, non-profit, stakeholder-driven planning and management program whose purpose is to create and sustain a working partnership of committed stakeholders in order to protect, restore and enhance the natural resources of the San Antonio Bay/Guadalupe Estuary System for the benefit of the environment and its human uses. Our efforts to date have produced an inventory of conservation needs and an inventory of public access and human use needs is in progress. We are working with like minded groups to advance the implementation of projects that have been identified.

For more information www.SABayPartnership.org

October 2013

Things haven’t really cooled-off around here like we’re used to seeing by now. This being the case, and since we should probably start seeing higher tides this month, we will soon start searching for trout and red fish in some of the more popular back lakes that line the inland-side shoreline of Matagorda Island just adjacent to San Antonio Bay and Espiritu Santo Bay. Historically, the back lakes become very good producers beginning in October, and some of our late September catches have supported that statement. When the guides hunt for fish in these secluded areas at this time of the year, they have a list of things they like to see before spending the time of stopping the boat, anchoring, and then wading blindly across a muddy shoreline. The first thing we like finding is nervous mullet. This can mean schools of mullet on top of the water, groups of mullet swimming just beneath the surface, or individual mullet that appear to be playing hopscotch as they are chased from one place to another. Another thing we have found to be a good indicator of fish is the presence of birds, particularly pelicans. Regardless of whether the pelicans are diving or just sitting on top of the water, our odds are much better when they are there.

Some of the best lake spots this fall will be areas where there’s soft sand mixed with vegetation. The really muddy spots will turn on strong once the air and water temperatures drop significantly later in the year, but until then we will look for sand and grass. The grass will be holding mullet, and that’s where the trout and reds will be found, also. If we’re way back inside a lake on a really windy day, the first place we like searching for the mullet is where the wind is blowing the water directly against the shallow shoreline. This generally is where we’ve found red fish populations hanging out snacking on the mullet being blown into the shore. In some instances, the water in these conditions can become very murky, but don’t let that bother you. You can often learn quite quickly that the muddiest water really doesn’t bother the reds. The guides made many casts with a bone-colored top water across some of the dirtiest water imaginable only to be pleasantly surprised by the outcome afterwards, especially when working the lure right along the line where the color of the water changes from dirty to green, or clear.

When we look for trout in these secluded lake areas, we still look for them over the sand and the grass, but not in the muddied water. We found that the trout prefer our artificial baits better when they can clearly see them, and that means we’re looking for some of the clear and descent water that’s readily available above the grass in the back lakes. Your will find us starting out very early in the morning throwing a surface walker like that of the smaller-size Super Spook or Skitter Walk. If the sun is shining we like the Clown color, and the Baby Trout color on cloudy or overcast days. As the day gets lighter and the temperature rises a bit, then we like to transition to plastic baits and begin working the baits in a little bit deeper water further away from the grassy shore itself. A personal favorite of our guides is to work in soft sand and grass about fifty yards off the bank along a tapered shoreline. We’ll sit there and attempt to get our lure closer to the grass along the bank on each cast. We like counting the number of casts before having that first strike telegraphed back to us via the line and the rod. Sometimes we don’t have to count very long at all before we experience a tug that messes-up our counting altogether!

As we get further into October, the total amount of daytime hours will continue to decrease, meaning less total sunlight each day. This is when we begin throwing darker baits. Darker colors tend to reflect a silhouette much better in the low-light conditions that are more typical this time in the year. Bay Flats Lodge would like to give Captain Doug Russell a warm welcome as our latest guide working with the lodge. Until next time, be courteous while on the water, and remind yourself to always approach wade fishermen while idling slowly, or pass them with good distance.

Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868.

Waterfowl hunting on the Texas middle coast near Port O’Connor has been a favorite pastime for many years. Last season photo by Capt. Chris Martin

October 1st of 2013 may have been somewhat early to celebrate Halloween but don’t tell Biddie Hileman and Sally Jones, the hostesses for the Bunco Group that evening. And those two certainly came prepared for a fun time. When I saw a nun drive up in full regalia, I thought perhaps she had arrived “at the wrong pew”, then discovering it was Sally Jones, I started to giggle. And then when MAMA drove up, extremely well dressed and topped with a flowery hat, I could not contain the giggles. Sister Grace and MAMA then proceeded to set up a large table with all sorts of delicious items for the attending ladies. As the evening progressed with much animated play, it finally ended with Pat Ekstrom being the big winner with Most Games; Mary Ann Claiborne the winner of the Most Buncos AND the Floating Bunco, and Judy Overton snagging the Booby Prize. Next month’s hostesses will be Kelly Gee-Cooper and Judy Overton. Call Shirley Gordon at the Library, 983-4365 for further information.

Biddie Hileman & Sally Jones get ready for Bunco.

October 26, 2013 is the date for the 5th Annual Chili & Gumbo Cookoff at Hurricane Junction! See Hoop for more details and how to enter this delightfully original contest! Once again, our local Library and its Building Fund will benefit. And participants can expect a wandering photographer and journalist to be there to sample the wares and discuss recipes with the chefs!

And also on the 26th of October is the annual Halloween Fest at our local school; this is when the kids and many adults try to outdo each other with some fascinating costumes. Check our paper or the school for further information.

But do save Saturday, November 9, 2013 for the semi-annual Fall Garage Sale as organized by the members of the POC Service Club. And as always there will be a Bake Sale of totally enticing desserts whether they’re cookies or cakes or even pies to whet the appetite of the consumer. See the POC Service Club News for further information.

And a plea to our long-time residents; we in the Service Club are putting together a book of photographs and other information concerning our community to show our history and also the many families that have been a part of that history. Many of you residents may have pictures of your children at our School, a picture of the churches with their ministers and priests, the stores, and hopefully your families, grandparents and all. IF and that’s a big IF, you could share with us these pictures and a little information about them, we would be extremely grateful. Your treasured photographs would then be professionally copied and returned with much gratitude as each would then become a part of our Book! Please contact either Sue Kubecka, the Chairman of this endeavor at 361 798-0560, or Janet Johnson, the President of the Club at 983-4737.

One topic that should be addressed are the number of dogs of various sizes that are allowed to run loose and often in a pack of other dogs. It can be somewhat of a frightening happenstance if you find yourself being surrounded by a number of large strange dogs. Although POC does not have a leash law, we are under County jurisdiction for the control of animals. Now one can understand why a resident on a golf cart or on a “moped”, carries a big stick!

Have you been in our local bank since last week? If so, did you see that stunningly beautiful quilt that is hanging on the wall thanks to our bank manager. The quilt, king-sized, has been made by the Calhoun County Quilting Guild; each member has been working on this all year and the completed result is striking. But if you’re very lucky, you CAN be the owner of it. Just see any of the local ladies selling raffle tickets, 6 for $5, and wish for good fortune. The raffle will take place on November 3rd, and luckily, one does not need to be present to win. Contact Peggy Elliott, 983-2165 or Carol Haverfield, 983-4969 for more information about buying tickets! And some tickets are available at the Bank too! The funds from this raffle will go to support the ongoing projects of this organization benefiting the community at large.

Does anyone have up-to-date information as to when the new bridge on 1289 will start construction?

Seeing the truck and boat trailer traffic by the Fishing Center the weekend of October 4 & 5, should lead to an extremely successful Grand Slam Tournament in memory of Chris Ragusin. There was quite a line stretching down the street of the waiting fishermen to get going! And the proceeds again will benefit our community thanks to this outstanding group.

And, potential vendors; DON’T FORGET that the 2nd Annual Arts & Crafts Festival as sponsored by the Lions Club will take place on March 8, 2014. Yes, that’s several months away, but if you have articles that you’ve made to sell and wish to become a part of this new happening, please contact Joyce Jordan, President, 361 655-6999 to reserve space. Indoor space in the Pavilion of the Community Center goes quickly, so get your reservation in NOW!

kubeckasue@yahoo.com
361 798-0560

I welcome correspondence from various organizations re their happenings for information to add to this column. Also welcome any remarks, good or otherwise.

Table of many, many goodies. No wonder Bunco play doesn't start very promptly!

Biddie

Sally

Pat Ekstrom at the Bunco Halloween party

Aug. 1: Seadrift Volunteer Fire Department and Port Lavaca FD responded to a tractor on fire in a field off of Farik Road near Hwy 185; Six Mile Community VFD also responded.

Aug. 4: Seadrift VFD responded to assist Port O’Connor VFD with a fire alarm call, cancelled while en-route.

Aug. 21: Seadrift VFD responded to a natural gas leak off of Armstrong Road in Seadrift.

Aug. 21: Seadrift VFD responded to a natural gas leak off of Toledo Ave. in Seadrift.

Sept. 7: Seadrift VFD responded to Bay Ave in Seadrift for a two-vehicle accident

Sept 7: Port O’Connor VFD and Seadrift VFD responded to a two-vehicle accident near the Hwy 185 / Hwy 1289 intersection; Port Lavaca FD also responded.

Sept. 7: Seadrift VFD responded to assist Port O’Connor VFD with a two-vehicle accident on Hwy 1289; Port Lavaca FD also responded.

Sept. 8: Seadrift VFD responded to a one-vehicle accident on Gates Road.

Sept. 8: Seadrift VFD responded to a one-vehicle accident near the Hwy 185 / Hwy 238 intersection.

Sept. 15: Seadrift VFD and Port Lavaca FD responded to a grass fire off of Shafer Road

Sept. 17: Seadrift VFD and Port Lavaca FD responded to a two-vehicle accident at the Hwy 185 and Hwy 35 intersection.

Sept. 18: Seadrift VFD responded to a one-vehicle accident on the Old Seadrift Hwy, also assisted EMS with a Life-Flight Helicopter landing.

Sept. 30: Seadrift VFD responded to Carabajal Road for a residential Propane tank leak.

One hundred, thirty volunteers cleaned the six mile stretch from the Crabbin Bridge to Indianola, collecting approximately 2,225 pounds of trash during the Fall Adopt-A-Beach.

Some of the more unusual items found were purple cigarettes, Michael Jackson DVD, a large piece of a detour sign, and part of a rocking chair.
– Rhonda Cummins

Mother and son, Gaylin and Ryan Franke, walk the beach together in search of trash and treasures.