Due to the continued health and safety concerns created by Covid19, especially with regard to large gatherings of people, the POC Community Service Club has made the difficult decision not to reschedule its “Spring Garage Sale” that was cancelled in April. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause the POC Community, but have Good News in that the Club’s “Fall Garage Sale”, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2020, will be bigger and better than ever!!!

We continue to need, and accept, your generous donations of gently used clothing, shoes, decorative and household items, small appliances, toys, sporting goods, dishes, etc. We cannot accept furniture, mattresses, or electronics!! A HUGE “THANK YOU” TO ALL OF YOU for your continued support of the Service Club and it’s fund raising efforts!!

The Club’s next meeting is Thursday, May 21, 2020, 10:00 a.m. at the Pavilion at Front Beach. During June, July, and August, the Club meets just once monthly, the first Tuesday of each month!! If you are interested in joining this wonderful group of ladies who work tirelessly for the betterment of the POC Community, we would love to have you join us!! All are welcome!!

One of the jewels in our little town at the end of the road is the Port O’Connor Community Center and Pavilion. About twenty five years ago, a group of citizens had a vision for this facility and they set a plan in motion to raise funds to realize their dream. It took many months, several design changes, lots of donations and grants and much hard work before the final product was finished and could be enjoyed. The original intent for the center was as a meeting and gathering place for local clubs and groups, a youth recreational facility in the pavilion and a space for memorial services and funerals. Today, these things are still a major part of the functions held there, as well as fishing tournaments, the CCA Banquet, Port O’Connor Community Service Club semi-annual garage sales, Warriors Weekend, and too many others to list. It is well used and provides revenue for other businesses in town when visitors come to attend all the events.

Recently, our County Commissioner, Gary Reese, provided the funds and has been overseeing needed repairs to the building. After 20 years plus of salt sea air, a new roof, fascia, eaves, portico ceiling, and other outside repairs were needed. These repairs have now been completed and the building looks beautiful. Our Calhoun County Commissioners’ Court, and specifically our commissioner, are responsible for maintaining the outside of the buildings and grounds. A local board of directors comprised of Jim Cooley, Ronna Fishbeck, Dawn Ragusin, Bill Moore, Grady Jean Clark, Wanda Redding and Diane Cooley are responsible for keeping the interior of the center and the pavilion in good order. A fund raiser to cover the cost of new restrooms and other
renovations to the pavilion has been put on hold until next year, but grants are also being applied for to help defer the costs.

As of now, the center is available for use and rental at 25% capacity, but by the end of May the restrictions should be eased to allow 50% capacity in each building. Information on rates, dates available, rules and key usage can be obtained from April May at our county commissioner’s office, (361)785-3141.

Oh No! It wasn’t the Corona, it is a Bigger Better Deal! For simplistic sake it’s about Blue Water Billfish and Big Bucks. How much can a man do in a Year, every year.

And don’t think you’re getting rid of me that easy. I’m not going anywhere. You are stuck with my column for a few more years. I hope that makes some of ya happy, if not, skip it. All kidding aside, we will be just doing a name change of some sort. The goal is going to feature different local Coastal Businesses that cater to Lodging, Seafood, Fishing and Hunting plus all the Local Guides who tailor their best outdoor styles with the visitors that come visit the Middle Coast. Plus all the cool Tournaments that happen every week from May to November, plus the Freeze Out that is in and around January. Fishermen and Hunters alike are so charitable. These Tournaments support numerous charities, the locals and the economy. Actually some of us Brag, “We live where people vacation.” It’s so true. Oh don’t get me wrong when the crowds come the water gets smaller even at night.

We all see the post from various Fishermen who have been beat to their spot they been fishing since WW1 . Oh I get it. We all have been on both ends of a fishing group who rains on our parade at our super secret spot that no one knows about. I enjoy writing about this phenomenon and the different perspectives and levels of Fishermen, because we somehow forget to realize that with technology, a little know how, lots of drive and we are all type A personalities so its inevitable that on the weekends and with all this stimulus money we will cross paths. So as the waterways narrow with drifters, waders and boaters there is going to be differences of opinion of who is right

or wrong. I’m subject to the spectrum also. Even with all my certified this and that’s of being a Waterman, I still make mistakes and get the Daily A$$HOLE Award. It’s NOT what I’m going for but when I get it I wear it proudly and salute back with the 1 finger wave to let em know that I appreciate the award.

Hey, I run Airboat Redfishing Trips. I’m definitely on the short bus of guides. I’m really low on the totem pole amongst fly Fishermen.

Hey, sorry my Air Ranger isn’t as stealthy as Tom Horby’s skiffs. Reminds me of one day we crossed paths in a Back Lake. We told this story on FB. I had a herd of Reds locked down and every dead bait known to man was out in front of em. The Sun was High and the weather was clear, perfect for sight casting.

Not knowing Tom that well, but have the utmost respect for all guys that make their living on the water, I saw him poling our way. I wasn’t able to get them Reds to eat. They wouldn’t even eat a fresh dead shrimp. Everything loves eating shrimp except that day.

Captain Tom was about to turn around so I yelled at him to pole ahead of us because there were numerous targets for his guests to cast at. We rolled our lines up, sat and watched the Tom Horby Show. He was also gracious enough to offer his secret shrimp fly with a bubble but I didn’t have light enough Tackle. I was slinging dead meat hum ‘em out there Waterloo sticks. Anyway, Tom’s guest that day was on a slot red just past my Air Ranger. I videoed the whole thing. They popped 3 or 4 more before we could ease out of his way.

The point is we can find away to accept the day on the water however you like to fish. You want to break out in hives. Go fish below Lake Livingston Dam when the White Bass and Stripers are running. You can walk boat to boat. You will need a Xanax prescription after a few days of fishing there.

The Fishing Report in a nutshell is: Wade fishing for trout is the best way to limit out, Artificial or Bait. Of course you will also catch reds and flounder. It’s a great way and time to get a Texas Slam.

Boat Fishing: Jetties with live or dead bait will fill your coolers up quickly. Drift fishing and Stake out techniques are producing reds, drum and some trout. Captain Pat Lester has been sticking some nice Saddle Blankets. I would have more details but he sleeps during the day. I do have better luck calling him after 2 p.m.

The Saltwater Lodge was a Great Coastal Lodge with many Memories made for hundreds of people. Steve and Billy were great to work, hunt and fish with over the years. They were very generous with their slice of Texas Heaven. They are still around and we all wish them the best of luck in all their endeavors!

Surviving the PanDammit,
Captain Jeff Larson
281 217 0399

The second half of April has surprisingly flown by with our efforts to keep busy doing household maintenance and deep cleaning, managing our mowing and tree trimming business, keeping up with the rental business as Brandy is working from home and running half day fishing trips for friends, family and a few new customers. One perk of being a fishing guide and having a wife who’s a realtor is that I can run her clients as a value-add to her business while running my clients as well. I have never underesti-mated the importance of adding outdoor entertainment services like boating and fishing and hunting when it comes to taking care of clients no matter what business I have been in. I seem to have always fished or hunted customers throughout the past 30 years no matter the line of business whether it was banking, insurance, state government, the promotional products industry or real estate. One common denominator in all of these lines of work and almost any that you can think of is a love by all for the out-doors.

This week my fishing trips have been a combination of about all we do down here on the middle Texas coast. I have had folks in the boat with bait; in the boat with lures; wading trips with lures; wading trips with live bait; sight casting outings focusing solely on stalking redfish; and just plain ole boat rides with a dolphin watch as an added bonus. I have slowed down the pace a bit and not been so stringent on departure times and that has been very popular. Yeah we want to get out there and have the best chance on catching fish but that is not a steadfast rule that you have to follow. There’s no shame in leaving the dock after the sun is well awake in the sky and some of the clumsy impatient anglers are long gone from the dock. I have passed some of those guys along the way anyway usually coming back to the dock because someone forgot a license or they are stuck on a sand bar or they have simply rushed to get to a spot that makes absolutely no sense. “Let them get the heck out of the way, take a deep breath and ease away from the dock assured you didn’t forget things” is what I’m have been thinking to myself- things such as the bait, the rods or the sunscreen for goodness sakes!

The month of May is upon us and that is a transition time for me historically. The time has come to switch from live shrimp to croaker on my bait trips. I am normally booked every day in May, June and almost all of July and August so starting out this May with only a few bookings late in the month is scary. Being an all inclusive venue the lodge cannot open until the county gives them the all clear so their hands are tied until that time. However I find no matter how bad the economy has gotten with the pandemic and loss of business, I’m more relaxed these days and more appreciative of the customers I do have which has translated into more enjoyable outings, less stress of thinking how I need to get to my spots first since there is less bay pressure, and overall a better experience for the guest. My prom-ise to those fishing with me over the immediate future from a safety standpoint is to continue the disin-fecting procedures on my boat after each trip and while we are not wearing masks we are doing our best to separate as much as possible. That said we are open for business with lots of dates available to re-start your passion and join me for a day of appreciation of our natural resources aboard a comfortable boat in a relaxed atmosphere.

Capt Stephen Boriskie
Bay Flats Lodge, Seadrift, Texas,