July has been more of a grinder than I would have liked to experience but I can say that our customers have been rolling with it with more commonly than not an attitude of ‘…hey, it’s fishing not catching…” That said I have been able to fill limits of Speckled Trout over the past few days and even take a few Redfish to boot!

It’s time now for a change and I can tell it’s happening soon. As we enter the dog days of Summer with heat being ever present the fish will change a bit as boxes of trout usually decline while redfish seem to increase. Why these marsh monsters’ activity and presence are more noticeable is beyond my pay scale so all I can say is it’s going to happen and get ready to put a smile on the face of the anglers who can tough it out in the calm waters with scorching heat. Speaking of calm waters soon we will be wondering where the wind has gone too but it’s the same year after year and if you follow weather patterns like we do you can understand that without the cold air meeting up with warm air there is no wind to be created. Hence, dog days!

If you are a deep water enthusiast but get queasy like me in rough waters the POC jetties are a good bet in the next two months. As the Summer’s end approaches and the winds calm down the green, heck, blue waters come closer to the beach front and that means the offshore fish will come with it. It’s always a good bet during these periods of the year that tarpon and kingfish will come close enough to hook right off the end of the jetties. What a battle and great time to be an angler during this brief period. Also common that time of year is the crab migration where you can shut the motor off between the jetties and drift with the current ushered by sometimes hoards of these critters. Fabulous redfish bait is right there sunning with you as you set sail on the clean waters of the mouth of the gulf.

There is no better time than right now to book a trip to end the Summer for those who soon will be busying themselves with the myriad of Fall responsibilities. The list is long and time will be short when you are talking school, football, volleyball, soccer, work, eek! A friend once told me ‘just because it’s Sunday doesn’t mean the weekend is over…” Treat Summer that way and make the most of the days you have left before getting too covered up in the ‘end of Summer’.

The Harte Research Institute based in Corpus Christi, Texas began a tagging program this spring to help better understand the habits of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. To encourage and motivate fishermen to participate in this study they have tagged approximately 4,000 red snapper across the Gulf of Mexico with tags that are worth up to $500.00 per fish caught. The fish can be tagged with either one or two tags and each tag has a dollar value.

The red snapper pictured at right has two tags worth $250.00 each which in this case is worth a total of $500.00 to the lucky fisherman who caught it. Each tag is printed with a dollar reward value, phone number for reporting the catch and the tag number. The tags can either be cut and saved when releasing the fish or the fish can be kept and the tags removed while cleaning the fish.

When reporting the catch to the Harte Research Institute via phone they will ask questions about the fish such as the tag(s) number, date and time caught, weight, length, coordinates where caught and depth of water. The tags mush then be mailed to the Harte Research Institute in Corpus Christi who will then mail the reward to the participating fisherman in the form of a VISA gift card equal to the value of the tags. This program is ongoing till December 31, 2019. The tagged fish pictured was caught offshore from Port O’Connor and one lucky fisherman is now $500.00 richer!

Red Snapper season in federal waters was officially closed for us at 12:01 a.m. on August 2. The fish shown in my photo/article was caught on Tuesday, July 30 which was before the federal season closed. Red snapper season does not open again in Federal waters till next year unless they open it again for a day or two yet this year which they sometimes do. However, red snapper season in Texas waters is open all year long but that applies to Texas waters only which extends only 9 miles from the Texas coastline. Oddly the number of red snapper you are allowed to keep in federal waters is only two with a size limit of 16” minimum. In Texas waters you may keep four per person and the minimum size is 14”. – Dave Pope

John Michael Jacobs III “Luan”, 12, of Seadrift, Texas passed away July 27, 2019. He was born June 27, 2007 in Port Lavaca to Julie Nguyen and John Michael Jacobs II.

John was a Pirate at Seadrift Middle School. You could find him outdoors, fishing, bird hunting, camping, hanging out with friends and training his dogs Bandito, Bo, and Eros. He loved basketball (especially the Golden State Warriors), playing Fortnite with his friends, and being a Boy Scout in Troop 106.

He is survived by his mother and best friend, Julie Nguyen and her fiancé Louis Warren, father John Jacobs Jr., grandmothers Van Nguyen “Ba” and Alvina Sanchez “Momo”, grandfather John Jacobs Sr. “Popo”, half-sister Caslyn Jacobs, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Canh Nguyen.

Funeral Mass was Saturday, August 3, 2019. at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church followed by a funeral procession to Seadrift.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com.

Seadrift Boy Scouts Troop/Pack 106, family, and friend recently came together to celebrate the life of Boy Scout John “Luan” Michael Jacobs III.

John will be remembered by his family and friends for his outgoing personality, loyalty as a friend, how he loved his shoes, his smile, love of fishing, and the love he had for his family. The impact and memories that he made while here on Earth will always be engraved in the hearts of all that loved him.

John “Luan” Michael Jacobs III may have cast for the last time here on Earth, but he will forever be fishing in Heaven!

SEADRIFT – Paul James Greenwood Sr., 90, of Seadrift, passed away on August 1, 2019 in Floresville, TX. Paul was born in Coal City, PA to George Say and Edna Hart Say (raised by George Greenwood) on November 7, 1928. He was a veteran and served in the Air Force. Prior to serving in the Air Force, he worked as a Jack of all trades which included the circus and a lifetime in sales.

He was an active member of the Masonic Order and he held many positions including District Deputy of Masonic District 36. Paul gave back to the community by volunteering in social and civic organizations. He received numerous awards for this involvement.

He is preceded in death by his mother; step-father; brothers, Robert Greenwood and John Say; son, Dennis Greenwood; and sisters, Mary Jane Foster and Mary Kay Fonville. He is survived by his longtime friend, Winnie Black; sons, Paul Greenwood II and Craig Simmons, daughters, Melinda Snyder, Judith Derick, Jennifer Crissman; brother, Samuel Greenwood; adopted families of Jesus Garza and Helga Linehan.

The funeral was held on August 8, 2019 with military honors under the auspices of the Calhoun County Veterans Joint Honor Guard, Masonic funeral rites, and Rev. Cody Logan of the United Methodist Church of Seadrift officiating. Burial followed on August 14, 2019, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX.

Memorials may be given to St. Jude’s Hospital. The family of Paul Greenwood Sr. wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses of the Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home and Connally Memorial Hospital of Floresville for their excellent care.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com

SEADRIFT – Irene E. McAlister, 96, passed away July 17, 2019. She was born March 13, 1923 to Y.Z. Helms, Sr. and Mary Belle Helms. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert P. McAlister; son, Robert Charles “Bobby” McAlister; sisters, Catherine Jennings, Louise McCown; brother, Daniel Helms; and grandson, Donald Blake Walden. She is survived by son, Bryan Lynn McAlister; daughter, Brenda Owen; granddaughters, Belitha Baringer, Tani James and Whitney Robinson; grandsons, Robert Ward McAlister and Brian Duane McAlister; great-grandchildren, Conner, Kendyl, Kinley, Carson, Katie, Holly and Jason McAlister and Alexis Baringer.

A committal service was held Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Seadrift Cemetery.

Thoughts and memories may be shared online at www.gracefuneralhome.net. Arrangements and services under the personal care of Grace Funeral Homes & Cemeteries.