The mid-November blast of cold weather sent big time numbers of ducks and geese down the Central Flyway, and so far numbers of ducks on the middle Texas coast are definitely better than expected.

I recently hunted with guide Will Granberry who runs duck and goose hunts near Wharton and Port Lavaca. Three of us ended up with 18 ducks and a specklebelly goose. On that particular morning we had a mild cold front moving through and it never quit raining. But the numbers of birds we saw were very impressive. We had several groups of pintails, teal and gadwall come in over the decoys. Just before we picked up the spread we had a flight of 25 or so snows come in low but flared right at the last moment. The numbers of specks moving around was better than expected.

“So far this season we’re racking up good numbers of ducks over flooded fields,” says Granberry. “ I think our next push of cold weather will move lots of ducks and geese our way.”

Granberry runs hunts on flooded fields and on the bays out of Matagorda and Port O’Connor for ducks, geese and sand hill cranes. For more info check out his web site at www.avianskies.com. His cell number is 361-235-0100.

Big bucks are running does

Deer hunters are seeing lots of bucks chasing does in East Texas and the Hill Country. This is a good time to tag a few does while they are still in good shape.

I talked with a couple of buddies who recently added a new twist to their deer hunts – night vision scopes. Cody Bell and Ron Jaap recently went night hunting for pigs after day time deer hunts. Two nights going they eased up on baited cattle tanks and shot at pigs both times.

“A night vision scope is definitely expensive but it adds a whole new type of adventure to our pig hunting,” says Jaap. “You can hunt deer all day, and pigs all night. The only problem is finding enough time to sleep.”

Cedar Bayou study releases tagged reds

Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough were opened on September 25, after having been sealed in the 1970s and enduring decades of negative impacts from siltation and low water flows. Local media were invited to view the ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening last Thursday.

Cedar Bayou is a natural pass that separates San Jose Island from Matagorda Island. Dredging efforts date back to the 1930s, but partial efforts, siltation, and misplacement of spoil materials eventually led to the pass and adjacent Vinson Slough being sealed. The restoration of Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough has created the vital connection from Mesquite and Aransas Bays to the Gulf of Mexico.

The Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation has surgically implanted several redfish with tracking technology as part of the Cedar Bayou study. Each of these fish is marked with a green external dart tag. Definitely release these fish if caught and call the phone number on the tag to let researchers know where you caught the fish and to add valuable movement information to their study. If you decide to keep a tagged fish or if the fish dies in the process of being caught, keep the black cylindrical acoustic tag implanted in the fish and call (361) 825-2028. This research is heavily dependent on the cooperation of local anglers.

Capt. Robert Sloan runs bay, jetty and duck hunting trips out of Port O’Connor. For details call 409-782-6796.

Waterfowl guide Will Granberry and his retriever RayRay recently put a group of hunters on 18 ducks and a goose while hunting on a flooded field near Port Lavaca. Robert Sloan photo

Fishing with Bay Flats Lodge

We have experienced some great weather this fall, and some really good fishing to go along with it.  As air and water temperatures continue to drop this month and next, many anglers will store their rods and reels until springtime when things begin to warm-up once again.  Others will pick-n-choose the days they fish during cold weather in an attempt to spend only the absolute nicest days out on the water.  And then there are the die-hard anglers who could care less about the weather conditions – they simply want to be out on the water fishing.  Regardless of which type of angler you may be during the wintertime months, you need to know that some of the year’s nicest trout (and redfish) are often landed in cold water conditions.  Your decision to fish during times of colder temperatures doesn’t have to be all or nothing.  By making just a few minor adjustments to the way you normally fish can often spell success at the end of a cold day along one of your favorite salty shorelines.

Being warm should be a prime focus for anglers venturing out into cold weather, so changing the way you dress can make all the difference in the world right now.  Listen to weather forecasts and attempt to dress for the occasion.  Dressing in layers can most often provide ample warmth for even the harshest of conditions, while at the same time allowing the angler to adjust the amount of clothing to satisfy any comfort level.  Remember, you can always take clothes off if you get too hot, but you can’t put clothes on if you don’t have any to put on.  Carrying an extra set of dry clothes is also not a bad idea for wintertime angling, as staying dry in the cold is a very good thing!

During the hotter times of the year, and depending on what kind lure is being used, artificial bait enthusiasts may vary the action at the tip of their fishing rod as they attempt to draw a strike, but the speed of the retrieve generally remains quick.  However, such a speedy retrieve in cold water will most often only leave your arm extremely tired and sore with nothing to show at the end of the day for your hard efforts.  Cold water temperatures signal to the fish that it’s time for their metabolism to slow down because there is going to be fewer chances at eating food until things begin to warm again, and their bodies automatically go into power-saving mode as a direct result.  Generally speaking, this means that just about all of the fish’s actions usually slow down considerably – their swimming motions, their reaction speed and movements, and even the force at which they strike at their prey.  What does all of this mean to lure anglers?  It means that you need to adjust the retrieval of your lure so as to make it as slow as possible whenever searching for big trout in cold water.  When you think you’re reeling-in really slow, slow it down even further.  The strike that you feel at the end of your line may feel like nothing more than a brief bump.  These fish are laid-back in these colder conditions, and they usually aren’t going to exert any effort that isn’t absolutely necessary in order to sustain life.

Also, adjust the manner in which you cover an area when wading this winter.  Try anchoring the boat in a little bit deeper water, and then begin your wading session by heading directly toward the bank of the shoreline, all the while making casts out in front of you from the nine o’clock to the three o’clock positions.  As you approach the bank, turn in either direction and walk along the bank the distance of one of your casts, then turn and start heading back out to deeper water while walking perpendicular to the bank.  This type of zig-zag wading pattern can allow anglers significant coverage of a massive area, as doing so essentially leaves no part of the immediate vicinity unexplored.  Coverage of this magnitude can often mean the difference between catching and fishing, especially in cold water situations.

There is one constant, however, that anglers should practice no matter what time of the year it is, and that is the fact that they should always attempt to locate a bait presence in the area they are planning to spend time in.  Making this a common practice can separate failure from success, especially right now when things are beginning to get really cold at times.  This is not to say that you shouldn’t stop the boat unless you witness the presence of abnormally large herds of mullet swimming along the surface of the water, as this generally will not be the case in cold water conditions.  Instead, next time you are idling along in cold water while scouting for a place to set anchor, look for that one, lone horse mullet that may set sail into the air as it gets chased from the water by a big predator fish.  Seeing such action on a cold day should influence your decision to get into the water and search for whatever it was that forced that mullet skyward.  While you’re wading the area, stay in tune with what may be going on in the water around you.  If you happen to see another mullet jump, even if it was only a single jump, attempt to make a few casts directly atop the place where the mullet exited and entered the water.  As we touched on earlier, cold-water fish will often sit motionless in one spot as they wait to lunge at their next meal, so try to place your lure as close as possible to where you saw the mullet jump.

If there’s one thing that’s certain in life, it’s the fact that change is inevitable.  From an angler’s perspective this means that all of the many, many variables that are associated with the act of sport fishing will, at one time or another, undergo change – things like the wind, the water conditions, the air and water temperatures, the bait, the structure, etc.  Coastal anglers who can visualize the possibility of approaching changes and who are then able to properly prepare for adapting to those changes will be the ones who will probably be able to recognize the highest level of success this winter while fishing for cold-water trout and redfish.

Until next time, tight lines to all!

Judges (LtoR): Bobbi Walker, David Walker, Charlotte Fitzgerald, Deedra McCollum, Pam Ray, Dain Wheborth, Lyn Luster

Saturday, October 25, 2014 meant the HAPPENING of the 6th Annual Chili & Gumbo Cookoff as staged at Hurricane Junction. And what a happening that was!

Arriving early in the afternoon one was accosted by a totally unusual wave of many tantalizing aromas; and if that person was semi-cognizant of what those aromas could mean, well, no one is leaving quickly.

Walking further down the outside was the first contestant’s area, “Fly By The Seat Of My Pants” as manned by Ginnie and Gerry Lichac and the tantalizing smell from their chili pot made me look for a bowl, quickly. Ginnie is the President of the Friends of the Library and Gerry, of course, is her avid supporter.

Walking down a line of sites with cooking facilities of all kinds, the assault to my smelling facilities became strong and stronger. While walking and checking and conversing and sampling, I found a chili made with deer meat and lots of beer too. And one gumbo proudly displayed an egg! While another had lots of okra to add flavoring and thickness.

But as the approaching late afternoon soon became a time for judging with a very distinguished panel of specially selected judges, all of whom came prepared to display their fearless talents to render an unshakable verdict on the many bowls of chili and gumbo. This undaunted group may have started this blind tasting with some trepidation, but their votes were lasting and unshakable. Serving on this sterling group of impeccable justices were Bobbi Walker, David Walker, Charlotte Fitzgerald, Deedra McCollum, Pam Ray, Dain Wheborth and Lynn Luster. Our thank yous to all, and we do hope that the results of the necessary seasoning did not require several bowls of ice cream to cool things down.

As Hoop prepared to name the winners, he gave tribute to a special resident who, along with her group, was missing this year. Marie Richter had been the chief at the cooking pot for her group’s entry in the Chili division for sometime. She has for several years, smilingly carried off the trophy for the Showmanship Award as well as placing in the Chili cookoff. Sadly, due to illness, Marie has left our area and is now a resident near Liberty. We will always miss her smiling face, and what a master she was with the many disguises that her troupe wore to gather trophies in the Showmanship Award.

This year the Award goes to the “Bad Boo Chili” composed of Diane and Jim Cooley and Barbara and Jimmy Crouch. Although they had pretty good sized shoes to fill this year, they certainly succeeded. Wonder what group will be up for it next year?

A special award in the Margarita Competition went to Paul McGee and how did I miss getting a taste? Hope Hoop got his fill!

The top three gumbo winners were “Pirates of the Guadalupe” in First place with Dee & Kyle Woodruff from Nursery with a prize winning dish of shrimp, crab and fish gumbo doing the honors with her special ingredient of file; second prize was won by the “Coastal Cookers” with Peyton Martin in control; and Third Prize going to the “Rum Smugglers” with Brandi Briskie as the chef.

First Place Chili Kim Jensen

Dee Woodruff, Pirates of Guadalupe, 1st Place Gumbo with Peyton Martin, Coastal Cookers, 2nd place Gumbo

Chili winners were quite difficult to choose, but the First Prize was awarded to the “Coastal Bend Charters” and Kim Jensen doing the honors for the group that had captured 3rd prize last year. Second prize was cornered by the “Rum Smugglers” with Cooper Knight as the major stirrer; and the Third Prize went to the “Coastal Cookers” with Peyton Martin doing the honors . As we can be assured that all of these winners will return in 2015 to uphold their titles, we can be certain that there will be plenty of new challengers; particularly some who didn’t win this time.

And following the Awards to so many deserving and hardworking Chefs, the silent auction of many items commenced. Competitive bidding evolved on the various pictures and statues and other interesting items and many concerned bidders watched one person after another return to the same item to increase their bid. I noticed with a great deal of amusement my husband bidding against another man seated at the bar as each got up to return to that special statue and change their bid.

But the biggest kudo of this event goes to Hoop, the proprietor of Hurricane Junction. Hoop is known throughout our community for his generous donations for various activities; he has made the Building Fund for our Library the beneficiary of the Cookoff for the past five years as well as this year. It’s the members of our community, like Hoop, who make such a difference in the funding of our various organizations, whether the support goes to the Service Club’s Semi-Annual Garage Sale; to our Volunteer Fire Department; our Library; Scholarships; help for our local School’s activities and other projects here in Port O’Connor. But it’s also those that attend these activities; take part in them; or support them in so many ways. A HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!

And, if you missed the 6th Annual Chili/Gumbo Cookoff this October as held at Hurricane Junction, don’t mope and be unhappy. Hoop hasn’t quit yet, so get busy and get your team to start practicing those award-winning recipes, and we will look forward to seeing you in October of 2015! And if you really want to try out your expertise in a special gumbo recipe, as opposed by THE CHAMPION, there will be another GUMBO COOKOFF in January. And guess who is entering this time? The Big Man Himself! But will a bottle of Tums be necessary?

Cooper Knight, Run Runners, 2nd place Chili

Brandi Briskie, Rum Smugglers, 3rd place Gumbo

Paul McGee, winner of Margarita Award

Ginnie Lichac, President of Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, stirring her chili.

Note from Sue Kubecka: I had a great deal of fun talking and photographing the many chefs at the Chili/Gumbo Cookoff, howere, I goofed, on naming some persons and winners in the photos. My apologies. I certainly hope I do not make that mistake again. But  it was a good day and I hope to see you all again next year!

BUNCO! Closing out the year in its own style will be the Bunco Group on Tuesday Evening, December 2nd at 7:00 p.m.  Gathering in the Back Meeting Room of the Community Center, these avid players will start the evening with a covered dish repast and then continue to exchange gifts prior to the start of play.  New members are welcomed to come and enjoy themselves and meet some other residents of our Community; expertise or prior knowledge of this game is definitely not needed; just needs a lucky throw of the dice!  Contact Shirley Gordon at our Library for further information.
And following later in that first week of December on Friday the 5th  will be the  34th  celebration of the POC Community Service Club’s Annual Christmas Luncheon for our Senior residents.  This has been a yearly event as happily accomplished for many years beginning with a small group of attendees to the last guest list of 120 men and women who come to enjoy the company and food and entertainment by the students of our school.  We, in the Service Club, look forward to this Happening every year and fondly greet our returning guests as they enter the door.  However, this year there will be an empty place to welcome those who come to enjoy this Luncheon as our beloved member, Agnes Valigura who has served as our Greeter for many years and spoke very fondly to each of our guests at a beautifully decorated table is no longer here.

SHARE YOUR DINNER PROJECT as sponsored by the Lions Club.  As you enter our local Speedy Stop or our Bank, you will see large blue tubs for non-perishable food donations that will be forwarded to the Benevolence Fund.  The Fund is a grouping of all three churches here who work to provide those in need with Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets.  Also on the counters of both Speedy and the Bank are smaller cans for monetary donations to this Fund.  The blue tubs welcome cans of cranberry sauce or other fruits, vegetables too, and definitely a box of a cake mix or pudding.  Let’s make these tubs as full as possible as everyone has an extra can or box of something at this time of the year.

If you are ambling down Adams Street on your way to the Post Office or the Library on Saturday, the 22nd of November, and you get a whiff of an incredible mouth watering aroma, better stop and look across the street.  You will see the 3rd Annual Turkey Cookoff as hosted by Eloisa and Joe of Josie’s, and many folks at the forefront of a number of bbq pits with lots of turkeys all emitting that wonderful aroma.  Our own Leroy Smith was the Champion once again last year; who’s challenging him this time?  I’ll be on hand with my camera and appetite; at least I would think I’d get a taste!

It looks like WINTER has arrived; at least that was my impression as I was searching for my thermals at 40+ degrees when I wrote this.  And would you believe that my former City of San Francisco was sweltering with a high of 66!  Yet I still keep seeing those brave and indomitable fishermen going out in the morning for that special catch … and not a cold either!

I welcome any comments and ideas and news of what’s happening in our area at any time; please contact me either by email or telephone.  And thank you for your input and the reading of this column.

kubeckasue@yahoo.com
361 798-0560

There has been an abundance of building in all areas of POC. A few new businesses have also sprung up. I’ve seen more people coming into our community than ever before. Some residents do not like this, but in order for Port O’Connor to survive, it’s a must. In the years I have lived here, I’ve seen many changes. In the 60’s there was oil businesses, shrimping and oystering to keep businesses going, then the oil business moved down the coast; then, due to the change in laws, no one could make a living shrimping or oystering. As of now we depend on tourism to keep this community alive. This seems to be our last resource and this is making our community a wonderful place to live and visit.

The Chamber is made up of volunteers. We’re always looking for more help and ideas. If you would like to become a member, go to portoconnorchamber.com or give us a call.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at our Annual Christmas Party & Meeting on December 8th. You do not have to be a member to attend this event. Come out and meet your neighbors. Election for new directors for 2015 will also be held. You must be a member to vote or be a director. 361-983-2898—-poccc@tisd.net

New Members:
2 R Guide Service
Steve Ferguson
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Barry
Scales & Tales Guide Service