Texas Sportsman Aug. 2015 by Texas Sportsman

THE PHOTOS OF:

A SEASON OF CAMARADERIE Glick Twins’ owner Bob Glick and a Whitewing tradition

CHASING THE GENERATIONS HOOKED ON SOUTHERN FISHING FLOUNDER

THE PHOTOS OF CHE IBARRA

DOVE-HUNTING TIME

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L A R G E S T

R U R A L

L E N D E R

Boggus Ford Events Center n 3000 N. Cage Blvd. n Pharr, TX, n (956) 402-4500 AUGUST 22, 2015

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INSIDE 18

A SEASON OF CAMARADERIE

Bob Glick has hunted Whitewing season since he could carry a shotgun - maybe even before then. Times have changed

Rio Grande Valley White Wing hunting has changed over the years, but the bonding that happens between friends and family remain strong.

For the more adventurous outdoorsmen, once the birds had been cleaned, there still would be time for supper south of the Rio Grande. I made several trips like that with my long-late grandfather, outdoor writer L.A. Wilke of Austin in the mid-1960s. We’d stay at the old Redfish Motel at Port Mansfield, getting up before dawn to fish off the jetties for Spanish mackerel and specks. Once we had the ice chest full, we’d make for shore, tie up, clean the fish, take a badly needed shower, eat lunch (cheeseburger and apple pie), and enjoy a siesta before switching our rods and reels for shotguns and game bags. All in all, a highly civilized way to enjoy the outdoors. Alas, with one exception we’ll get to in a minute, those days are gone unless you want to give up shooting in the cool of the morning. The most social of all hunting experiences, and the equivalent of Christmas Eve for avid hunters, mourning dove season begins in the South Zone this year Sept. 18. As set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the mourning dove season in all zones will extend for 70 days this year. The daily bag limit statewide remains unchanged at 15 birds. One difference this year is more hunting days – two days longer in the South Zone, five days longer for the North Zone and Central Zones. The South Zone dove season will continue through Oct. 21. A second South Zone season extends from Dec. 18 through Jan. 22, 2016. In the North and Central Zones, the first season closes

Story by Henry Miller Photo by Tiki Tillman/ tikitillmanphotos.com Sooner or later, all of us look back on those “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.” For hundreds of thousands of Baby Boomer-generation hunters, those fond memories include blasting away at fast-flying dove. For decades, in the North Zone and Central Zone, dove season has begun on September 1. Just shy of three weeks later, thousands of hunters descend on South Texas for the South Zone opener. But for most of those decades, regardless of zone, hunting could not begin until high noon. Until the 1970s, it was only legal to pop caps at dove in the afternoon. Daybreak hunting was a major no-no. That law, enforced by dedicated state game wardens, enabled many South Texas hunters who converged on the Rio Grande Valley every September to have twice the fun – they could fish in the Laguna Madre or Gulf of Mexico in the morning and then hunt mourning or white-wing dove in the late afternoon when the birds started flying.

PREPARING FOR THE NEXT SEASON

ow time flies. Fishing has been great this past spring and summer and as we head into all many of us will do less fishing and more hunting. Of course, there are those who continue to only fish, others who do not hunt or fish during that time, and those who will do both. When that last week of August rolls around I know what I’ll be doing - looking for my shotgun, cleaning it and getting ready for our annual Whitewing hunt with Holiday Wine and Liquor and my sponsors from Glazers Distributing, home of Miller Lite. I have another reason to be excited this Fred Rodriguez is the Texas Sportshunting season, as does my daughter Hannah man and has decades of experience – we have a new hunting member in the family and knowledge regarding hunting – Gunner. Gunner is a Llewellin Setter. He is and fishing. You can watch his show, primarily a pointing dog for quail, but can also The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in the Rio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on retrieve. Saturdays. This breed was introduced to me by my friend Manny Perez. Manny is a terrific, and highly recommended quail hunting guide. Following a quail hunting trip with him, he described the Llewellin Setter. I was considering getting a German Shorthair Pointer but I decided on Gunner. He is coming along in his training very well. So now that we have a hunting dog we are so looking forward to quail season. If you think there’s a transition from fishing to hunting there is definitely another transition from not owning a dog to owning a dog. When making a decision on owning a dog do some research and ask your friends on their experiences. Back to the transition. It’s time to start thinking of cleaning the blinds out fixing feeders and getting the camp ready if you’re in a dee lease. If you own a boat but you are not going to be using it that much remember you need start the motor at least every two weeks and run for about 20 minutes.This can save you some money on motor repairs. The transition can be a smooth one - just make sure you have and leave time for your family (and your job). I thank God that my wife and children love the outdoors as much as I do. See you next issue Be Safe and God Bless!! Let Go Hunting Gunner !!

Volume 2, Isssue 4. August 2015. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors or its publisher. Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy in the material published in this magazine. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. Texas

Sportsman Tracking Outdoors shall be held harmless and indemnified against any third-party claims. Advertisements appearing in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors present only the viewpoint of the advertisers. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is printed in the U.S.A. All correspondence to the publication become the property of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is published by H&J Publications. Copyright 2014. To advertise in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors call (956) 607-0853 or email joey.texassportsman@gmail.com

Double Shot Outfitters: Harlingen, Tx. 956-792-6460 956-367-5778 www.doubleshotoutfitters.com

THE PHOTOS OF:

El Canelo Ranch: Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-607-7200 www.huntelcanelo.com

A SEASON OF CAMARADERIE Glick Twins’ owner Bob Glick and a White Wing tradition

DOVE-HUNTING TIME

CHASING THE GENERATIONS HOOKED ON SOUTHERN FISHING FLOUNDER

THE PHOTOS OF CHE IBARRA

ON THE COVER Bob Glizk recalls the bonds created during many White Wing seasons. (tikitillmanphotos.com)

STAFF

El Sauz Ranch: Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-248-5593 www.elsauzranch.com Gravick Ranch: 4985 FM-1017 San Isidro, Tx. 78588 956-481-3273 www.gravickranch.com Horn, Fin and Feather: 32369 State Highway 186 E Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-428-7006 www.hornfinandfeather.com King Ranch: 2205 Highway 141 West PO Box 1090 Kingsville, Texas 78364-1090

Henry Miller Publisher henry.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-9210

Texas Sportsman Magazine Ranch/Lodge Listings 361-592-8055 www.king-ranch.com Lomas Chicas Outfitters: Sarita, Tx. 956-232-0107 www.lomaschicasoutfitters.com Lonesome Bull Ranch: 203 Lang Road Portland, Texas 78374 361-683-9744 361-547-3840 www.lonesomebullranch.com

Linn, Tx. 78563 956-383-1960 www.mcallenranch.com Pair-O-Dice Ranch: Rio Hondo, Tx. 956-605-8097 www.pairodiceranch.com White Wing Ranch: 827 South Oklahoma Brownsville, Tx. 78521 956-838-5222 www.whitewingranch.com

Los Encinos Ranch: Kingsville, Tx. 78364 956-207-9154 www.losencinosranch.com

Santos Ranch/Las Lomas: Frio County, Tx. 210-844-3637 www.santosranch.com

Mariposa Ranch: 906 CR Road 225 Falfurrias, Tx. 78355 361-325-5827 www.mariposaranch.net

777 Ranch: 5420 County Road 531 Hondo, TX 78861 830-426-3476 www.777ranch.com

McAllen Ranch: 33820 FM 1017

South Texas Ranch: San Isidro,Tx.

956-467-9057 www.southtexasranch.com

FAT & FLAT

Texas Hunt Lodge: 120 Lakehouse Trail Ingram, Tx. 78025 830-367-7611 www.texashuntlodge.com Y.O. Ranch: 1736 Y.O. Ranch Road Mountain Home, Texas 78058 800-967-2624 – Main No. 830-6403222 www.yoranch.com

WANT YOUR RANCH/LODGE LISTED? SEND INFORMATION TO: joey.texassportsman@ gmail.com

By MIKE COX

Joey Dowden Advertising Director joey.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-0853

Tiki Tillman Photographer tikitillmanphotos.com (956)572-6132

That law, enforced by dedicated state game wardens, enabled many South Texas hunters who converged on the Rio Grande Valley every September to have twice the fun – they could fish in the Laguna Madre or Gulf of Mexico in the morning and then hunt mourning or white-wing dove in the late afternoon when the birds started flying. For the more adventurous outdoorsmen, once the birds had been cleaned, there still would be time for supper south of the Rio Grande. I made several trips like that with my long-late grandfather, outdoor writer L.A. Wilke of Austin in the mid-1960s. We’d stay at the old Redfish Motel at Port Mansfield, getting up before dawn to fish off the jetties for Spanish mackerel and specks.

The prized Southern Flounder, a most-wanted catch

Once we had the ice chest full, we’d make for shore, tie up, clean the fish, take a badly needed shower, eat lunch (cheeseburger and apple pie), and enjoy a siesta before switching our rods and reels for shotguns and game bags. All in all, a highly civilized way to enjoy the outdoors. Alas, with one exception we’ll get to in a minute, those days are gone unless you want to give up shooting in the cool of the morning. The most social of all hunting experiences, and the equivalent of Christmas Eve for avid hunters, mourning dove season begins in the South Zone this year Sept. 18. As set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the mourning dove season in all zones will extend for 70 days this year. The daily bag limit statewide remains unchanged at 15 birds. One difference this year is more hunting days – two days longer in the South Zone, five days longer for the North Zone and Central Zones.

By BRENT JOHNSON Having grown up fishing both Falcon Lake and the Laguna Madre, I always wondered what I loved more. Well, I love both the same for what they are, One thing I really love about fishing the flats is that you never know what may pull the other end of the line. Most likely it’s a trout, or maybe a big red, but every now and then it’s the fish just as prized if not more than the other two. Ladies and gentleman, I give you the Southern Flounder! Fat and flat is not a bad thing, especially if you’re an ambush predator in the shallow waters of the Laguna Madre. With a doormat profile and a camouflage cloak, the flounder fits right in with the gang known as the bay’s most wanted. Pound for pound this fish is every bit the fighter.

Possibly the most elusive to the ice chest, and when they’re big they’re viscious. Flounder will take its prey with an explosive attack. Once he knows he’s on the line he will move along the bottom with an eel like motion until he sets down again. At this time the fish will create a suction with the bottom much like a stingray would do making it difficult to lift them. Once fighting resumes the fish will often make runs to the side like a red. Finally they come up to the top and shake like a trout in one last effort to spit the hook. Hooking them is one thing, but landing them without a net or a boga is downright difficult. I made that mistake one year when I was dropped off at a spot known to hold flatties and forgot my net in the boat. Right off the bat I hooked into a decent sized fish. As soon as I brought this odd shaped creature to hand

he gave me such a head shake that it sent my lure flying in the air. With a mouth full of teeth it is important to have a good set of pliers for removing the hook. Sometimes a flounder will take the bait and swim with it so stealth-like that the angler never even knows he has a fish. When it is an obvious flounder bite, often a series of quick “ticks” is felt. It is at this time for the angler to not act too fast with the hookset, but rather let the fish take it and then set the hook. This of course is a lot easier done with the right equipment. My rod of choice is the Waterloo “Phantom” 6’6” medium light. This rod is wickedly sensitive and detects the slightest of bites. I’ve fished with a lot of sticks in my time, and this is one of my favorites. Another trick is having the right line. For bait caster reels I go with 20-30 lb. Suffix

10 16

NEW SEASON Time to pull out the shotgun and put away the rod & reel.

12 LUNAR TIMES These are the best times each day for hunting and fishing.

Photos Courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR

Everything you need to know about the highly anticipated dove hunting season Sooner or later, all of us look back on those “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.” For hundreds of thousands of Baby Boomer-generation hunters, those fond memories include blasting away at fast-flying dove. For decades, in the North Zone and Central Zone, dove season has begun on September 1. Just shy of three weeks later, thousands of hunters descend on South Texas for the South Zone opener. But for most of those decades, regardless of zone, hunting could not begin until high noon. Until the 1970s, it was only legal to pop caps at dove in the afternoon. Daybreak hunting was a major no-no.

WHAT’S INSIDE

FOR ADVERTISING CALL JOEY AT (956) 607-0853.

Fred Rodriguez The Texas Sportsman fredrsportsman@yahoo.com (956) 776-4623

David DeLeon Henry Miller Designers

on Oct. 25. The second round in that zone starts Dec. 18 and continues through New Year’s Day. Just like old times, hunters coming to South Texas for the special white-winged dove area seasons do get the morning off, with legal hunting not beginning until noon. Those two weekend hunts will be September 5-6 and September 12-13. During this period, the daily bag limit of 15 birds can include no more than two mourning doves and two white-tipped doves. But when the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15 with no more than two white-tipped doves. Hunting in this area will reopen September 18 and continue through October 21, reopened December 18 and continuing through January 18 next year. No matter where you go dove hunting this year, you’ll find that the heavy rains much of the state received in the spring and summer will make things different than last year. “Age-ratios (juveniles versus adults) from last season indicated very strong production in mourning doves across Texas last year; we expect similar or slightly increased production this year with the improved habitat conditions across nearly all of Texas,” says Shaun Oldenburger, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s dove program leader. “However, improved habitat conditions equal more food and water on the landscape, which means hunters may need to spend more time patterning mourning doves prior to opening day in their area,” he adds.

NEW FEATURE Check out the lodge and ranch listings.

DOVE RULES Rules and info regarding the upcoming season.

419 W. US Highway 83, Pharr, TX 78577 n (956) 787-4291

THE PRIZE Chasing down the Southern Flounder.

20 TIMES & TIDES Keep up with the tide times in August and September.

34 SOMETHING NEW Capt. Stewart takes us kayaking in the flats.

Hooked:

PHOTOS FROM THE 76TH ANNUAL TEXAS INTERNATIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENT (Photos Courtesy of TIFT)

don’t remember how old I was, but I am guessing that by the time I was age 11, I was definitely hooked on fishing.

As I look back, I believe there were two events that contributed to my getting hooked at such an early age: One was an early fishing experience in Candela, Mexico. The other was the white bass run on the Rio Grande when I was about 10. Early Fishing Experience Prior to age 10 my only fishing recollection was catching mojaras in the aszequia in Candela. I never knew the English name of these hand-sized fish until much later in life. Mojaras are Rio Grande Perch. The aszequias are man made canals or in-the-ground aqueducts about 2-4 feet deep and 2-4 feet wide. The early Spanish colonists were the creators of this water distribution system in much of northern Mexico. Fishing for mojaras was a low-tech adventure and where I believe I got my first thrill of having a fish on the line. Once I felt the tug of a big bull perch on my fishing line, I didn’t know it, but, I was hooked. Having an early, positive experience with fishing is what makes a kid a fisherman for life. I know that my early memories of that little jolt of electricity you feel in your body when a hungry perch hits a fat worm is what started me on a lifetime of fishing. How well I remember spending a week in Candela at Papa Leonardo’s house. Leonardo was my maternal grandmother’s father. That made him my great grandfather. He was already fairly old and was cared for by my great-aunt, Tia Lola. Papa Leonardo’s house was near the town-square. It was the block directly behind the molino (flour mill). The molino faced the main square. Right next to the molino, to the west, was Goyo’s store. And behind the store was Goyo’s house. Goyo at that time worked for my grandfather, and was the manager of the molino.

CAPT. CESAR ANGUIANO 28

Generation after generation pass down the fishing fever in Alberto Santos’ family

Stories and Family Photos by Alberto Santos

The Fishing Hole When I went to Candela we always visited Goyo. On this particular trip, I teamed up Goyo Jr. (Goyo’s son) and some other kids. This team of young fishermen set out to catch some mojaras. The good place to catch mojaras was the aszequia behind Papa Leonardo’s house. He had a large bathing area and it had lots of places where the mojaras could hide. We knew there were fish there because we often felt them in the water.

The water was not clear. Actually, it was a milky gray. It was drilled into me that I had to keep my mouth closed when in the aszequia. I was to never drink any water or I would surly die. When we swam in this spot we always appointed a lookout. His job was to look for anything strange floating down stream. Some people still used the aszequia as the sewer system so you know what we were keeping an eye for. We tied an old hook to a piece of kite string. This rig was then tied to a piece of bamboo and that was our fishing gear. Goyo always knew where to find earthworms. We dug up some fat earthworms, and used a dry twig for a floater. I don’t think we hooked more than two or three. But we always celebrated each catch. At this age, any fish was a good fish. After the fishing we would go down to Goyo’s store and celebrate by drinking a coke. Even back in those days, I had heard of people telling stories about catching lots of fish. Some even said they had caught a sack full or a cooler full but I guess I thought those were just “fish stories.” Little did I know that I would soon be telling my own fishing story. The White Bass Run A friend of my father had told him the white bass were running in the Rio Grande and he had gotten an invitation to visit a particular spot on the river on the Nuevo Laredo side. I remember sensing my Dad’s excitement when we cleaned the two rods and reels. Once the rods were ready, we went to Tio Alfredo’s Tire Shop. He sold fishing tackle and there we bought a bunch of silver spoons and spinners. We got two colors of spinners: white with little black dots and yellow with little black dots. The guy who invited my dad had said that those were the baits of choice. My dad had an old tackle box and he had two metal-clip stringers but had never had to use one. I thought metal-clip stringers were something every fisherman had to have. It was required equipment so it could rattle in bottom of the tackle box. Its job was also to make sure than any lure that fell in the bottom compartment would get nice and tangled. This would give the fisherman something to do as he prepared for the next fishing trip. When everything was ready we went to Nuevo Laredo. We crossed the international bridge into Mexico and headed south on Guerrero Avenue. Once past the city of Nuevo Laredo we continued south then turned left on the Riverena road. I do not remember the name of the ranch but it was on the left side of the road. We drove through the ranch and as we approached the river I remember seeing a lot of cars.

To this day, I have never had any trouble getting my grandkids to join me on a fishing trip. We are all hooked. It was not typical to see a “parking lot” full of cars out in the middle of nowhere. We got our gear and followed the trail leading down to the river’s edge. As we made our way down the riverbank we went through a brushy area with lots of bamboo. I also recall there were lots of mosquitoes in this section. At the river bank there was a big crowd. I think there must have been 30 to 40 people fishing in a small section of the river that was no more than 60 yards long. Not all were actively fishing. About 1/3 was fishing and the other 2/3 was untangling their lines. It was then that I noticed a lot of metal stringers full of fish. In a section of the river with a gradual drop there were many sticks each with one or two stringer. I think my Dad must have noticed that I was developing a serious case of fishing anxiety. He told me to go ahead and try to catch one. The fishing action was red hot! If you did not count the casts that got tangled, I must have been catching fish with every other cast. Eventually I developed my own technique of piddling around till those next to were trying to untangle their lines then I would cast. Short cast was better. This was a very big day for me. We caught a lot of fish. I remember throwing back the little ones and just keeping the bigger fish. Not only did I fill our stringers, I double- and triple-loaded some of the clips. My index fingers were raw from handling so many fish by the gills. My finger tips had lots of treble hook punctures from frantically removing the barbs from the fish. My hands had a strong smell of fish and river water. My shoes were muddy and my socks were soaked. I remember that I felt like a real fisherman. I did not mind the not sun or any of the other inconveniences. These conditions became synonymous with fishing. Now I had my own fishing story. I knew that when I told them of our stringer of fish people would smile. They would smile and wonder and maybe even ask if my story was true. I would simply smile back. My Best Catches I am still hooked on fishing. In all my year of fishing, I believe that my best catches have been first getting my kids hooked on fishing and now getting my grandkids hooked on fishing. The very best way to get kids hooked on fishing is to catch fish. To make sure we caught fish when I took my kids fishing, I relied on a simple two-part fishing insurance policy: 1. Always carry perch hooks in the tackle box. 2. Know when the fishing action is a sure thing. Even though I rarely use them, I still carry perch hooks in my tackle box. I am actually a pro at hooking very little fish. If the fishing action is slow, I can always have fun by catching perch. The little perch hooks and knowing how to use them are one form of fishing insurance. The other form of fishing insurance. The other type of fishing insurance is to know

when the fishing action will be a sure thing. Both of these have proven to deliver great fishing action. When my kids were little I relived my own experience of getting hooked. I remember sharing in that little jolt of electricity that goes through a kid when a hungry fish hits a baited hook. When Beto III was at Kelly’s Camp (age 3 or 4) we were the only ones catching little catfish. We were also the only ones with a perch hook. Beto III was all smiles and so was I. Stacy and Mike later became experts at landing piggy perch in Port Aransas. Little did they know they were the ones being hooked. One time all of us were in Brownsville at Boca Chica. A friend of ours, Butch Barbosa, who lived in Brownsville, told me that the sand trout were a sure thing in the late afternoon. We all went to the beach with Grandma Alta. The fishing action was red hot. I did nothing but bait hooks and unhook fish. The action was so hot that I stopped baiting the second hook and we still hooked doubles. In the picture, Beto III is holding up a “big one” while Stacy and Mike under the watchful eye of grandma, land another fish. A little bit later, when they were about ages 10, 8, and 6, we were “lucky” again to be at the right place at the right time. This time we were fishing for trout in Corpus Christi Bay with George Herzog. I have a video of one particular fishing trip that I am sure they still remember. The day before George had told me the trout fishing was hot so I decided to bring the kids and my video camera. George took us to an oil well in the middle of Corpus Christi Bay. The well was surrounded by a man made oyster shell reef. When we got there George spotted a trout slick indicating we were about to get some good speckled trout action. As the video will confirm, it was non stop catching. George and I did not land any fish because were constantly baiting hooks and unhooking trout. We came back with about 50 nice speckled trout. If there were ever any doubt about my kids being hooked on fishing I would submit the video as evidence. Any judge and jury have but to look at the smiles on their faces. My most recent catches have been my grandkids and their cousins. Check out the pictures and tell me if you think the kid in the picture is hooked? To this day, I have never had any trouble getting my grandkids to join me on a fishing trip. We are all hooked.

Alberto Santos is the owner of Santos Ranch LLC and Las Lomas Ranch. Visit the website www. santosranch.com for more information.

TIFT

IN PICTURES

HOOKED

Photos from the 76th annual event.

Che Ibarra mixes his love for fishing with his passion for photography.

Alberto Santos is just one of several generations hooked on fishing.

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Preparing for the Next season

ow time flies. Fishing has been great this past Spring and Summer and as we head into Fall many of us will do less fishing and more hunting. Of course, there are those who continue to only fish, others who do not hunt or fish during that time, and those who will do both. When that last week of August rolls around I know what I’ll be doing - looking for my shotgun, cleaning it and getting ready for our annual Whitewing hunt with Holiday Wine and Liquor and my sponsors from Glazers Distributing, home of Miller Lite. Fred Rodriguez is the Texas SportsI have another reason to be excited this man and has decades of experience hunting season, as does my daughter Hannah and knowledge regarding hunting – we have a new hunting member in the family and fishing. You can watch his show, – Gunner. Gunner is a Llewellin Setter. He is The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in the Rio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on primarily a pointing dog for quail, but can also Saturdays. retrieve. This breed was introduced to me by my friend Manny Perez. Manny is a terrific, and highly recommended quail hunting guide. Following a quail hunting trip with him, he described the Llewellin Setter. I was considering getting a German Shorthair Pointer but I decided on Gunner. He is coming along in his training very well. So now that we have a hunting dog we are so looking forward to quail season. If you think there’s a transition from fishing to hunting there is definitely another transition from not owning a dog to owning a dog. When making a decision on owning a dog, do some research and ask your friends on their experiences. Back to the transition. It’s time to start thinking of cleaning the blinds out, fixing feeders and getting the camp ready if you’re in a deer lease. If you own a boat but you are not going to be using it that much remember you need to start the motor at least every two weeks and run for about 20 minutes.This can save money on motor repairs. The transition can be a smooth one - just make sure you have and leave time for your family (and your job). I thank God that my wife and children love the outdoors as much as I do. See you next issue Be Safe and God Bless!! Let’s Go Hunting Gunner !! Volume 2, Isssue 4. August 2015. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors or its publisher. Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy in the material published in this magazine. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. Texas

THE PHOTOS OF:

A SEASON OF CAMARADERIE Glick Twins’ owner Bob Glick and a White Wing tradition

DOVE-HUNTING TIME

CHASING THE GENERATIONS HOOKED ON SOUTHERN FISHING FLOUNDER

THE PHOTOS OF CHE IBARRA

ON THE COVER Bob Glick recalls the bonds created during many Whitewing seasons. (tikitillmanphotos.com)

STAFF Henry Miller Publisher henry.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-9210

Fred Rodriguez The Texas Sportsman fredrsportsman@yahoo.com (956) 776-4623

Joey Dowden Advertising Director joey.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-0853

Tiki Tillman Photographer tikitillmanphotos.com (956)572-6132 David DeLeon Henry Miller Designers

Double Shot Outfitters: Harlingen, Tx. 956-792-6460 956-367-5778 www.doubleshotoutfitters.com El Canelo Ranch: Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-607-7200 www.huntelcanelo.com El Sauz Ranch: Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-248-5593 www.elsauzranch.com Gravick Ranch: 4985 FM-1017 San Isidro, Tx. 78588 956-481-3273 www.gravickranch.com Horn, Fin and Feather: 32369 State Highway 186 E Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-428-7006 www.hornfinandfeather.com King Ranch: 2205 Highway 141 West PO Box 1090 Kingsville, Texas 78364-1090

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White Wing Ranch: 827 South Oklahoma Brownsville, Tx. 78521 956-838-5222 www.whitewingranch.com

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Los Encinos Ranch: Kingsville, Tx. 78364 956-207-9154 www.losencinosranch.com

Santos Ranch/Las Lomas: Frio County, Tx. 210-844-3637 www.santosranch.com

SEND INFORMATION TO: joey.texassportsman @gmail.com

Mariposa Ranch: 906 CR Road 225 Falfurrias, Tx. 78355 361-325-5827 www.mariposaranch.net

777 Ranch: 5420 County Road 531 Hondo, TX 78861 830-426-3476 www.777ranch.com

McAllen Ranch: 33820 FM 1017

South Texas Ranch: San Isidro,Tx.

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SEPT. 2015 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES

AUG. 2015 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES DAY

MOON

COMMENTS

A.M.

BEST

P.M.

A.M.

BEST

P.M.

2:47

3:18

3:43

4:45

5:10

4:13

4:38

5:40

6:05

5:07

5:32

6:35

7:00

7:29

7:54

8:22

8:47

3 4 5

8 9

PERIGEE

6:00

6:25

6:53

7:18

7:46

8:09

8:39

9:04

9:33

9:58

10 M

10:25

10:50

11:17

11:42

LAST QUARTER

12 W

12:06

1:19

1:40

2:05

2:25

2:50

3:08

3:33

3:50

17 M

12:31 NEW MOON

APOGEE

12:54

4:15

4:32

19 W

4:57

5:15

5:40

5:59

6:24

FIRST QUARTER

LAST QUARTER LABOR DAY

9:39

10:04

10:33 11:17

10:52

11:38

12:03

12:23

12:48

1:06

NEW MOON

1:31

1:48

APOGEE

2:13

2:31

2:56

3:13

16 W

3:38

3:56

4:21

4:41

5:06

5:28

5:53

6:16

6:41

7:07

6:45

7:10

7:33

23 W

9:18

9:48

7:58

8:23

10:13

10:44

11:09

8:48

9:16

9:41

10:11

26 W

10:36

11:08

27 T

11:33

12:05

12:30

FULL MOON

1:02

1:27

PERIGEE

1:59

2:24

2:54

3:19

BEST MORNINGS OR AFTERNOONS

FIRST QUARTER EQUINOX/FALL BEGINS

BEST

4:15

31 M

3:50

9:14

24 M 25

COMMENTS

2:22

MOON

BEST

DAY

7:32

7:59

8:24

8:53

11:40 12:05

12:36

1:01

1:33

1:58

2:29

2:54

30 W

3:26

3:51

PERIGEE

BEST MORNINGS OR AFTERNOONS Visit us online: www.osoteloskincancer.com

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WHAT ARE LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES?

Did you know that skin cancer is the most common of all types of cancers? Nearly two million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year.

Hunters, fishermen and farmers since ancient times have known of a certain relationship between the moon and nature. They knew that at certain times of the day the world of the animal kingdom came alive with activity. This knowledge had been passed on from generation to generation and used for their basic needs: planting, hunting and fishing. Today we have come to understand the scientific basis for the moon’s biological effect on all wildlife and marine life. Very simply, it is peak gravitation of the moon that stimulates animal activity. That’s why deer, cattle and marine life feed at the same time of the day or night. This gravitational stimulus is at its greatest when the moon is directly overhead or on the opposite side of the Earth. A law of physics states that for every pull there is an equal and opposite push. In other words, as the Earth rotates on its axis, any location on Earth will each day pass under two peak gravitational forces occurring 12 ½ hours apart. These peak forces coincide with lunar transit times. The following lunar transit times coincide with high tide and increased game and fish activity. Just like at high tide, animal activity increases, peaks, then decreases around transit times. This “window” of activity usually lasts 2-4 hours. What this all means is that the best hunting and fishing occurs when gravitation is greatest at transit times of the moon. From Dr. Oscar Sotelo’s Lunar Transit Times, 22nd edition

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Photos Courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR

Everything you need to know about the highly anticipated dove hunting season By MIKE COX Sooner or later, all of us look back on those “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.” For hundreds of thousands of Baby Boomer-generation hunters, those fond memories include blasting away at fast-flying dove. For decades, in the North Zone and Central Zone, dove season has begun on September 1. Just shy of three weeks later, thousands of hunters descend on South Texas for the South Zone opener. But for most of those decades, regardless of zone, hunting could not begin until high noon. Until the 1970s, it was only legal to pop caps at dove in the afternoon. Daybreak hunting was a major no-no.

419 W. US Highway 83, Pharr, TX 78577

(956) 787-4291

The South Zone dove season will continue through Oct. 21. A second South Zone season extends from Dec. 18 through Jan. 22, 2016. In the North and Central Zones, the first season closes on Oct. 25. The second round in that zone starts Dec. 18 and continues through New Year’s Day. Just like old times, hunters coming to South Texas for the special white-winged dove area seasons do get the morning off, with legal hunting not beginning until noon. Those two weekend hunts will be September 5-6 and September 12-13. During this period, the daily bag limit of 15 birds can include no more than two mourning doves and two white-tipped doves. But when the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15 with no more than two white-tipped doves. Hunting in this area will reopen September 18 and continue through October 21, reopened December 18 and continuing through January 18 next year. No matter where you go dove hunting this year, you’ll find that the heavy rains much of the state received in the spring and summer will make things different than last year. “Age-ratios (juveniles versus adults) from last season indicated very strong production in mourning doves across Texas last year; we expect similar or slightly increased production this year with the

improved habitat conditions across nearly all of Texas,” says Shaun Oldenburger, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s dove program leader. “However, improved habitat conditions equal more food and water on the landscape, which means hunters may need to spend more time patterning mourning doves prior to opening day in their area,” he adds.

To translate biologist-speak, that means more dove with more water holes and food choices. In other words, the birds likely will be more scattered.

Read about getting your license and where to find the new hunting and fishing regulations on the following page.

THE FINE PRINT FROM TWPD’S WEBSITE: Licenses for the 2015-2016 hunting season can be bought at any of TPWD’s 28 field offices, more than 50 state parks and at more than 1,700 retailers across the state. Licenses may also be purchased online through the TPWD website at www.tpwd.state. tx.us/buy or by phone at 1-800-895-4248 FREE. Call center hours are Monday through Friday, 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. and there is a required $5 administrative fee for each phone or online transaction. The online transaction system is available 24/7. For online and phone orders, a physical license will be mailed within three business days. During that time period, a transaction receipt will be provided via email that will be sufficient proof of hunting license and required endorsements that can be used for dove hunting, though it will not be allowed for the take of fish or wildlife that require a tag. Hunting and fishing regulations for the new season can be found in the 2015-2016 Outdoor Annual, available at license retailers August 15, online at www.txoutdoorannual.com and via the free Outdoor Annual mobile app available for Apple and Android devices. In addition to a hunting license, anyone born after Sept. 1, 1971, must successfully complete a hunter education training course or purchase a one-time deferral good for one license year in order to hunt legally in Texas. The certification is valid for life and is honored in all other states and provinces. More information on hunter education certification is available online at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ outdoor-learning/hunter-education. A Migratory Game Bird endorsement and Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification are also required to hunt dove. HIP certification involves a brief survey of previous year’s migratory bird hunting success and is conducted at the time licenses are purchased.

A SEASON OF CAMARADERIE Rio Grande Valley Whitewing hunting has changed over the years, but the bonding that happens between friends and family remain strong.

Story by Henry Miller Photo by Tiki Tillman/ tikitillmanphotos.com There used to be a time when thosands of hunters would make their annual pilgrimage to the Rio Grande Valley, ready for the first weekend of Whitewing hunting. Bob Glick, owner of Glick Twins in McAllen, recalls more than 2,200 hunters coming to the store when they ran an outfitters business. “Local boys would be out front trying to get hired as bird boys to go to the fields with the people from out of town,” said Glick, an avid hunter/outdoorsman. “But times have changed.” The Rio Grande Valley at one point was the only place those highly-prized doves could be harvested. The popularity was so high that Glick says he can remember driving home from La Grulla along Expressway 83 and traffic would be crawling due to the number of out-of-town hunters. “As whitewing hunting progressed, it also changed,” Glick said. “They only used to be along hte Rio Grande and then started showing up all over - in Alice, San Antonio, Uvalde, San Angelo - almost the entire state has them now.” It still, however, remains a passionate tradition for so many in the Rio Grande Valley. Glick’s first recollection of whitewing hunting goes back to 1966 when he was 6 years old, carrying a shotgun and accompanying his

dad into the field. “I know that I was carried into the field younger than that, I jut don’t recall it,” he said. Two of his favorite places to hunt were where the HEB is currently south of Pharr and where the HEB is just off of Fern Ave. in McAllen. One was walking distance away from his cousin’s house and the other was walking distance from his house. There were even times when he would ride his bike - shotgun tied to the handle bars - from Pharr to McAllen - to go hunting with his cousin. “People were a lot different about guns back then,” Glick said. “It was a dramatically different time.” Something, however, that has never changed, is the camaraderie that is built during whitewing season. “There was a time when a lot of people were hunting in Mexico and I began going over there as well,” Glick said. “Whitewing hunting in Mexico was so different then. We would go across to Reynosa about three in the afternoon after having done most of a day’s work and go just west of Reynosa a few miles and shoot our limit of birds. “Then we’d come back to Reynosa and have a great dinner before we went home.” The first weekend in September is similar to Mardi Gras or the Super Bowl for whitewing hunters. It’s when fathers and sons, entire families, best friends, co-workers and colleagues gather up their guns, fill their ice chests, get the barbeque pit ready and head out to the fields.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or hot - or both,” Glick said. “This is a time when you bring your son, your daughter, your wife and friends, go shoot some birds and have a social event. It’s a great time.” That being said, Glick admitted he would love to see some changes in the laws regarding limits and the number of days allowed for whitewing hunting. “I would very much rather have a 12-bird limit - that’s plenty - and a bunch more days to hunt,” Glick said. “If you get more days, you’re getting more weekends and if you get more weekends you get to take your sons out more. “Everyone is so busy these days that you may get out into the field once or twice - maybe not at all. It’s hard to get it done. If you drop the limit to 10 and believe me that’s plenty - we could start hunting in September and quit hunting in February. The current calendar gives hunters 60 days for whitewing hunting. Glick firmly believes that hunters could get 90 days with a 12-bird limit and up to 120 days for a 10-bird limit. “Whitewing hunting is a tradition. It’s about getting together and building bonds and having a terrific time. Having more time to do that would be great.” Visit Glick Twins at 419 W Us Highway 83, Pharr, TX or call (956) 787-4291. Or check them out online at: myglicktwins.com

Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel

August 2015

N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9' Date

Day

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

623am

High Tide 1.2

229pm

High Tide 1.0

1136am

1.0

1101pm

-0.4

654am

815pm

918pm

809am

641am

1.1

401pm

1.0

1204pm

0.9

1150pm

-0.1

655am

815pm

1003pm

914am

655am

1.0

535pm

0.9

1242pm

0.6

655am

814pm

1048pm

1018am

705am

0.9

721pm

0.9

1239am

0.1

131pm

0.4

656am

813pm

1132pm

1122am

711am

0.9

927pm

0.9

128am

0.5

226pm

0.1

656am

812pm

714am

0.9

1155pm

1.0

220am

0.8

326pm

-0.1

657am

812pm

1216am

125pm

713am

1.0

324am

1.0

429pm

-0.3

657am

811pm

102am

225pm

207am

1.1

540am

1.1

531pm

-0.4

658am

810pm

149am

323pm

643am

1.1

Low Tide

Phase

1224pm

317am

1.3

630pm

-0.4

658am

810pm

238am

419pm

402am

1.3

726pm

-0.4

659am

809pm

330am

511pm

438am

1.4

817pm

-0.4

659am

808pm

422am

600pm

508am

1.4

905pm

-0.3

700am

807pm

516am

646pm

534am

1.3

1246pm

1.2

1035am

1.2

948pm

-0.1

700am

806pm

609am

728pm

555am

1.3

200pm

1.1

1049am

1.1

1027pm

0.1

701am

806pm

701am

807pm

611am

1.2

304pm

1.1

1109am

1.1

1103pm

0.2

701am

805pm

753am

843pm

623am

1.1

403pm

1.1

1134am

1.0

1136pm

0.4

702am

804pm

844am

919pm

628am

1.1

502pm

1.1

1201pm

0.9

702am

803pm

934am

953pm

628am

1.0

607pm

1.0

1205am

0.6

1234pm

0.8

703am

802pm

1024am

1028pm

625am

1.0

728pm

1.0

1232am

0.7

111pm

0.7

703am

801pm

1114am

1104pm

621am

1.0

918pm

1.0

1258am

0.9

155pm

0.5

703am

800pm

1204pm

1141pm

615am

1.1

123am

1.0

245pm

0.4

704am

759pm

1256pm

603am

1.1

340pm

0.3

704am

758pm

149pm

1222am

216am

1.2

438pm

0.2

705am

757pm

243pm

105am

239am

1.4

536pm

0.0

705am

756pm

337pm

153am

309am

1.5

633pm

0.0

706am

755pm

431pm

246am

338am

1.6

728pm

-0.1

706am

754pm

524pm

343am

406am

1.6

823pm

-0.1

707am

753pm

616pm

444am

430am

1.5

1252pm

1.3

936am

1.3

917pm

0.0

707am

752pm

705pm

548am

449am

1.4

221pm

1.4

954am

1.2

1010pm

0.1

707am

751pm

753pm

654am

504am

1.3

344pm

1.4

1024am

0.9

1102pm

0.3

708am

750pm

839pm

800am

514am

1.2

505pm

1.4

1103am

0.7

1155pm

0.6

708am

749pm

925pm

906am

3rd

New

1st

Full

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Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel

September 2015

N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9' Date

Day

522am

High Tide 1.1

632pm

High Tide 1.4

1149am

Low Tide 0.4

Low Tide

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

709am

748pm

1011pm

1011am

526am

1.1

808pm

1.4

1248am

0.9

1241pm

528am

1.2

958pm

1.4

145am

1.1

138pm

0.2

709am

747pm

1058pm

1115am

0.1

709am

746pm

1146pm

522am

1.3

1156pm

1.5

258am

1.3

241pm

1217pm

0.0

710am

745pm

348pm

0.0

710am

744pm

1236am

128am

1.6

214pm

457pm

0.0

711am

743pm

127am

308pm

225am

305am

1.6

604pm

0.1

711am

742pm

219am

358pm

1.6

707pm

0.2

711am

741pm

312am

335am

1.6

1111am

444pm

1.4

904am

1.4

803pm

0.4

712am

740pm

405am

358am

1.6

527pm

1250pm

1.5

910am

1.4

854pm

0.5

712am

739pm

457am

417am

607pm

1.5

203pm

1.5

927am

1.3

940pm

0.7

713am

737pm

548am

644pm

430am

1.4

303pm

1.5

949am

1.2

1021pm

0.8

713am

736pm

639am

720pm

438am

1.4

358pm

1.5

1011am

1.1

1057pm

0.9

713am

735pm

729am

754pm

440am

1.3

450pm

1.5

1036am

1.0

1131pm

1.0

714am

734pm

819am

829pm

438am

1.3

544pm

1.5

1102am

0.9

714am

733pm

909am

904pm

432am

1.3

644pm

1.5

1204am

1.2

1132am

0.8

715am

732pm

1000am

941pm

423am

1.3

755pm

1.5

1239am

1.3

1206pm

0.7

715am

731pm

1051am

1020pm

923pm

1.5

123am

1.4

1247pm

0.6

715am

730pm

1142am

1102pm

135pm

0.5

716am

729pm

1235pm

1147pm

232pm

0.5

716am

727pm

127pm

117pm

410am

1.4

1102pm

1.6

1221am

1.7

336pm

0.5

717am

726pm

220pm

1236am

114am

1.8

446pm

0.5

717am

725pm

312pm

130am

153am

1.8

556pm

0.5

717am

724pm

403pm

227am

223am

1.8

704pm

0.5

718am

723pm

452pm

328am

247am

1.7

1224pm

1.6

823am

1.5

808pm

0.6

718am

722pm

540pm

431am

304am

1.6

157pm

1.7

840am

1.3

910pm

0.7

719am

721pm

627pm

536am

316am

1.5

318pm

1.7

909am

1.0

1010pm

0.9

719am

720pm

713pm

642am

325am

1.4

435pm

1.8

947am

0.7

1110pm

1.1

720am

719pm

800pm

749am

330am

1.3

551pm

1.8

1029am

0.4

720am

717pm

847pm

855am

331am

1.4

711pm

1.8

1212am

1.3

720am

716pm

936pm

1000am

1117am

0.2

Phase

3rd

New

1st

Full

FAT & FLAT

The prized Southern Flounder, a most-wanted catch By BRENT JOHNSON Having grown up fishing both Falcon Lake and the Laguna Madre, I always wondered what I loved more. Well, I love both the same for what they are, One thing I really love about fishing the flats is that you never know what may pull the other end of the line. Most likely it’s a trout, or maybe a big red, but every now and then it’s the fish just as prized if not more than the other two. Ladies and gentleman, I give you the Southern Flounder! Fat and flat is not a bad thing, especially if you’re an ambush predator in the shallow waters of the Laguna Madre. With a doormat profile and a camouflage cloak, the flounder fits right in with the gang known as the bay’s most wanted. Pound for pound this fish is every bit the fighter.

832, and for spinning reels I like the 20lb. Berkley Nanofil. Attached to that is a 2 foot leader of 30lb. mono. Both of these lines are durable, and built for superior casting distance. Flat fish arguably are one of the best to eat having a flavor similar to shellfish. There are so many ways to prepare flounder, but perhaps my favorite is to take a shallow pan with a ¼ cup of melted butter, a dash of white pepper, ¼ teaspoon of Chupacabra Cajun seasoning, a splash of Worchestshire sauce, and a cup of lump crab meat. Bake for 21 minutes at 400 degrees. Once done carefully stick a fork underneath the spine and lift the bones right out of the fish. Now it is ready to eat, Buen Provecho! Many years ago flounder carpeted our coastal waters. With pressure from commercial and recreational fishing this species has been on a slow decline for the last couple of decades. Before 1988 there were no regulations managing this fish. After 1988 a minimum size of 12 inches, and a bag limit of 20 was implemented. Today that bag limit is 5, except during the breeding season of November 1 – December 14 when it is 2. Rod and reel are the only means of catching flounder during the breeding season. Also the minimum length today is 14”. While CCA has been very successful

with its breeding programs for trout and redfish, flounder has been more of a challenge. The flounder is like Goldie Locks looking for the right bowl of pourage in that if the water temperature is too cold, or too hot it simply will not procreate.

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e Bait Gallery

Grand Opening! Call to Reserve Your BAIT - 956-943-9054 423 W. HWY 100 Port Isabel - 1 Block East of Quik-Stop

Abnormally warmer water temperatures have been one suspected reason as to why we have seen fewer numbers than what we used to see. Five years ago there were very small catch rates, but today flounder seem to be making a comeback. Scientists are learning more and more about this fish, and soon we will see the fruits of their labor in a more abundant fishery. If you are looking to pursue the beast of the bottom, I highly recommend booking a guided trip. Skipper Mock, Rudy Romero, and Walter Bode are three names that first come to mind when I think of local guides who are some of the best flounder fisherman in the bay. They know where and when to be for epic “saddle bag” catching. Not only will these professionals put you on the fish, but quite possibly put you on the really big fish. I will be fishing the Port Mansfield fishing tournament July 23-26. My game plan will be to find my flounder early as that is when they most frequently feed. I will look for grassy points, drainage areas, and edges and guts that lead to deeper water. Wading the points be sure to cast close to the shore during early and late hours when the fish like to lay in the skinny. Chicken Boy Lures, KWigglers, Gulp Shrimp, live shrimp, and jig worms with cheater hooks on the tail are all good bets to get bit. See you on the water my friends!

PHOTOS FROM THE 76TH ANNUAL TEXAS INTERNATIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENT (Photos Courtesy of TIFT)

CAPT. CESAR ANGUIANO

CHE IBARRA

& HIS PHOTOS

We came across Che Ibarra’s Facebook page and in no time we were captivated, and entertained, by his outdoor photos (and by the really cool photo to the left). Che lives in Edinburg and says he learned how to fish in the local canals, following his dad, who worked with the Hidalgo County irrigation district. Che took up shark fishing just about 18 months ago and photography about four years ago. “I started experimenting with photography and it really goes well with the outdoors,” he says. If you see him out fishing, more often than not you’ll see his son Lian with him. Thanks Che, for letting us share your great work!

Hooked:

Stories and Family Photos by Alberto Santos

don’t remember how old I was, but I am guessing that by the time I was age 11, I was definitely hooked on fishing.

Generation after generation pass down the fishing fever in Alberto Santos’ family.

a milky gray. It was drilled into me that I had to keep my mouth closed when in the aszequia. I was to never drink any water or I would surly die. When we swam in this spot we always appointed a lookout. His job was to look for anything strange floating down stream. Some people still used the aszequia as the sewer system so you know what we were keeping an eye for. We tied an old hook to a piece of kite string. This rig was then tied to a piece of bamboo and that was our fishing gear. Goyo always knew where to find earthworms. We dug up some fat earthworms, and used a dry twig for a floater. I don’t think we hooked more than two or three. But we always celebrated each catch. At this age, any fish was a good fish. After the fishing we would go down to Goyo’s store and celebrate by drinking a coke. Even back in those days, I had heard of people telling stories about catching lots of fish. Some even said they had caught a sack full or a cooler full but I guess I thought those were just “fish stories.” Little did I know that I would soon be telling my own fishing story. The White Bass Run A friend of my father had told him the white bass were running in the Rio Grande and he had gotten an invitation to visit a particular spot on the river on the Nuevo Laredo side. I remember sensing my Dad’s excitement when we cleaned the two rods and reels. Once the rods were ready, we went to Tio Alfredo’s Tire Shop. He sold fishing tackle and there we bought a bunch of silver spoons and spinners. We got two colors of spinners: white with little black dots and yellow with little black dots. The guy who invited my dad had said that those were the baits of choice. My dad had an old tackle box and he had two metal-clip stringers but had never had to use one. I thought metal-clip stringers were something every fisherman had to have. It was required equipment so it could rattle in bottom of the tackle box. Its job was also to make sure than any lure that fell in the bottom compartment would get nice and tangled. This would give the fisherman something to do as he prepared for the next fishing trip. When everything was ready we went to Nuevo Laredo. We crossed the international bridge into Mexico and headed south on Guerrero Avenue. Once past the city of Nuevo Laredo we continued south then turned left on the Riverena road. I do not remember the name of the ranch but it was on the left side of the road. We drove through the ranch and as we approached the river I remember seeing a lot of cars. It was not typical to see a “parking lot” full of cars

To this day, I have never had any trouble getting my grandkids to join me on a fishing trip. We are all hooked. out in the middle of nowhere. We got our gear and followed the trail leading down to the river’s edge. As we made our way down the riverbank we went through a brushy area with lots of bamboo. I also recall there were lots of mosquitoes in this section. At the river bank there was a big crowd. I think there must have been 30 to 40 people fishing in a small section of the river that was no more than 60 yards long. Not all were actively fishing. About 1/3 was fishing and the other 2/3 was untangling their lines. It was then that I noticed a lot of metal stringers full of fish. In a section of the river with a gradual drop there were many sticks each with one or two stringer. I think my Dad must have noticed that I was developing a serious case of fishing anxiety. He told me to go ahead and try to catch one. The fishing action was red hot! If you did not count the casts that got tangled, I must have been catching fish with every other cast. Eventually I developed my own technique of piddling around till those next to were trying to untangle their lines then I would cast. Short cast was better. This was a very big day for me. We caught a lot of fish. I remember throwing back the little ones and just keeping the bigger fish. Not only did I fill our stringers, I double- and triple-loaded some of the clips. My index fingers were raw from handling so many fish by the gills. My finger tips had lots of treble hook punctures from frantically removing the barbs from the fish. My hands had a strong smell of fish and river water. My shoes were muddy and my socks were soaked. I remember that I felt like a real fisherman. I did not mind the not sun or any of the other inconveniences. These conditions became synonymous with fishing. Now I had my own fishing story. I knew that when I told them of our stringer of fish people would smile. They would smile and wonder and maybe even ask if my story was true. I would simply smile back. My Best Catches I am still hooked on fishing. In all my year of fishing, I believe that my best catches have been first getting my kids hooked on fishing and now getting my grandkids hooked on fishing. The very best way to get kids hooked on fishing is to catch fish. To make sure we caught fish when I took my kids fishing, I relied on a simple two-part fishing insurance policy: 1. Always carry perch hooks in the tackle box. 2. Know when the fishing action is a sure thing. Even though I rarely use them, I still carry perch hooks in my tackle box. I am actually a pro at hooking very little fish. If the fishing action is slow, I can always have fun by catching perch. The little perch hooks and knowing how to use them are one form of fishing insurance. The other form of fishing insurance. The other type of fishing insurance is to know when the fishing action will be a sure thing. Both of

these have proven to deliver great fishing action. When my kids were little I relived my own experience of getting hooked. I remember sharing in that little jolt of electricity that goes through a kid when a hungry fish hits a baited hook. When Beto III was at Kelly’s Camp (age 3 or 4) we were the only ones catching little catfish. We were also the only ones with a perch hook. Beto III was all smiles and so was I. Stacy and Mike later became experts at landing piggy perch in Port Aransas. Little did they know they were the ones being hooked. One time all of us were in Brownsville at Boca Chica. A friend of ours, Butch Barbosa, who lived in Brownsville, told me that the sand trout were a sure thing in the late afternoon. We all went to the beach with Grandma Alta. The fishing action was red hot. I did nothing but bait hooks and unhook fish. The action was so hot that I stopped baiting the second hook and we still hooked doubles. In the picture, Beto III is holding up a “big one” while Stacy and Mike under the watchful eye of grandma, land another fish. A little bit later, when they were about ages 10, 8, and 6, we were “lucky” again to be at the right place at the right time. This time we were fishing for trout in Corpus Christi Bay with George Herzog. I have a video of one particular fishing trip that I am sure they still remember. The day before George had told me the trout fishing was hot so I decided to bring the kids and my video camera. George took us to an oil well in the middle of Corpus Christi Bay. The well was surrounded by a man made oyster shell reef. When we got there George spotted a trout slick indicating we were about to get some good speckled trout action. As the video will confirm, it was non stop catching. George and I did not land any fish because were constantly baiting hooks and unhooking trout. We came back with about 50 nice speckled trout. If there were ever any doubt about my kids being hooked on fishing I would submit the video as evidence. Any judge and jury have but to look at the smiles on their faces. My most recent catches have been my grandkids and their cousins. Check out the pictures and tell me if you think the kid in the picture is hooked? To this day, I have never had any trouble getting my grandkids to join me on a fishing trip. We are all hooked.

Alberto Santos is the owner of Santos Ranch LLC and Las Lomas Ranch. Visit the website www. santosranch.com for more information.

GAME WARDEN NOTES

New game warden, park police cadets graduate together After seven months of training, the 59th Texas game warden cadet class graduated with a new twist. This year marks the first time game wardens and state park police officers trained and graduated together in the same cadet class. “The entire staff at the Game Warden Training Center is very proud of this next generation of Texas game wardens and state park police,” said Game Warden Tracy Davis, Major at the Game Warden Training Center. “We are confident that each officer will carry out their duties professionally and with the deepest level of commitment and service to the people of Texas, and their natural resources.” The graduates will begin their new careers stationed in counties and state parks throughout the state. The duties of a Texas game warden include the enforcement of all state laws, primarily hunting, fishing, and water safety regulations. As fully commissioned peace officers, they respond to emergencies, assist other law enforcement agencies, and work to educate the public about conservation issues. The new wardens and park police are joining the 532 game wardens and 180 park police officers currently in the field, and will help enforce TPWD regulations and carry the department’s high standards to every corner of the state. These are the new game wardens and park police, their hometowns, and the counties or parks in which they will be stationed: 59th Cadet Class James L. Adcock – Elm Mott, TX – Maverick County; Gerry M. Amundson – Temple, TX – Hudspeth County; Brent M. Biggs – Kerrville, TX – Zapata County; Kevin C. Blackwell – Sweetwater, TX – Kent/Dickens County; Mark E. Braddock – Alto, TX – Hudspeth County; Joshua T. Bulger – Sanger, TX – Zapata County; Brent C. Deen – Huffman, TX – Val Verde County; Anthony R. DeLuzio – San Antonio, TX – Lamb/Bailey/ Cochran Counties; Benjamin Echelson – Austin, TX – Webb County; Joshua Espinoza – Graham, TX – Zapata County; Jordan S. Favreau – Coppell, TX – Starr County; James R. Kilty – Damon, TX – Terrell County; Angeline M. Miller – Keller, TX – Val Verde County; Shawna M. Poole – Rusk, TX – Webb County; Jeffrey J. Putnam – Pearland, TX – Webb County; Joseph S. Quintero – Leander, TX – Maverick County; Cameron G. Ramsey – Brady, TX – Brewster County; Krystal R. Thompson – Olmito, TX – Zapata County; Robert J. Zerr – Hondo, TX – Jeff Davis County State Park Police Officers Dawson J. Enloe – Quitaque, TX – Caprock Canyon State Park; Chase M. Harper – Llano, TX – Enchanted Rock State Park; Grant A. Klein

The newest graduating State Park Police Officers. The graduates will begin their new careers stationed in counties and state parks throughout the state. (Photo courtesy Texas Parks & Wildlife) – Nederland, TX – Sea Rim State Park; Mark A. Musumarra – Canyon, TX – Palo Duro Canyon State Park

The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports. Paper Shuffling Pays Off An individual stopped by the Brownwood law enforcement office asking for information on his boat so he could report it as stolen. Office clerks were helping the customer when they realized the boat had been registered the week before in the customer’s name but with a different address. The clerks showed the paperwork to a game warden, who began a search for the stolen vessel. When he found the boat, the suspected thief admitted partial guilt. Other suspects were interviewed, but the vessel was returned to its rightful owner. Turn Around, Don’t Drown A Brown County man ignored warning signs, drove his pickup truck across a flooded roadway and was swept away. A deputy saw the pickup floating downstream with the man on top of the cab, until at one point the water became too strong and the man fell in. The deputy observed the man being washed downstream with a blue bag in hand until he was out of sight. Two wardens launched their boat and began

a search and rescue, which continued for several days with no luck. Eventually, they found the blue bag, and then recovered the body of the 61-year-old disabled vet from under a pile of logs. The Disappearing Child Small children standing up in cars tend to attract attention. A small child did just that when a Williamson County game warden passed by on his way to Austin. The warden waited for the car to pass him so he could get a better look, but by that point, the child had disappeared. When he passed them again, he looked into the back seat and could not see the child or a child seat. He pulled the driver over and found the kid hiding on the back floorboard and the driver without a license. When asked if she had ever been ticketed for her lack of license, the lady replied she had been ticketed a couple of times and even had a warrant for her arrest. The warden instructed her to find licensed drivers who could bring a car seat, and she said her sister would be there in 20 minutes. But almost 45 minutes later, the sister arrived on foot to drive the car back, but without a child’s seat. The warden called for a wrecker who took possession of the vehicle, and the driver was placed under arrest for her warrant and was issued two citations: one for driving without a driver’s license, and one for the child not in a seat.

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Stealth Fishing 101:

Kayaking in the flats One of my favorite modes of fishing is by kayak. It gets me where I want to go without any noise. Stealth is the name of the game. I have caught some of my biggest trout off Holly Beach just in between those three islands. Kayaks give saltwater anglers unparalleled access to very skinny waters. Where I go, most boats donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to take a chance mainly because of obstacles in the water. Some of the best opportunities for harvesting fatties are in thin water. Captain Alan Stewart owns and operated Stewart Most of the hot Training Center and holds a Master license with the spots are just U.S.C.G. Stewart Training Center is located at 39572 across a channel Loop Road, Bayview, Tx., 78566. or between spoil banks. Some actually will use a drift sock and fish guts and valleys next to channels. Some of the best fishing is around the old abandon oil wells up around the three island area. Finding a good launch point can shave off time on the way to some big reds. Pack lots of water and snacks with protein. Fishing around the end of the jetties is a hoot. Just remember, you should not drift into the lines of the fishermen on the jetties. That will really tick them off. I have been told that off shore is the ultimate kind of kayaking. I personally have not done that and I really do not wish to. I have a hard time getting back on due to my size. I prefer skimming over 5 inches of water toward some tailing herds of redfish any day. Just a reminder. Even if you put a trolling motor on a kayak, you need to get it registered and put numbers on it. I sometimes use a trolling motor on my Wilderness Ride and it gets me to where I want to go just a little bit quicker. If you are looking for one with foot power, Hobie makes some great models for that. The accessories are endless. My next paddle device is simply a two seat paddle boat. These are great for the short haul. Not designed for miles of paddling. Take your pick and enjoy the water.