Because of our physical location along the Texas gulf coast, the only thing predictable in December is the unpredictability of the weather – it can be either cold or warm on any given day of the month. But the fishing, however, should be downright “HOT” this month. The water is in good shape, the salinity levels are back to normal for this time of the year, and our bays have managed to maintain more than favorable levels of baitfish throughout the year. This has been a fantastic year for fishing, and we should almost certainly be able to look forward to some incredible wintertime catches as we move forward into the colder months of the year.

As the days get colder, so shall the fish. Yes, the fish actually get cold, too. So much, in fact, that their body functions undergo adjustments during cold weather which leaves them moving much slower and eating a lot less often. That’s why you should slow your retrieve quite a bit once bay waters have become chilly, and it is also why you slow the speed at which you wade a cold-water shoreline.

We’ll probably experience some prominent frontal passages in December that could be supported by some pretty hefty winds as they
blow through the coastal bend area When this happens, wait until the second or third day following the actual passage of the frontal system before getting back out on the water. Wind conditions often settle to little or no wind at all by the third day, and you should be out there to take advantage of the nice conditions. Some very productive days last winter occurred on the second and third day after fronts when there were slight winds. You should position yourself so as to be able to toss top water baits atop a mud bottom that’s mixed with shell and grass. If there aren’t any takers on top, try a slow-sinking plug that enables you to work various levels of the water column, something like a Corky, a Fat Boy, or even a Devil . These are all effective baits this month, and all are fun to experiment with.

As usual during winter, anglers need to be looking to the dark lure colors to pay good dividends within the reef areas of San Antonio Bay, as well as in some of the more secluded spots that can be found in any of the many back lake areas that are situated out on Matagorda Island. Here’s to hoping that everyone has a very Merry Christmas, and even a better Happy New Year! Be careful out there, and we’ll talk again next year!

The Intercoastal 4-H Club had their monthly meeting on December 4th, 2017 We had Eric Taylor the 4-H Agriculture Agent come talk to us about Consumer Decision Making (C.D.M). C.D.M is one of the many 4-H challenges. Any 4-Her is welcome to do.

Intercoastal 4-H teamed up with the First Baptist Church POC Youth Group on December 13 for a food drive at Speedy Stop. Non perishables collected were taken to POC’s food pantry.

Our next 4-H meeting will be held January 8th, 2018 at 6:30 at the POC school library. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come!

McKenna Guevara
Reporter/Secretary

The fundraiser for Linda T and John ‘Killer’ Williams rebuild of the burned barn was a big success. Chilly weather meant warm chili tasted really great. Thanks to all the friends and neighbors who drove in and donated, and enjoyed the food. All the donations go directly to the rebuild thanks to the incredible generosity of several including Bubba Conran at Bubba’s Smokehouse who prepared the chili meat free of charge, the many who donated meat and supplies listed below, the outstanding cooks and dishwashers of First Baptist Church and those who worked Friday evening in the cold to make sure each donor was served fresh hot chili. Blessings to all of you who helped and those who donated. Linda and Killer want you to know how much they appreciate you and count it a joy to be a part of a community like this.

Thanks especially to: David Walker, Noral McCauley, Julie and Chase Thomas, Donnie Klesel, Weslie Mollere and Eric Chance, Kirk and Joanie Morgan, Jim and Diane Cooley, those amazing FBC Women, Josie’s Cantina and others surely missed. Your kind-heartedness made the evening possible. -Kelly Gee

In 2017, BSA Troop 106 of Seadrift, Texas started off small with campouts at Camp Mauritz and what was Sunday Beach. Council Camporee in April saw Craig Lopez tapped out for the Order of the Arrow. He went through the Ordeal Ceremony in May.

Summer Camp at Camp Karankawa saw three boys and three adults attend. They were Craig Lopez, Marshall Arlitt, and Mitchel Arlitt and Leaders Patrick Henley, Ron arlitt, and Carson Recher. Later this summer, Mitchell Arlitt completed his Eagle Scout project of painting the old POC Jail for Precinct 4 of Calhoun County. Marshall Arlitt completed his Eagle Scout project of painting the exterior walls for Fisherman’s Chapel.

After the Solar Eclipse of 2017 and Hurricane Harvey, the troop saw some new Scouts join. We went to the La Salle District Camporee at Presidio La Bahia in Goliad. Scouts attending were Sam Thumann, Gavin Gosnell, Nick Brigger, Mitchell Arlitt, Marshall Arlitt, Jordan Blevins, and Ethan Spencer. Webelos attending were Dwight Beaver, Jeremiah Mayorga and John Jacobs. Adults attending were Patrick Henley, Ray and Joseph Mayorga, Louis Warren, and Russell Cady. The boys won First Place Overall with First Place wins in Plank Walk, First Aid, String Burning and Compsite Inspection. Also, they took 3rd place in Patrol Flag and Knot Tying relay.

The boys have earned merit badges in Communications, Personal Fitness, Citizenship in the Community, Basketry and Electronics. Craig Lopez advanced to Star Rank. Sam Thumann, Nick Burgger, and Gavin Gosnell advanced to Second Class.

Our next campout is scheduled for December 15 & 16. The year 2018 will have us at Lost Pines Scout Reservation in Bastrop, Texas during the month of July. A fund raiser will be held in March.

We meet Monday nights at the Scout Hall on Main St. in Seadrift, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information or questions answered, call or text Patrick H. Henley at (361) 489-1259.

Seadrift Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts delivered Christmas ornaments they made, and sang at Port Lavaca Nursing Home.

The end of any year is always more about fresh starts and hope more than anything else. Many are coming off the joy of the holiday season and are also thinking ahead to the future.

Of course, the tales of New Year’s resolutions that are broken are pure social comedy fodder, they are the punch lines for jokes told on the stages of many a water cooler or work site till next Christmas.

2017 also brought an old friend of mine from when I was away to some parts of Texas…snow. Sadly, I too have seen this cold white substance from the sky this year, but in Illinois, it is more the coming attractions before the feature presentation.

I was delighted to see Texas get to get in on some of the action though this year as it brought back memories of being in High School in El Paso in January of 1993 or so when a light ‘dusting’ of snow fell on the city. I recall many small accidents along I-10 and cars and trucks (this being Texas, that meant lots of trucks), sliding around the roads.

Of course, I was a veteran of Chicago winters and thought it was crazy to see my friends shivering and complaining about a day where conditions were what we might, during some Chicago winters  call a nice day of relief from the season of ice.

‘Drifting’ away from the weather a bit, personally for me the year was one of learning and closer to the time I am writing this, a time of some loss and some changes, but that is all right, Winter is the time when things sleep or grow tired only to awaken in the Spring, growing even further with the lessons learned in the Winter and the accumulated experience of all of the seasons that preceded it.

Even though in the Western world Thanksgiving is the time for gratitude and thankfulness, I also cannot help as the year draws to a close to express how lucky I feel to be able to speak with all of you for almost six years via this column.

Through it I feel we have explored topics that hopefully not only entertained but enlightened in some fashion or another or at the very least expressed my thoughts to all of you in an enjoyable and digestible manner.

So in the spirit of the above I will leave you with this and see all of you next year:

As we usher the new year in and usher the old man out,
Blank canvases await on the other side of the celebration.
New dreams will be forged without a doubt,
Filled with both hope and anticipation.

Constant cycle of measurement that stretches throughout our lives,
Cold to warmth to cold again before each year’s dawn.
Eternally grateful for each new year we see as it arrives,
As much as we are grateful for the past year that has gone.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
-TomSpy