One of my joys in working at the Library, as I’ve done for the last seven years, has been to review some of the books we receive. Often some of these books are new to the Library and some are those that have been on the shelves for some time. Some are authors new to me and some are authors I’ve enjoyed in the past or those that have been mentioned to me. But, what I write in a review is strictly my impression of the book; not the bit on the cover or a review by someone else.

James Grippando is an author I’ve read and reviewed earlier; his latest is entitled Need You Now, which starts in Wall Street with the suicide of the manipulator of an incredibly large Ponzi scheme, continues in China with the emergence of several financial analysts and returns to New York City with the assistance of the FBI, a “mafia” family, and an unusual character with the name of Mongoose! The plot grabs you and holds your interest throughout; the characters are fascinating people although some you dislike and distrust, but this makes it a totally enjoyable book to read.

Thanks to all of you who have purchased some of our used books at the Library, we have been able to use some of those funds to add to our collection of authors. One of those is James Lee Burke, whose series concerns the Louisiana detective-deputy sheriff, Dave Robicheaux. We had been missing the first of this series, The Neon Rain, and now it is on our shelves. This book begins with our protagonist working in New Orleans as a Lieutenant in the Police Department, continues with the introduction of his half-brother Jimmie the Gent, a restauranteur in the French Quarter somewhat aligned with the “Mob”, and along the way discusses Clete Purcel, his partner at one time in the Police Department, the often humorous yet self-destructive detective-p.i. Robicheux finally leaves New Orleans and returns to his early home area of New Iberia and Bayou Teche, from which location all further books are written.

Burke’s books are semi-denoted as “Fiction Noir” or “Black Fiction” because of the plots; however, to me, the plots are not really black or depressive, but tell the stories of real people. And, unfortunately, at times, bad things do happen to good people, and just as sadly, good people often do bad things.

TO OUR WINTER TEXANS:

The Port O’Connor Library is located at 6th & Adams next door to the Fire Station. Our hours are:

Monday: 9 — 1; 2 — 6

Tuesday: 9 — 1; 2 — 6

Wednesday: 1 — 6

Thursday: 12 — 5

Friday: CLOSED

Saturday: 9 — 1;

Sunday: CLOSED

We welcome any visitor in this area to our Library during those hours; we currently have five computers available for use, and an outstanding selection of books and DVDs. Just takes a current Library card and we will be happy to issue one!

We still have books for sale at the Library, thankfully, with donations from residents coming in regularly. Luckily for Shirley and me we have received a number of current books that cover a variety of subjects; even some for handcrafting special items. The monies received from these sales go to add to our DVD collection and to purchase additional books – many times those missing from a series. Do come and check them out! You won’t be disappointed!

“When an old person dies, a Library burns down”
Karin Gillespie

Impact Fire Services fishing with Castaway Lodge in March.

Friday (Anglers Choice)

Water levels surged late week with an east wind that sent things into “overdrive” on the feeding scale. We had strong and aggressive strikes followed by gut wrenching; rib tweaking runs; burning drags and high fives. We welcomed Gary L. and son Mike along with Lance S. and his dad David from Backwater Waterfowl & Retrievers from LaGrange. It’s always great to be tapped on the shoulder by your peers to “make it happen Capin” and you couldn’t ask for better sportsmen and anglers. Friday was just a classic “smoke pole” taking full limits of Redfish centered over the middle slot along with fast action on some heavy Black Drum pushing 24”.

Saturday (Fishing Defensive with Dividends)

All the while I’m thinking Saturday’s cold front was going to be brutal “and it was”. Sustained 33 knots made for challenging conditions that the Castaway Team met head on with enthusiasm. Everything was well off pace with by sonar SMS text alert pinging like a bad scene from a World War II Submarine movie. “Struggling” was the word from alot of peers and we were definitely fishing defensively but got off on the right foot with some “solids” in the middle slot. Odds on weather like that is somebody is going to get their head kicked in and sure enough the fish God’s targeted Capt. James C. that day with a pretty smooth “water haul”. Props to him though, he pushed through with attitude until the clients beer went dry and they pulled the plug. Capt. Doug had a little better luck with Charles O and son. Doug hauled a lot of water before chipping away at Redfish in the middle and upper slot. Unfortunately, a heartbreaker late in the day left the boys one fish short on their limit. Way to stay out of the crosshairs Doug, fine job and the Oates Clan was ecstatic.

I managed to keep a defensive posture with a few aggressive moves that took us deep in the heavy end of the slot with multiple oversize fish taking center stage. Mud burning Black Drum that had made such an impression days before had vanished leaving nothing but Redfish. The Impact Services crew stayed with it and we had a great time beating Mother Nature at her game.

Sunday (Post Frontal Lack Luster)

A post frontal slick-off early had me nervous before we ever hit the water and that tingling on the back of my neck was a pretty good indicator of what was in store. While finding fish was easy and the concentrations were astounding (at one point a half acre of mixed Black Drum and Redfish decided to bolt turning the back lake to mud) the feed was definitely the last thing on the minds of the fish. This is a classic scene I’ve seen played out year over year. The bigs winds of the norther that flooded the island had waned overnight sending water pouring out of the back country. That’s probably the peak feeding frenzy and it left us with a bunch of “fat and sassy” fish that needed force feeding and that barely worked. Hook-pulls, two dozen misses, and countless other heartaches kept us just short of limits today on Redfish from all ends of the slot. Capt. James C. pushed it to the limits trying to regain his footing after hauling water on Saturday’s big winds to find half limits to the max end of the 28” slot. James is hard to keep down for long and hats off old friend!

Monday

We’ll see what tomorrow brings but I can tell you “I’ve got them zeroed in” and they can’t stay closed mouth for too long! The lodge welcomes Jim M. and family in this evening.

Trout Scene

Capt. James E. came off a nagging cold only to hit the water in his new 24 Haynie Cat catch and releasing Trout in the 24” range over mud/shell on soft plastics and paddle tails. We are offering a 10% discount on wade fishing trips through the end of April during weekdays Monday – Thursday. Promo Code: (Wadefish)

Have a great early week and come see us when you get a chance!

Capt. Kris Kelley
Castaway Lodge
1-888-618-4868
www.seadriftbayfishing.com

1st place “Team Byrd”

Wow, what a turnout- 26 teams consisting of 70 adults and 9 children registered for the first ever Barnacle Bandit Blowout.

When I first started talking up the tournament idea amongst my peers there was a mixed response. Some thought the format was great and many others said that Sheepshead were not worthy of their own tournament. Those that know me best were not surprised I went on with the tournament despite any negative notions.

I can’t think of a better time to host something like this, the Sheepshead were hungry, as well as the local patrons during the slowest economic month of the year. Not much happening in February, duck season is over, the drum run hasn’t kicked off yet and the upcoming Spring Break holiday is just a thought.

Have I mentioned that the weather was horrible? Northeast wind at 15-20 mph, light rain, constant drizzle and temps in the lower 50s greeted the contestants Saturday morning. What a great morning to sleep late and then hover around a heater with a few cups of coffee, but not the diehard Sheepshead anglers. My hat is off to the men, women and children that braved the elements to make the weigh-in a huge success.

Sixteen teams made it to the scales with a total of 540 pounds of fish to donate for the fish fry. The weigh-team saw mostly Sheepshead, but also quite a few Redfish, Black Drum and a couple each Trout and Flounder.

The fish-cleaning team and fry-cook team prepared the fish as good as it could ever get! The contestants were served all the fried fish they could handle along with some homemade beans and coleslaw on the side.

Here were the division results:

Sheepshead Adult Division 1st Place – 5.78 lbs. “Team Byrd”

Sheepshead Adult Division 2nd Place – 5.76 lbs. “The Rod Holder”

*No fish were weighed in the Children’s Division

Sheepshead Fly Division – 3.58 lbs. “The Rod Holder”

Five Sheepshead Stringer – 22.52 lbs. “The Rod Holder”

Slot Red Division – 7.58 lbs. “Hardy Fishing Team”

Slot Drum Division – 5.50 lbs. “Bay Kat Bandits”

Heaviest overall Fish Donation – 71.96 lbs. “The Rod Holder”

Best Fish Tale – Pancho Guerara

I would like to thank the many volunteers who showed up to make this all come together, most worked multiple positions and all gave 100%: Walter Karnstedt, Clyde & Connie Rowney, Charlie & Zara Fulton, Warren & Amanda Jennings, David & Kelly Walker, Susie Hudler, Shawn McCoy, James Herbrich, Rodney Chaloupka, Alan Ricks, Dean Ricks, William Ricks, Jeremiah Tanner, Meredith Cash, Karen Cash, Sterling Cash and Kaitlyn Johnson.

The Sponsors & Supporters played a key part in donating prizes, food, preparations and discounting product & services used for the event: Dale Bunting “Fish Sticks”, Temple Fork Outfitters, Beacon 44 Seafood, Port O’Connor Rods, Poco Loco Lodge, POC Hardware, Fisherman’s Quarters, POC Ice For You, Josie’s Mexican Food, Cathy’s Restaurant, Speedy Stop, Mike Hamm, The POC Community Center and Joyce Rhyne with The Dolphin Talk.

The POC Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service will receive the proceeds from the tournament. After expenses were deducted from the tournament proceeds, the Barnacle Bandit Blowout Tournament managed a donation of over $1300.

“The Rod Holder”

Mr. Pat Ginder and his 35-37 inch redfish (didn’t measure it) caught in Port O’Connor Jetties using a 6 weight Orvis Access, Access Reel, Floating Line, and 9ft of 16lbs leader with a homemade fly (The Fat Pat) in FEBRUARY!!!

I created my new company (Back Bay Entertainment) in late summer of 2011 and began guiding full time in fall out of Port O’Connor, TX after spending my whole life fishing this area. I had yet to host or even market to fly fisherman but that all changed two weeks ago. I had a group of family friends that I hosted and they brought along their cousin Mr. Pat Ginder who is a professional hunting and fly fishing guide on a 20,000+ acre ranch in near Casper, Wyoming. He decided to bring his fly fishing gear. After fishing at the POC Jetties for a few hours so the three girls in the boat with us could have some quick and fast action and have fun putting fish in the boat, I decided to move to another spot in the POC Jetties bottle neck.

As I approached the spot I could see what I thought was porpoise but soon identified the define wedge of a large spotted redfish tail surface. I then proceeded to put the boat nose into the current, leaving the boat in gear without anchoring (really swift tide movement), and had my clients casting dead shrimp on top of the boiling oversized reds heads. We tried that for 10 minutes without a single bump.

About that time I see Pat emerge from behind my leaning post holding his fly rod with a homemade fly tied on called the Fat Pat and he was determined, locked, and loaded. He steps on the bow and began making elegant flowing casts on to the rolling reds noses. After about three rounds of casting sessions (about 2-4 minutes worth) I say, “OK guys and gals; looks like they have lock jaw.”

As I began to idle on to greener pastures Pat says lets try one more time so I swing around to reposition the boat just a tad closer to the bottle neck. Pat makes two beautiful lays with his rod and on the third cast the fly lays perfect in the current. I see five large bronze heads surface and dart towards the fly like it’s their last meal. His line pulls tight and the fight was on. He had on 16 lbs. leader and the fish stripped the reel down to his backing three times. After an amazing 30 minute fight he landed this beauty.

He and I were some happy campers and I can honestly say it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had on the Texas Coast in my 20+ years of fishing. Without the love and support of my family, girlfriend, and friends I could never have made the leap of becoming a full time guide and I am so very blessed for the opportunities and the experiences I am able to have in God’s country.

Capt. Ross Brunner, Back Bay Entertainment

(361) 772-4809 backbayentertainment@hotmail.com