FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Brought to you by

**For a super deal on your Wade Right use promo code FCT15 and get 15% off on your online order!**

When I commented on a post from a reader on his past fishing at Magnolia Beach I got this follow up comment from Mac.  I so appreciate his filling us in on the “old days” and I wanted to share it with you immediately.  I hate to see these memories getting lost and this one is informative and important.  It is a snap shot of a period of time on the Texas coast when things were different.

************************

“Those were the days”

Doug, after reading your work today about the 70’s , I just had to write back. It is 108 degrees in Bastrop and goin’ fishin’ is the last thing on my mind.

I will never forget working at the Port A Ice house in the summers in the late 60’s and 70’s . I learned to fish hanging around Totsy Belcher, who knew any and everything about bay and gulf fishing

My opinion on fishing then and today.

Back then before GCA was evident, commercial fishing for trout and reds was legal. I got 40 cents a pound selling them to eateries around the area. Did this hurt the fisheries back then. Yes it sure did! Unattended trot lines were everywhere in the bay systems. They caught tons of redfish using simple strips of red strips of 4 inch plastic table cloths. – CCA and the Parks and Wildlife stopped this practice. Since then, with the redfish breeding programs, I know for a fact the redfishing has vastly improved.

I think the trout population was really hurt from several severe freezes in past 20 years
Reducing limits, I feel has helped out trout fishing today.

There was no limit on flounder and I remember gigging all night with 25 or 30 fish.
We need to keep pursuing ways to help their population.

Back to the 70s—Totsy would go out to the end of the south jetty at Port A with a strong rope and a large single hook. I saw him catch a huge Jewfish that I knew was over 15O lbs. They have disappeared today. One good thing–There are now tarpon showing up again. King fish were everywhere with practically no limits. I also remember seeing multiple sailfish working baitfish up in a “ball” and catching 7 of the sails at this event. The bill fishing has also slowed

On a somber note–We gathered stone crabs in the flat’s oyster reefs. There are few left today. Old timers say people took both claws off them, including their fighting claw which was their protection from harm. Oysters were bountiful also and large. what happened? I remember going to South Padre island and gathering real scallops.

In synopsis . Good things have happened. The Brown Pelicans were almost extinct back then, but a fisherman from Fort Worth found that the bird shells were being broken at birth. The use of DDT was then banned and now these birds are all about.
As I mentioned before –Limits are enforced, GCCA is making many strides to better our fisheries. I studied, the effects of nitrates from fast release fertilizers while in college. There has been much study on its effects on marine life, I, myself. really believe that going more organic and using slow release nitrogen will bring the snook, tarpon and many other fish back to us.

I have caught my share of fish and hope we keep making ways for our young to enjoy this super sport along with the other coastal wildlife.

PS-I mentioned this before–” The only time I ever saw my Dad cry was when we came up upon a trotline with rotting redfish all along it”.

We are on the right track–GCCA and other concerned venues will help keep us fishing

THE TEMPERATURE JUST HIT 111 DEGREES IN Bastrop

Mac

The times they are a changin’!  (Even a Jewfish in now a Goliath Grouper.)  Those of us who have been fishing for decades have seen the improvement, and while it is a work in progress, the results are undeniable.  Looking back most of us have done things that would be considered “wrong” today, but it was a different time.  (Tad from Fishin’ Machine Lures and I were guiding 4 guys in the mid 70’s for bass on Norfork.  We stopped for a shore lunch and he pulled me aside.  They are not happy I was throwing the really small, as in 10″  or less, bass back, at the time there was no length limit.  So while legal that was the attitude in those days.  How could we fish out the lake, or an ocean?  We know better now.) It is these memories that educate and enlighten us.  Those who are not willing to look at past mistakes are sure to make them again.  The challenges facing fisheries management are not the “same” today and we still have a ways to go.  The only other comment is thanks for the share.

********************Get inhaled!  

There is something innovative and new coming!  

********************

One thing I forgot to mention the other day was when we drove the PINS beach Sunday we saw a kayaker cleaning a nice kingfish.  The water looked absolutely fabulous, actually it kind of reminded me of South Padre when the good water comes ashore.  According to an online post from a local guide the even better water is making it’s way to PINS and the fishing should only improve.  Nothing like a snook, tarpon, or a kingfish from the beach.  Heck we billed a sailfish in 2 foot of water on PINS.  It can happen.

One of my great outdoor memories.  This was October 2013, where does the time go?

*********************

As you faithful readers know I check out the boats for sale throughout Texas almost daily.  I love to comment on some of the posts, folks can be seriously delusional.  Needs work, it ran when I last used it 10 years ago, “project” boat, no title, you see it all.  But there was one today that takes the cake.  Now I am sure the X3 is a great boat, saw lots of them at Mansfield, but I can not wrap my head around why anyone would pay over $100k for a used boat.  If you can swing $100k why buy a used boat?  Just wondered.

********************

Man it has been hot, but not as hot here as other places, as if 103 degrees is so much better than 110.  It is cloudy this morning and while I am doing this I wish I was fishing.  That will not happen today.  When I parked the truck yesterday morning I noticed the license plate was missing from the skiff, the bracket broke.  This is the second time in 18 months.  So it is off to renew my plates, good timing, and then a better system to make sure it does not happen again.  Man I love/hate boat ownership.

*********************

I hope you enjoyed Mac’s memories.  And if any of you have any more to share please do.  The world has changed dramatically the last few decades and these stories need to be both shared and recorded.  It is our history and it is important.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines