Seadrift: Tues., Sept. 26 & POC: Sat., Sept. 30

Volunteer boats, pickers & data deckhands are needed for the 4th Annual Shorelines Cleanup. All volunteers will be invited to join the after party and receive a free gift.

To sign up send the following information to
AllanRBerger@outlook.com
Name
Email
Phone
Date to pick up trash
Team participants (#)
Do you have a boat to transport team?
Need crew members?
Preferred Area to clean (if none, Allan will assign)

It is commonly said “to fool a fish, one must fool its senses,” but that is often easier said than done. Fish use a variety of their senses to detect and eat prey, and it takes more than looks to get hooked. Selecting the right bait can be a critical element of saltwater fishing. Also, specific regulations apply to the collection and use of bait in Texas state waters and in U.S. federal waters. General fishing regulations can be found online at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Outdoor Annual webpage.

There are several different types of saltwater bait, ranging from live baitfish to artificial lures. Baitfish are small fish that are easy to catch and in regular supply, like mullet, which are typically used to attract large predatory gamefish. Cut bait is another type of saltwater bait used by anglers in Texas, but it can be more difficult to acquire and maintain compared to live bait. If you plan to use cut bait, it is recommended to use the freshest you can find. Frozen cut bait should be vacuum sealed and free from freezer burn as well.

One of the most popular bait selections for saltwater fishing in Texas is shrimp. Not only is shrimp a favorite meal amongst most saltwater fish in Texas, it is also easily available and a good universal bait for fishing in most conditions. If you choose to use shrimp as your bait, make sure it is a species native to the Gulf of Mexico. It is unlawful to use imported shrimp, alive or dead, as bait in Texas waters since imported shrimp can carry diseases or viruses that may be transmitted to native Gulf shrimp species as well as other shellfish. Imported shrimp must be labeled with the country of origin. If you are unsure of the origin of the shrimp, ask the retailer about its origin, and if still unsure, do not use it as
bait.

Another option for bait that has developed in recent years is using an artificial saltwater fishing lure that is soaked in or contains powerful fish attractants. These scented baits come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the type of fishing you’re aiming to do and can last longer/are easier to maintain than live or cut bait . You should always keep your scented bait in the liquid it comes with, and never leave it out on your hook or you risk it hardening and becoming difficult to remove.

Overall, there are many options for finding the best bait to suit your saltwater fishing needs. Knowing the regulations and best practices for bait selection can help get you hooked! As always, make sure you have the correct fishing license, follow all bait regulations, and — most importantly — have fun!

Beacon 44 RV Park held their 4th Annual Cornhole Tournament on Sunday September 3, 2023. This, being the opening weekend of dove season, team challengers were a little fewer than usual. Those who took the challenge in the crazy heat were greatly appreciated. $168.00 was raised to donate to the youth program for the Friends of the Library, who do so much for our children!

A HUGE Thank you to all the folks that help make this happen!
To the family that donates the awesome trophies each year–you are awesome and do such a great job!

Next year, the game day will be Labor Day Weekend Saturday.
This years winners are:

Far left: 3rd Place–Colton Jenkins & Kacie Hall
Middle: 2nd Place– James Mills & Cody Miller
Far Right: 1st Place– Taylor Pagono & Chris Yost

Most Texans would agree the weather is hotter than a jalapeňo pepper! Our gardens are barely hanging on unless the gardeners have okra, eggplant, peas or pumpkins. Gardeners are indeed on a regular watering maintenance schedule.

Most gardeners have started preparing for the next planting season and are dreaming of tomatoes once again. Gardeners will be FALLing in love with autumn weather that is conducive to growing deliciousness, such as onions, spinach, broccoli, beans of all kinds, beets, and cabbage, which are only a few items that grow in cooler temperatures. Members of the garden club agree with Audrey Hepburn’s philosophy, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

All twenty-four beds are occupied, but there is still room to be a part of the garden club. ALL are welcome! Our annual meeting is Sept.19th at 5:30 at the garden site at 16th Street and Harrison, right next to the water tower. The yearly membership fee is $20 which ALSO allows FREE attendance to the monthly educational meetings, which are held the third Tuesday of each month. Consider joining us whether you wish to plant a garden or not. The garden workshops are very interesting!

At the annual meeting, we will be electing officers for the new year, setting the budget as well as reviewing the site laws and by-laws. It has been an exciting year, and there have been growing pains; however, we were all quite pleased with our harvest efforts. We are all definitely looking forward to the fall planting season!