‘Cause fishin’ ain’t fishin if fishin’ain’t fun.

Hector Mendieta, would have totally agreed with Texas Gulf Coast musician Larry Joe Taylor’s song. Hector, passed away from a heart attack in November of 2014 leaving a large hole in the fabric of South Central Gulf Coast. Hector was a familiar musician around the Golden Crescent and a strong advocate of conservation of the recreational fishing industry.

Growing up in Corpus Christi, Hector developed a strong tie with the water and the creatures that live there. This led to him joining the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), formerly the Gulf Coast Conservation Association (members have a redfish bumper sticker on their vehicles). Hector’s desire to protect the coastal estuaries and its marine life to produce the fish he loved to catch led him up the ladder to being a national level director of the CCA.

In 2011, Hector, with the strong support of his wife Nancy, led a partnership with the CCA, Ecovantage, and several other companies, to construct a children and handicap accessible fishing pier at Texas Parks and Wildlife Marine Development Center in Corpus Christi. Hector and several volunteers personally constructed the majority of the two 226 foot long piers. The piers are made from thermally modified lumber, which is extremely weather resistant, and is now fairly common on the coast. Thousands of visitors have been introduced to the joy of fishing thanks to Hector and his team’s work.

Hector had another facet of bringing fun to the people of the Third Coast with his music. Hector’s bass guitar kept many a band member under control as he plunked out the beat beginning in the 1970s. Joel Nava, who had performed with Hector since 1986 in various bands such as Nightrider and Joel Nava and the Border, referred to Hector as the closest thing to a brother as he was a strong resource both on and off stage. Jerry James, another combination environmentalist/musician stated that playing with Hector was like magic, whether he knew the song or not, his bass jumped right in with the proper rhythm. Hector’s repertoire ranged from Jimi Hendrix to Tejano.

Hector Mendieta’s commitment to keeping both the fishing and music scene alive on the Third Coast has led to the creation of a scholarship fund in his name. The fund will support academic scholarships to youth in pursuit of an education in the music and/or marine sciences.

The Hector Mendieta Tunes and Tails Fishing Tournament & BBQ Cookoff will be held September 23rd & 24th in Port O’Connor. Friday, the 23rd, is set up and preparation time for a full day of fun on the morrow. Sunrise, Saturday morning the fishing rigs will be splashing in Matagorda Bay as anglers attempt to win the tournament. For those beach-bound participants the fires will be lit for the BBQ cookoff; and mid-day the music to celebrate Hector’s life will kick-off including some of the bands he played in. Sets by Jerry James, Pat Matula & the Lone Star Playboys, Bill Pekar & the Rainey Brothers, the Gin Tonics, The Hot Attacks, the Nightriders, and culminating with a concert and dinner featuring Joel Nava & the Texas Border at the Port O’Connor Community Center.

This special event is sponsored by the Texas Hill Country Distillers, Hartman Distributing, and RLB Contracting. Sponsorships are still available by visiting www.hectorstunesandtails.com.

Please mark you calendar for the fourth weekend in September to help celebrate the legacy of Hector Mendieta who a friend once remarked “His star is one of the brightest in the night. If we listen, we probably hear him playing in the Heavens.”

by Gary McKee, Reprinted from The Texas Polka News

To Enter Tunes & Tails Fishing Tournament or BBQ Cook Off: www.hectorstunesandtails.com

Grand Opening “On The Bayou”

On Friday, August 26th we’ll be having a Grand Opening to shine a spotlight on our new facilities and celebrate life on the coast and the great outdoors. We’d like to extend a warm 2Cool welcome to anyone in the area to attend. There will be an “Open House” from Noon to 3PM with BBQ and all of Wendi’s trimmings. We’ll have a live DJ and Horseshoes on the bayou. We’ve got details on the event posted on our Facebook Fan’s page. If you can make it, please check “Going”. The fishing and hunting public is welcome to attend

Trout Action

Winds have backed down and the water is responding with turbidity levels subsiding amidst better tidal exchanges. That has Capt. James Cunningham reporting an improving bite for boat fishermen working live bait focusing on Trout. The last few weeks, wade fishermen have had the upper hand with fish penned up on leaward shorelines hammering bait balls working off the guts. As water conditions improve mid-bay, that’s going to open up a lot of structure and set us up for some excellent Fall fishing.

Redfish & Flounder Gigging

Capt. Donnie Heath reported excellent action on Redfish with guests of The Hill Country Safari Club chapter in for a visit over the weekend. It took a little doing with tides elevated from TS Earl but once he tracked them down over heavy grass it was “on”. This was an action packed trip with Flounder Gigging on one evening. The gigging trips are new to some of our guests and it’s so rewarding having them return all pumped up. Rick K. fishing with guests of Martin Automotive were just ecstatic about their floundering trip with Capt’s Heath and Cady.

The Fishing Is Always Best When YOU Can Get Away!!

Capt. Kris Kelley, Castaway Lodge
1-888-618-4868
E-mail: kris@seadriftbayfishing.com
www.seadriftbayfishing.com
Facebook: Castaway Lodge

INSHORE DIVISION
Master Anglers
1. Spot Luck, Jackson Hooper, Bill Kinney III 37.2
2. Burning Daylight, Jim Anders, Jeff Glueck 31.7
3. Team Waterloo, Jimmy Burns, Michael Urban 29.85

Redfish
1. Spot Luck, Jackson Hooper, Bill Kenney III 16
2. Jugheads, Ken Lester Jr., Brandt Allen Boone 15.75

Trout
1. Spot Luck, Jackson Hooper, Bill Kinney III 21.2
2. Two Lefties, Danny English, Bill Pitts 16.6

Largest Redfish
1. Jugheads, Ken Lester Jr., Brandt Allen Boone 8.4

Fly Fishing
1. Red Dawn, Camp Bailey, Corby Robertson III 18.2
2. Dos Mas, Will Blackbird, Kevin R. Shelly 15.2

Largest Red – Fly
1. Red Dawn, Camp Bailey, Corby Robertson III 8.1

OFFSHORE DIVISION
Blue Marlin
Reel Bounty, Andy Hollen 547.0

Tuna
Mono Chongo, Robert Brown 176.5

Dorado
Over the Limit, Derek Elzner 26.5

Wahoo
Notorious, Marsh Miller 63

Ever wonder what happens to all those big and not so big fish caught at the fishing tournaments. Some captains keep their fish for food and even trophy mounting. But, many trophy mounts today are synthetic reproductions of beautiful fish using pictures, video and measurements. Some captains generously donate their catch to feed others.

Fishermen’s Chapel, a local church, together with volunteers and ministry partners, clean, portion and package fish to feed hungry families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet. The local food pantry ministry, a large outreach ministry in East Houston, and a Ft. Worth based ministry spent time and effort to utilize the fish caught to bless others.

An average of 2-3 families or individuals who may have lost a job, had illness or injury or experienced other struggles will seek food assistance from the POC food pantry weekly. Some weeks there are more needs, but none are turned away. They will receive canned, dry and frozen food to feed themselves and their family through the tough time. Some come back several times before life levels out, and some land on their feet more quickly. The filets of fresh fish packaged from tournament donated fish are one of the ways we are able to help those in need.

Volunteers filleted fish until well after dark during both the POCO, Lonestar Shootout and Sharktooth tournaments. The generosity of those involved makes the food pantry work in our small community. You can help by making non-perishable food donations at Fishermen’s Chapel on Main Street in POC. Thanks fishermen, fish cleaners and others who helped make it all possible.