Are you feeling the Outdoor Love? Sure hope so. We have been seeing some great Cast and Blast action here on the Middle Coast. “The Best Kept Secret,” claim is long gone because we can’t keep from bragging about limits of ducks, trout and reds all in one day. Some times for a week straight. We are seeing mild cold fronts that are just enough to push huntable numbers of ducks in the area marshes. Up to now, tides are remaining high despite the fronts that have showed up this month. The high tides make it easier to navigate the typical shallow lakes that most boaters can’t get to during normal to low tide months. I believe the high tides are great for fishing because it puts drift fishing into play for all shapes and sizes of bay boats. Drift fishing in the back bays of the middle coast produces numerous trout , reds, flounder and drum during a high tide. Wade fishing is now the best way to catch trophy trout. The Middle Coast puts up some solid weight this time of year. Trophy Trout fishing will also be in play until late Spring, so Good Luck to those fishermen who are looking to bust personal records as well as the State Record.

Duck and Deer seem to be hot topics. Our deer population seem to be in full rut mode. We have seen several nice bucks chasing does while duck hunting the island. The other day while doing some Duck Recon we watched one Buck chasing three does. It’s a really neat site to see. I even enjoy watching amateur FB phone videos of people’s rutting deer. Deer, Bucks, do some crazy stuff during the rut. It goes without warning, sometimes you need to beware of the deer travelling more now so be careful driving through Texas. We have been seeing a lot of deer dead on the side of the road. There was a stud of a buck on FM 238 that had been run over. Hogs too have been on the move and cause serious damage when smacked while travelling. Good Luck this year; we hope you bag a monster buck and tons of does. Once they are processed and your freezer is full, you can swing by here and drop your excess off.

The Duck Opener was a Blast. My opener was one that will be remembered forever. I hunted with Garrett Wygyers, John Hunt, Chase Armstead, Ty May and Brennen. These Young Guns can swing a shotgun and down a bird faster than you can shake a stick. Since I was their guest and left Ryder at the house howling, I sat in the middle of the blind. So when the single and doubles came in on the left, Chase and John slayed ‘em. When they decoyed on the right Garrett swatted ‘em with his gun barrel cause he is so tall. Ty and mini me cleaned house finishing anything left. These Boyz can shoot, I finally was able to strap my six when they went to shag their down birds. Now I’m not a face paint guy but these guys had so much on I don’t know how they got it off without using gasoline. When in Rome….so I did, put a little on even though we were on the X and didn’t need it.

Great Hunting with the younger generation, they are enthusiastic, committed to the heritage and can shoot so good we don’t have to be worried about being taking over by ducks anytime soon. The puddle duck shooting has been off the charts. We have been killing some divers but according to one source they show up about 2 or 3 weeks in the season in the large migratory groups we are so used to seeing down here.

Get out your Calender and give Scott a call before we are out of time or space for you and let’s go Cast and Blast. The Outdoor Hotline for booking is 361 785 DUCK, 3825.

Keep your gun clean, plug in your boat and license in your pocket.

Captain Jeff Larson
281 217 0399

Mid-Bay Trout & Back Marsh Reds

A late bite found Cast & Blast guests “right where they needed to be” coming off of morning duck hunts. Capt. Braden Proctor lit into the Redfish with Drew W. and sons. Capt. Donnie Heath had covered a lot of real estate on an early trip and found sluggish action over mud/grass venues. After the early morning rains on Sunday, Capt. Donnie Heath led his guests into a barrage of Trout action over area shell reefs working artificials. The guests managed near limits of keepers and encountered a ton of smaller schoolies along the way.

Duck Report

Hunting turned out spotty with most of our blinds under water on highly elevated tides and mild weather for the opener. It’ll get better and better as the season progresses. Teal, Gadwall, Redheads and Pintails were among the species taken with Capt. Braden getting the first band of the season on a Redhead. We’ve got lots of hunts and cast and blast trips ahead and we’re looking forward to an awesome year. If you’re looking to schedule a trip, we’d love to have you!

December/February Off Peak Specials

Join us during the duck split closure from 11/27 to 12/09 and February 2017 for great fishing at impressive pricing.
The hunting and fishing is always best when you can get away!

Capt. Kris Kelley
Castaway Lodge
1-888-618-4868
www.seadriftbayfishing.com
Facebook: Castaway Lodge

Daddy was a simple man. He didn’t like complications or drama. He loved us with all his heart and then a little bit more. Daddy loved our beautiful mother, Josie, so much and would jump through hoops for her. Talking with dad about how we grew up poor, he said we grew up in one of the richest families around. He said look at the family we have. Not everyone is so lucky. These words will stick with us forever.

Dad was a Gulf shrimper for many years. The other boats would tie up around his and everyone would come to his boat to eat whatever he cooked up, and it was always a hit. Boat Beans were one of his favorite things to cook. It started to get pretty tough scratching out a living to feed and buy clothes for 5 girls and a wife. Dad loved to cook and mom is also a wonderful cook. Together they decided they would open up a little Taco Hut! Mr. Bert Haynes (a great friend) rented them a little oilfield office building by Froggie’s. Capt. Fred loaned Daddy $250 to go buy the fixings to make ‘Happy Tacos!’ Thus begun the legacy of “The Taco King.”

Daddy loved giving advice. He even gave it to the girls and guys that checked him out at Sam’s or HEB. Daddy loved Port O’Connor and all the people here. It was his joy to cook for them and talk with them every day. Daddy also loved his girls. Dad has been there when we were at the top of the world and when we hit bottom. He never, not once, treated us any differently. He believed in us and supported us unconditionally. He was our backbone and our Hero. And a true friend to so many. Until we meet again Daddy “We love you!”

On behalf of our family, Thank you for all your support during our hard time and throughout the years. Your love and support at his memorial service was overwhelming. We appreciate you having been a part of Josie’s and The Mini Mart. God Bless!

PORT O’CONNOR – Alfredo ‘Cookie’ M. Covarrubias age 71 of Port O’Connor passed away November 4, 2016. He was born October 17, 1945 to the late Alfredo and Santos Covarrubias.

He is survived by wife, Josephine Covarrubias; daughters, Marie Luckey (Franklin), Eloisa Newsome (Joe), Sylvia Hall (Bubba), Christina Ezelle (Pat), Kimberly Dickens (Rick); brothers, Rudy and Adolfo Covarrubias; sisters, Irene Sorrow, Sherry Ureste, Ludine Boyd, Claudine Covarrubias; 11 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren.

Preceded in death by parents; sister, Hilda Covarrubias.

On Tuesday, November 8, Rosary was at Colonial Richardson Funeral Home in Port Lavaca. Graveside service was at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 9 at Port O’Connor Cemetery with Pastor Buford Hall, Sr. officiating.