Current year Texas hunting and fishing licenses (except year-to-date fishing licenses) expire Aug. 31, and new licenses for 2011-2012 will go on sale Monday, Aug. 15.

In additon to 200+ sales outlets, for a $5 administrative transaction fee, licenses may also be purchased online through the TPWD Web site or by phone (800-895-4248). Call center hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday — Friday. The online transaction system is available 24/7. A transaction receipt may be printed at the time of purchase for online and a confirmation number is provided for phone orders, and the physical license is mailed separately. Confirmation numbers will verify that a license has been purchased, which is sufficient for dove hunting, but will not allow hunters to take fish or wildlife that require a tag.

Fishing License Exemptions

Recently the legislature created an exception for fishing licenses. In addition to allowing the public to fish at state parks without a license, resident fishers born prior to Jan. 1, 1931 are exempt from purchasing a state fishing license. These senior anglers are free to fish any state water body without purchasing the required annual license. Resident anglers 65 and older qualify for reduced price fishing and hunting licenses.

We could have used the rain from Tropical Storm Don, but it wasn’t a complete loss after all. You see, we were able to get on the water and film a show with Majesty Outdoors & Columbia Sportswear.

The real star of this event/show is Mario, a 21 old with Down syndrome. This would be Mario’s first ever fishing trip. I was told the day that Mario was born, his Father found out he had Down syndrome; he took off and has never been in Mario’s life. That is a crying shame. It’s amazing what fishing does to help folks like Mario out. After casting lessons from Captain Harold, Mario landed 3 reds by himself using a waker II subsurface lure in Pringle Lake while drifting in the airboat.

The show will air on NBC Sports sometime in February. Majesty Outdoors is a nonprofit organization, and the lodge donated our guides, accommodations, staff, food, and 3 nights for 12-guests from all over the country.

If you’re interested in donating to Majesty Outdoors for the next event, please contact Captain Chris Martin. at 1.888.677.4868.

Click video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1ZZtxGXZSQ

August is not only a month that is hot; it’s a month that brings wonderful opportunities to catch redfish with artificial lures. By the time this article comes to print, some of the most awesome fishing for redfish will have already taken place. Typically, during the month of August and September, we will witness calmer winds out of the north. These light winds will flatten both the surf and bay. Fast action is very common during the low light conditions associated with the first 2 hours of the day.

The fishing forecast for August looks favorable provided we dodge any major tropical weather. Locating both trout and reds for the coming month will continue to include locating active mullet. Recently, low tides and incoming current have kept large schools of redfish feeding in knee-deep water along leeward shorelines of Espiritu Santo and San Antonio Bay. Mixed in with the reds have been trout in the 3-5 lbs. class. The usual pattern during the hotter months is to fish deep during low tides and out going current or fish tight to the grass during periods of high tides with incoming current. West Matagorda Bay will continue to produce along the Cedars, Ranch House shoreline, Cottons, and Greens. The grass beds have been most productive for the redfish while the deeper sand bars located between waist and shoulder depth have been holding most of the trout.

When it comes to world class shooting for duck and geese, it’s hard to beat the Texas Gulf Coast. And, if it’s Pintail, Widgeon, Redheads, and Geese it doesn’t get much better than Seadrift/Port O’ Connor, Texas. Let Team Bay Flats show you the hunt of a lifetime with an action packed day of waterfowl hunting, fishing or both. Our “Cast & Blast” package includes morning wing shooting for ducks or geese followed by a relaxing afternoon on the bay fishing for Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder or returning to complete your limit with an afternoon of hunting. Either way your afternoon is totally booked.

On July 23, a catfish tournament for local children at Minjares Farms in Port Lavaca. Children ages 5 to 17 competed to haul in the largest fish. Catching the biggest catfish were: Kayla Mendez (5-8-year-olds); Seth Moses (9-12-year-olds); and John Pina (13-17-year-olds).

Catching the Most Fish were:

5-8-year-olds Carlos Martinez

9-12-year-olds Seth Moses

13-17-year-olds Jamie Gutierris

The Smallest Fish were caught by:

5-9-year-olds Justine Stanley

9-12-year-olds Brenda Cumble

1-17-year-olds Hunter Crober

The Sportsmanship Award was given to Christian Graham.

Russell Cain provided a lunch of hot dogs and Alcoa provided bottled water. Special thanks for assistance goes to Calhoun County Sheriffs Department, EMS, Father Paul of OLG, YMCA, and Chuck Carter.