The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Victoria chapter, participated in the recent 2011 NAMI Walk in Houston to help raise awareness and break the stigma associated with brain chemistry disorders.

NAMI offers a free presentation, “In Our Own Voice”, available to the local community. This is another way NAMI reaches out to the community, doing these presentations in schools, churches, law enforcement, etc. It is very important for the community to learn about brain chemistry disorders and to know that recovery is possible. Interested groups may contact NAMI at: www.namivictoria.org .

NAMI will hold a meeting on May 31 at 6:30 p.m. at DeTar North in the North Education Center next to the Grape Cafe. The educational Charlie Rose DVD on the “Mentally Ill Brain” will be shown.

Support Group Meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Laurent Towers in Victoria at 6:00 p.m.

A happy warrior photographs his catch, while volunteers weigh and clean the fish.

That’s a nice one! Weigh-in time at Warrior’s Weekend

Many of the wounded warriors enjoyed night fishing at The Sanctuary. And local volunteers enjoyed assisting and visiting with them.

A Warrior guards his prized catch at Froggie’s fish cleaning table.

Dave Kalins (left) and Sgt. Steven Stevens (right) with some of the fish they caught during this year’s Warrior’s Weekend fishing trip. I had the honor of having these gentlemen on board my boat for the day.
-Capt. RJ Shelly

How windy is it? Its so windy that ……… Actually the question is “How much longer is it going to blow?” We haven’t had a cold front in a while so at least the wind has been from the south so the tides have been high enough to get around in the lakes where you can sort of get out of the wind.

The hot trout action on the San Antonio Bay shell reefs has cooled down under pressure from the southerly “breezes”. If we do get a reprieve some time soon that action should once again provide some nice boxes of trout. The south shorelines of San Antonio and Espiritu Santo Bays have been shielded from the wind and waders have caught trout on artificials and live bait. The croakers are still small but they are getting a little bigger each week, good news for the “Croaker Soakers”.

The back lakes have saved many a fishing trip over the last few weeks. Reds are the main attraction. Drifting with live shrimp or anchoring near a shoreline and using cut bait has provided redfish limits for many boats. There are some trout in the back but most of the trout are coming from sand bottom shorelines. If the wind eases, look for traditional spots like Grass Island or Coast Guard Flats to turn on. The jetties have been good for those able to handle the rough water. Getting across the bay hasn’t been all that bad but the seas have been in the 4 to 5 foot range under the south and southeast wind.

Capt. Bob Hill, 361-983-4325 www.fishportoconnor.com

Bring your kids (ages 2 through 12) on down to the Seadrift Bayfront on Saturday, June 11 for a great time and fun competition. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest and smallest fish in each age group.

Every child will receive a snack bag and the first 75 entrants will receive T-shirts. Entry fee is just $1.00.

The tournament starts at 7:00 a.m. with a presentation by the Game Warden. Fishing continues until 10:00 a.m.

Contact Sandy Moncrief at 361-212-0289 for entering information, or enter early the morning of the tournament.

On Saturday June 4 local residents and visitors alike will be able to fish anywhere in Texas without a license. However, normal regulations concerning catch size and quantity still apply.

The annual national event is coordinated by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and coincides with the TakeMeFishing nonprofit organization’s free fishing days throughout the country.