The Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank everyone who came out to be a part of our annual 4th of July Fundraiser- it was a great success! We extend our sincerest thanks to all the volunteers, those who donated their time, talent, auction items, and all those who purchased. Thanks to the ladies at First National Bank Port O’Connor branch for selling raffle tickets!

We take pride in taking care of our community, person and property. Our biggest concern right now is our 1998 engine/pumper truck. We’d like to upgrade to a newer one. Insurance companies tend not to recognize a fire truck if it is over 20 years old….so to help keep property owners insurance cost down, it’s beneficial to replace the truck. To continue to serve the needs of Port O’Connor today and in the future, we are looking at purchasing a truck in the $300,000 – $400,000 price range. We have been saving from previous fundraisers specifically for this truck. So we thank you all for your generous donations of money, time and talent. We look forward to seeing you again at our fall/winter fundraiser.

Monetary donations of any amount can be accepted any time of the year, so if you have it your heart and pocketbook, please mail it to POC VFD PO Box 732 Port O’Connor, TX 77982.

Sincerely- POC VFD

Food, Family & Friends

Greetings from the island everyone. I hope all of you are doing well and adjusting to this south Texas heat that is upon us.  Thank goodness there is usually a nice breeze out on the island, otherwise it would be simply miserable between about noon-4 pm each day.  As it is now, I try to get my outside chores and projects finished early in the morning to beat the worst of the humidity and heat.  I think I’m ready for Fall already!

I’m hoping that everyone enjoyed a nice Fathers Day with your dad last month, whether he is still with you, or you spoke to him in heaven. The siblings and I made a road trip and visited dad in Brazoria for the day.  It was a wonderful day, and I had dad play Orange Blossom Special on his fiddle, and he played it amazingly well.  I love you, Dad.

For the first time, I went to Indianola with friends a few Saturday nights ago and listened to the band, Gintonics.  This is a very down-to-earth place with good food and the music was great.  It took about 40 minutes to drive there by car from POC, but later I took a nice Sunday afternoon boat ride to Indianola in Britton’s 21’ Haynie Cat, with Susan, Lori and Don, and it only took 20 minutes. We had lunch and even scored a nice buoy to display in Britt and Susan’s new island yard on the way back.

On July 1, POC had their annual fireworks display off the pier on Front Beach, and it was amazing as usual.  I watched the display from a boat anchored just a few hundred yards from the action, and it was great.  I’ve always watched from the island in years past, but the boat view was much better.  And then a few days later, I rode with friends to Seadrift and watched Bubba’s fantastic display of fireworks out at Swan Point.  It was a full hour of a continuous beautiful display.  Thank you, Bubba, for your generosity.

The baby chickens are now just over six weeks old, and have been moved to their permanent pen/coop area.  A few weeks ago, Susan helped me move them by her climbing into the brooding pen and catching each one by hand, and placing them in a cooler. I was gonna use a dip net, but the hand catching had a much better result.
Well the Spring/Summer tomato plants are done with and pulled up, and I started seeds for 12 Fall tomato plants, which are a few inches tall now. The Spring plants did very well, providing lots of tomatoes for friends and family, and hoping the same with the Fall crop.

My friends and I are still having a few summer bonfires on the beach, some of which include a beautiful full moon in the gulf sky.  It makes for such a relaxing late evening when we can have these.  A perk of island life.

On Thursday evening last week, I made a trip over to the Big Jetties and watched the wonderful big POCO boats streaming outbound to head offshore for the big tournament.  I love watching these boats leave offshore every year, they are beautiful. I took lots of pictures and several videos.

Congratulations to the POC Volunteer Fire Department on the huge turnout for their annual Fourth of July BBQ plate sale.  I stopped by and picked up three plates and a few T-shirts to help support them.  The BBQ was wonderful and the people were many!

A big heartfelt thank you to a man named Joe Rivera from Port Lavaca, for stopping and helping me with a blowout two weeks ago on the highway.  Joe was a life saver helping me get back on the road after issues with the spare, and he wouldn’t take a dime for his troubles.  Thank you, Joe Rivera!

Lastly, I attended a memorial a few weeks ago for a wonderful man, Jon Gravely.  He was well known and loved by many, and was a welcomed smile at Froggie’s Bait Dock,  where he worked.   Jon loved to fish every chance he got, and he loved kids and all animals. Thank you, Carrie, for a great memorial tribute to Jon; he will be missed.

That’s it from the island, everyone take care and have a great day.

Clint Bennetsen (Island Life) and his dad, Henry, on Fathers Day.

BOOM! BOOM !!!

The booms went off, without any issues. The Annual Fireworks Display in Port O’Connor for 2017, was without a doubt the Biggest & Best ever. “THANKS” for all the small and large donations, that makes it possible for this event to be put on. I’m not sure what will happen if and when Donnie, Sheryl and crew should decide not to be involved in the event. Without a doubt they have all the details down to making this so successful, Every year there are more and more spectators. I’ve had calls wanting a date for 2018: it will be July 7th,2018.

Now we have Poco Bueno going on, this year the weather is cooperating. If you missed it, the sight of the boats going out was astounding. Hope everyone stays safe and catches lots of fish.

Next will be the Lone Star Shoot Out. This month you are sure to find a tournament each weekend.

THANKS to all who have joined and supported the Port O’Connor Chamber. If in doubt if your business is a member, give us a call:
361-983-2898 361poc@gmail.com-www.portoconnorchamber.com

Next Meeting: August 7,2017, 6:30 p.m., Port O’Connor Community Center

New & Renewed Members:
Clint Bennetsen
Seadrift Lawn & Home Service, LLC
Port O’Connor Rod & Gun
Mercer ER
Joise’s Restaurant & Cantina
Salt Blossom
Mitch & Ann Brownlee
Branding Works
Riverside Vacation Rentals
designworks
Sylvia’s Hair Salon

The 2nd Annual Seadrift Shrimpfest Fishing Tournament sponsored by Bay Flats Lodge was held on June, 17th 2017. The event was held at the Seadrift Bayfront during the 37th Annual Seadrift Shrimpfest. 36 boats battled it out for over $15k in winnings. 1st place combined stringer was won by Team Waterloo who took home $6,480. 2nd place combined stringer was won by Team Last Cast who won $3,240. 3rd place combined stringer was Team Shoal Out who took home $1,080. 1st place big red was Team Shoalwater who won $1,020. 2nd place big red was Team Short Strike who won $510. 3rd place big red was Team KGK Law who won $170. Team Short Strike won 1st place big trout and $960. 2nd place big trout was Team Top Fin who took home $480. Team Awesomeness took home $160 for 3rd place big trout. 1st place redfish spot pot winner was Team Get-Got who won $775. 1st place Big Other was Team El Diablo who won $600 for weighing in a 11.44lb alligator gar.

Fish fillets from the tournament were donated to the Feed My Sheep program of Calhoun County for distribution to those in need. The 2nd annual tournament was able to raise $6k in funds that will be donated to local Calhoun County organizations in need. “We are very thankful to Bay Flats Lodge for filling our title sponsor spot, all of our associate sponsors, volunteers, and teams who signed up to fish with us this year. Together we were able to raise much needed funds to give back to the communities of Calhoun County” said tournament director, Austen Rivera.

The tournament committee would like to thank the following businesses for their support : Bay Flats Lodge, Seadrift Chamber of Commerce, Coastline Trailers, Dow Chemical, Chris’s Marine, Momentum Rentals, Dick’s Food Store, Ineos Nitriles, The Screen Shop, Barefoot Guide Service, and Etch of Class Awards.

Ms. Glover had a productive day fishing with Capt. Jeff Larson.
Wading is the key throughout the summer to box a limit of trout.

The end of June was a phenomenal ending on the Flats and Mid Bay Reefs for Trout, no matter what your style of fishing you prefer. We had some Fast & Furious action most days. The reds were another story. They have been around but most days once you get your trout it was time to head in before it got too hot to fish. July is setting up the same. We have been seeing some great weather. The wind has been just enough to keep most of the morning cool to catch your limit of trout. If you are new to the area, I always suggest hiring a guide. But if you are a do it yourselfer you want to get you a good map and concentrate on the mid bay reefs and spoils. The oil rigs are another spot to catch trout. Seadrift and Port O Connor both have plenty of room to explore and catch a mess of fish.

The bait of choice is still croaker. Croaker soaking is an art not a guarantee. We have had days that the textbook thump and swim off isn’t the norm. We have had to let em thump it and let out some line before you could set the hook and cross their eyes. I get a lot of ribbing from my purist artificial bait buddies but I am seeing them with all these wrist and forearm strap on things because they won’t give bait a try. A fisherman’s arm does get a little worn out after years of jigging tops and tails all day. Don’t get me wrong, on my days off I throw hardware from time to time but by 10 A.M. I’m starting to feel the pain.
If trolling for reds and trout were effective, I would do that to save my arms and shoulders.

POCO Big Boats left this evening. What an Awesome Sight. I really enjoy watching those magnificent boats parade out of the little jetties with their American and State flags flying with USA PRIDE. Even saw a Trump flag or 2. Go Trump!!!

The inshore Teams shotgun off tomorrow morning racing to their secret holes hoping some weekender didn’t stumble on their winning fish. It’s incredible how fast these bay boats are screaming by the house. I usually watch em and stay out of their way but my ol buddy Charles wants to go for a quick top water wade. We will be leaving before the gun goes off and hopefully we wont get in anyone’s way.

Here’s one for you. Captain Ron Elkins set up an all women fishing day earlier this month and it was a blast. Of course he gave me the wild bunch that made me blush between baiting hooks and netting fish. We targeted trout on the reefs and it paid off. The ladies caught their 5 trout and Alicia caught her very 1st shark. It was a 12# black tip. The ladies all had a great time and I’m sure they will be calling Capt. Ron again for another saltwater spa day.

Then the very next day. Another Salty Local Lady decided she wanted to string some trout, so I took Nurse Jessica for a quick wade in Matagorda. We made the 1st wade and finished within an hour or so before the tide came to a stand still. We bounced around a couple of mid bay structures and called it a good morning before she had to go-to work that evening.

Hey, it’s fun fishing with the ladies. My Babes on the Bay Teams and Saltwater Sweetie Teams are the best of times. I call it “Lady Luck”. Plus Ladies listen and follow instructions better than most guys. Guys want to re-invent your technique and try to change things up. My lady customers wait for the THUMP and let the rod tip down for a few seconds. Most guys have watched too much bass fishing and set the hook when they barely feel the croaker wiggle.

We enjoy the daily adventures at Saltwater Lodge on the Texas Middle Coast. We hope that you can come join us and let us take care of you for a few days on the water or in the marsh.

Ladies night out is now turning into Ladies Day Fishing. Then a Spa Day on the weekend.

If you are looking for a great outdoor experience on the water please give us a call. Ask for Scott, he will line out a fun relaxing itinerary for your group. 361 785 3825.

Keep hydrated, buy lots of croaker and take the ladies fishing,

Capt. Jeff Larson 281 217 0399

I would like to give a shout out to Chuck Carter in POC for taking care of all my electronics.