FREE! TAKE ONE!
70+ YEARS & COUNTING MISSION INSIDE: HOG HEAVEN& SKEET PROFILE: ROBERT LOVE TRAP CLUB
CAUTION!
FISHING CPR Q Q THE THE SHACK SIGHT CASTING IN THE GRAVEYARD JAGUAR RETURNS RIBSTROPHY ARE LOADED) COOKING WITH DURIVAGE ELUSIVE WATUSI (THESE YOUR TROUT
3000 N. Cage Pharr, TX 78577 (956) 402-4500
HAVE A BIG
EVENT?
Call Us At (956) 402-4500
WWW.PHARREVENTS.COM
INSIDE 24 Glick Twins has had a majot impact on the community for the past seven decades and is still going.
A MAJOR IMPACT More than a store, Glick Twins a generational institute You may want to clarify it, however, as a household name for generations. Now in it’s 71st year, (66th year at the same location - 419 W. U.S. Highway 83 in Pharr), Glick Twins remains the cornerstone for most outdoorsmen when it comes to hunting, shooting and anything there is to know about those subjects. What started out as a surplus store and morphed into the one-stop shop for your guns, ammo and hunting needs. “I remember coming into the store as a kid,” said owner Bob Glick. “I loved the helmets and the clothes and the bayonettes.” The store’s gun department back then had very few guns and what they did have in stock was just the basic Remington models, 721s and a few others. “When the twins ran it, outdoor sporting stuff was basically insignificant,” Glick said. “When I started having more influence on it we started being a lot bigger fishing and hunting store. Plus, surplus became difficult to find so this was “When the twins ran it, outdoor sporting stuff was basically insignificant,” Glick said. “When I started having more influence on it we started being a lot bigger fishing and hunting store. Plus, surplus became difficult to find so this “When the twins ran it, outdoor sporting stuff was basically insignificant,” Glick said. “When I started having more influence on it we started being a lot bigger fishing and hunting.
BY HENRY MILLER If you said “Glick Twins” was a household name, you’d be correct - but you wouldn’t be painting the complete picture. You may want to clarify it, however, as a household name for generations. Now in it’s 71st year, (66th year at the same location - 419 W. U.S. Highway 83 in Pharr), Glick Twins remains the cornerstone for most outdoorsmen when it comes to hunting, shooting and anything there is to know about those subjects. What started out as a surplus store and morphed into the one-stop shop for your guns, ammo and hunting needs. “I remember coming into the store as a kid,” said owner Bob Glick. “I loved the helmets and the clothes and the bayonettes.” The store’s gun department back then had very few guns and what they did have in stock was just the basic Remington models, 721s and a few others. “When the twins ran it, outdoor sporting stuff was basically insignificant,” Glick said. “When I started having more influence on it we started being a lot bigger fishing and hunting store. Plus, surplus became difficult to find so this was If you said “Glick Twins” was a household name, you’d be correct - but you wouldn’t be painting the complete picture.
WHAT’S INSIDE
22 YOU MAY BE FISHING, BUT IT’S NOT TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT DEER SEASON
A GUY WALKS INTO A BAR....
FREE! TAKE ONE!
Event expected to be its largest
I was sittin’ at this bar called Pop’s Place near Copano Bay in Rockport. This joint was one part cowboy, one part beachboy, and two parts Texan kinda place. I’m havin' a cold one and a bite to eat when this local fella walks in and takes the seat next to me.
RGV REEF66 YEARS &
COUNTING
MISSION INSIDE: HOG HEAVEN& SKEET PROFILE: CLUB ROBERT LOVE TRAP
CAUTION!
FISHING CPR
Q SIGHT Q THE THE SHACKWITH CASTING IN THE GRAVEYARD JAGUAR RETURNS RIBSTROPHY ARE LOADED) COOKING DURIVAGE YOUR TROUT ELUSIVE WATUSI (THESE
ON THE COVER Glick Twins has had a major impact on the community during its six-plus decades of sales and service.
STAFF Henry Miller Publisher henry.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-9210
Fred Rodriguez The Texas Sportsman fredrsportsman@yahoo.com (956) 776-4623
Fred Rodriguez
KNOW WHO YOU ARE FISHING WITH A lesson learned - and written - by Brent Johnson
Joey Dowden Advertising Director joey.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-0853
Volume 3, Isssue 3. April 2016. 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
Tiki Tillman Photographer tikitillmanphotos.com (956)572-6132
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.
Bob Glick Contributing Editor myglicktwins.com (956) 787-4291
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
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The 26th Annual Texas Hunters/Sportsman’s Expo is coming back to the McAllen Convention Center, July 22-24, 2016. According to show director(s), Chris & Justin Curl, “We have had solid crowds over the past 25 years, and the show’s attendance continues to grow each year. Our 12/13/14/15 shows were our biggest and best shows ever, and it’s only going to get better…This 3 day weekend event is expected to draw several thousand huntng & fishing enthusiasts and visitors from both sides of the Texas/Mexico border.” “ The Texas Hunters/Sportsman’s Expo is recognized as the Highest Quality Huntng/Fishing Trade Show in South Texas, designed for the entire family. This is the only show of its kind south of San Antonio and north of Monterrey, Mexico. The show eatures guides and outfitters from across he United States, Canada, Mexico and Africa, booking hunts for Trophy Whitetail, Big Game, Exotics, Bear, Nilgai, Moose, Elk, Mule Deer, Turkey, Quail, Dove, Waerfowl, Trophy Bass & Saltwater fishing rips and more. Manufacturers and dealers will be on hand offering special show prices on Hunting Blinds - Feeders - Gun Safes Custom Knives - Hunting Vehicles - ATV’sBoats - Fishing Rods & Reels- Camouflage - Ranching Equipment - Tractors - Hunting Accessories and Supplies. We also have the “mom & pop” outfits on hand selling their goods and services and special show prices. This is not just a show for the hunter….. Fishing guides and camps will be on hand as well to book that fishing trip of a lifetime. Additionally, Laguna Graphite Rods, Cajun Rods, Stick- Em Rods, Johnny’s True Value, HYDRO-GLOW Fishing Lights, and Fish Stix Rods will have a arge exhibit of fishing tackle and rods at special show prices. Don’t forget boats and motors will be on sale as well. Dargel Boats, Shawllo Sport, New Water Boats and several other dealers will have huge displays all on sale - so if you are looking or a boat at a fair price, then come to the show ready to shop. We will have Laguna Rods, Yeti Coolers and other dealers with he latest fishing equipment and accessories. Anglers Edge will have all the latest n fishing rods, reels and lures on sale at special show prices. “This is a show the entire family can “
After a while we start talking and I ask him if he did much fishing around here. He replied “not really around here, but down around Ingleside in Nueces, or up in San Antonio Bay,” he said. “Fishin’ around here is a little slow, but ought to pick up soon once they reopen Cedar Bayou and Vincent Slough.” I told him I had just fished in Port Mansfield a few weeks back and had hung out with legendary guide JD Whitley. He said “No way! You know JD?” I nodded my head and he said his brother used to be a fire fighter with JD in Houston and if I was friends with Captain Whitley, I was welcome to join him for some wade fishing the following morning! As we continued to talk a guy came up behind my newly made friend and pinned him up against the bar. At first I thought it was a joke his buddy was playing, catching him off guard as he were. The man had his hand pressed up against my friend's back like he had a gun on him. When the guy let go I realized he wasn’t joking. He told my friend some threat of what to expect and then walked over to the pool table after calling him a female genatalia. I asked my buddy what that was all about. “Oh that guy is crazy,” he replied. Then he asked the waitress for his order to go. Being that this guy was a friend of JD, I felt the need to offer my services as back up should he need it. “You want me to follow you outta here?” I asked. He replied yes because this guy would most likely follow him into the parking lot. I could see the guy was occupied at the pool table as we began to leave. The wheels in my head started turning and I thought we just might sneak out of here without incident. As I walked out the door my sixth sense kicked in and told me otherwise and a second later trouble came running out the door! We turned around to confront the man and before any fist to cuffs could be thrown the toughest bouncer I er’ seen comes in to break it up. She was a little old lady about 5’ tall and tougher than the three of us put together. Fire came out of her mouth and lasers shot out of her eyes when she told us to get before she called the law! With that we quickly got in our pickup trucks and split. As I get in my truck my friend shouts out he would pick me up in the morning. Driving back to the bay house I realize how thankful I am riding in my own vehicle and not the back of some police car. It is then I start to wonder what that whole deal was about and who the hell am I going fishin’ with in the morning! I call my friend Captain Trisha, who is JD’s daughter, and I ask her if she knows this guy. She verifies that he’s a solid dude so I rig up and hit the hay. Next morning buddy drives up in an F250 pulling a 20’ SCB Stingray. We stop for coffee and a taco and then head 1 hour south of Copano to Ingleside. To this point I’ve been on just about every make and model of boat on the bay, but this was the first time I’ve ever been on one of these boats. I gotta say I was really impressed with the hull design built for speed and the deck was obviously made by a fisherman for fisherman. The 300 Merc with the 3 blade prop sounded like a dragster when he cranked the engine. Never before had I felt so alive probably because never before had I felt like I was about to die as we sped through unfamiliar territory. In fact the boat was so fast I felt like I was in a time machine because before I knew it we were at our first spot and the second hand on my watch was 2 minutes behind still trying to catch up with us. He pulls up to an island just off a deep channel. The bottom is hard with lots of oyster and rocks. I throw a blue chrome topwater, and he throws a tail. The lure I’m chunking is so sexy I think I’m guaranteed to get a bite. Then he catches a fish, and then another, and another. He motions me to come over to his spot. After a few more casts with no luck, I realize it’s time to change strategy. I tie on a red and white KWiggler Ball Tail Shad and sure enough I get my first fish. The trout are
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Hog Heaven
was in my office when the phone rang. I was very busy and had asked my secretary not to put any call through to me. It was one of those days when I needed to be left alone. A very big client assignment was due that day and I still had a lot of work to do to get it finished.
Q
(956) 787-4291
Show Dates & Times: Friday, July 22 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Saturday, July 23 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Come check out the Hunter’s & Sportsman’s Expo July 24-26 andmeet Texas Sportsman Fred Rodriguez.
Sunday, July 24 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM For More Information, Call (956) 664-2884 or visit www.texashunterassociation.com of the exhibits and attractions. Another crowd pleasing favorite is the free samples of the latest homemade jellies, jams, beef jerky and wild game jerky, roasted almonds and much more! We will have several ladies exhibits too! “The July Expo promises to be one of the best shows ever... we’re bringing back all the “old” favorites, but we continually add new exhibits each year. “ Other Feature attractions for the July Show, include the following: -Don Breeden wildlife artist will be on hand for the first time in the RGV -La Coma Ranch Inc. Trophy Exotic Exhibit- Book your hunt now! -Newhouse & Co. will be on hand with a large display of Polaris ATV’s for the Sportsmen in the market, as well as the avid rider. -Hourly giveaways (fishing & hunting trips gear and more) compliments of The
-Landers Marine & Deer Blinds will be on hand with a large selection of blinds & feeders. -Horn and Antler Furniture & Chandlers -Joe Martins Live Rattlesnake Pit - Ottea Taxidermy – Kristen Ottea will be on hand. The first female Taxidermist at the show! As mentioned earlier, “There is something here for the entire family. Our goal is to preserve our hunting and fishing heritage and ensure that the sport of hunting & fishing has a future in Texas for our children, grandchildren, and their future generations to enjoy. Children under 12 , get free admission to the Expo (Compliments of L& F Distributing & ACADEMY SPORTS) , so bring all the kids out for a good time. Door prize giveaways will add another dimension to the show, i.e.: Hunting supplies and fishing supplies, hunting trips, fishing trips, Bar-B-Q Pits will be given away daily. “In a Nutshell, this show is designed for the sportsman and his family by sportsmen who know what they want. This is the
that I could move. I told Dave to count me in. Then he tells me I am invited to a quail hunt on the company hunting lease. The hunting camp was a very upscale operation catering to clients from major fortune 500 companies. The hunting lease is part of a well-known Ranch. It seems there had been a last-minute cancellation and Dave was asked to get some other friends of the company as filler. Thank goodness I qualified as filler.
FIVE-STAR CAMP There are hunting camps and then there are HUNTING CAMPS. This was definitely what could be referred to as the upper end of hunting camps. The normal routine for a client quail hunt is you leave Houston Hobby by corporate jet and fly to a private landing strip. On board you are offered coffee, a wide assortment of beverages and even a ham sandwich. If you poked your head in the lavatory you will see it is impeccably clean down to the gold fixtures. When you arrive, two shiny new Chevy Suburbans are there to pick up the guests and baggage. The terrain is classic South Texas — mesquite and cactus flats interrupted by a few shallow creeks and small but colorful clusters of wild flowers. There are the patches of saltgrass. This is where the quail usually hide. Then there are the live oak trees in clusters where the game sits out in the hot mid-day heat. Several adjectives come to mind when you first experience the camp: safety (they are big on gun safety), natural
LOADED!
Rick at Bob Starks shows us how loaded ribs really look - and taste
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36 LOADED These ribs are so big, they’re sometimes called dinosaur ribs!
28 RANCHES AND LODGES Book a hunt, plan a stay - enjoy what Texas has to offer.
46 YOU USED WHAT?! It’s amazing what you can use to reel in some great fish.
ROBERT LOVE BY HENRY MILLER “I helped him out and before you know it he’s It didn't take long for me to place Robert Love in fighting with a red, and he reeled it in,” Love said. my “good guys” file. “He was exhausted after that.” There's something in his laugh, his outgoing “Then we anchored up by the Causeway and I used personality and jovial conversation that can probably a skipjack we caught for bait and threw his line in. attract the grumpiest of people toward him. Of course, his last name is wonderful for magazine Then the line just starts screaming so loud and fast, he didn’t know what to do but to hold on.” headlines – The “Love” Boat, All you need is “Love,” Love pulled the anchor up and whatever was on This Captain “Loves” what he does – the cliches are the other endstarted pulling the boat. endless. “He landed a black-tip shark,” Love said. “He was Turning his name into a cliché would be as big an speechless. He couldn’t do anything but show me all oxymoron as there could be. While his last name fits 32 teeth with his smile.” accordingly to those headlines, the person attached Love grew up hunting and fishing in what he calls to that last name is anything but a cliché. Take some the backwoods country with his family. He moved to time and you'll see that this guy – this Atlanta, bigDonna and slowly progressed his way to Brownsville. city native – is 100-percent genuine. Bay fishing was a little different than what he was Unlike many anglers, you won't read about his used to, but he adjusted quickly. “On The Water” Novela, sharing gossip, threatening “I was turned on by the bay and I gathered all my others or whining all over social media sites. When stuff in Atlanta and brought it down here,” he said. something bad happens to him, he's quick to turn it “I bought a boat as a Christmas present for myself into a lesson to be learned (“be safe out there on the and then met Capt. Alan Stewart and earned my water”). Captain's License through his classes. These attributes are his way of life and his way of “Now I'm a Captain and the water is my office,” he marketing. He is who he is on or off his boat, on land said. and on sea. When he's not on working, Love is spending time “I'm really just a big kid,” Love said. “I'm blessed to at home with his bride of just a year – Vicky Limon. be able to do something I love to do.” You can find him usually either doing chores around That doesn't necessarily mean fish. the house – or racing ATVs, something he has done “People are always telling me that I've got the life because I get to go fishing every day. That's not true – since childhood. Recently he had been doing more of the ATV racing while his boat was in the shop and there are times when I don't fish for a month because keeping him off the water. I'm doing what I do – I'm accommodating others. “Being off the water is driving me crazy,” he said. That's what I specialize in,” Love said. “It's been causing me to blow up ATV engines.” “I believe in giving people their time to enjoy Love and Limon met through a mutual friend but themselves,” he said. “It's their trip. They may be interested more in socializing, kicking back and play- neither seemed to have much interest at the time in the other. Then Love met a girl who worked at Valero ing music and catching fish may be a bonus to them. They are my clients and my job, my whole purpose, is and kept going back to visit her. “I just kept flirting with the girl behind the countto accommodate.” Of course, if they are serious about reeling in some er,” he said. “It turned out to be her (Limon). We fish, Love is again all-too accommodating. He's quick found that out later. She gave me her number – but to admit that he may not be the best fisherman in the it was the wrong number – she knew I'd be coming world, but he has a keen sense of finding them. back to see her.” And this time – he didn't let her get away. “If we're not catching them, I'm determined to find them – and I do.” Now that's a true (I had to do it) Love Story. Maybe Love is still a “big kid” as proclaims, but that may be why youth anglers enjoy fishing out on You can book your trip with Capt. Love by calling the bay with him. Love recalls fishing one time with (956) 621-9024 or emailing him at fishingbuda young boy and his family and the boy didn’t know dy8732@gmail.com. See his ad on the following page for more information. how to fish.
By Alberto Santos
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419 W. US Highway 83, Pharr, TX 78577
Adults: $12.00 Senior Citizens: $10.00 Children 12 and under FREE
A CAPTAIN’S PROFILE
Alberto Santos is the owner of Santos Ranch LLC and Las Lomas Ranch. Visit the website www.santosranch.com for more information.
This was not the first time Dave called with this type of request. We had done this before; I knew the drill.
My secretary walks into my office and says “It’s Dave, and he said it's something really important; he needs to talk to you immediately." She knew I always took Dave’s calls, even when I did not want to be interrupted. The call from Dave did not start with the usual “Hello” or even a friendly “How are you?” Instead he went right to the point. “Mr. Santos. Dave here. Get your calendar out. What are you doing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday?” Dave was a very good client and had become a very good friend of mine. The business relationship was all business and the personal relationship was about hunting and fishing. To somebody hearing this conversation on my speaker phone you would think a very demanding consulting client had just called and was getting ready to engage us for a very important project. But this had nothing to do with work. You see, Dave was talking in code. I knew exactly what Dave was saying to me. The code words “something very important.“ The call could only be about two possible subjects: hunting or fishing. Even my secretary had cracked the code by this time. She knew exactly what the call was about when Dave said it was about “something very important.” This was not the first time Dave called with this type of request. We had done this before; I knew the drill. Without asking where we were going, I quickly reviewed my calendar and found that it had a few internal things
Admission Prices: Prices are good for all Weekend Compliments of Academy Sports & L&F Distributors
SAY CHEESE! Texas Sportsman Expo to be even bigger than in previous years.
A Journal Entry From Alberto Santos Hog Hunting
26th annual Texas Hunters & Sportsman’s Expo
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PLAN AHEAD WHO IS THAT? Not too early to Always know who start thinking you are fishing with. about deer season
Hunts to Remember
TIDES Nothing better than knowing what times are the best for fishing.
26th annual Texas Hunters & Sportsman’s Expo
UPDATE ON THE
It’s the middle of the year and we are fishing a lot right now. However, some of us we will start thinking about deer hunting just a few short months from now, in October, right ? Wrong! Deer hunting takes time and effort when it’s actually not deer season. From February through September if you are on a high fence ranch and you have been feeding protein for your deer, you have to make sure you continue to provide the protein for your deer herd. Let’s say you just took over a ranch that has not had protein and you decide to start. It’s a great source for the deer to grow bigger antlers and thicker, larger bodies. The deer corn we use is not very high with actual nutrients for the deer. The other thing you have to do is monitor your herd and and put a number on how many trophy bucks and management bucks and doe each hunter can harvest. Actually what I am talking about is the ranch that me and my partner Gus Escobar ,in Fred Rodriguez is the Texas Sportsthe deer management program, that we impleman and has decades of experience ment at the Margo Ranch. and knowledge regarding hunting We also do a helicopter survey mid-September and fishing. You can watch his show, The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in the and do our count with our local wild game bioloRio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on gist. With doing the survey and keeping a log it will Saturdays. improve your herd. Another tip - place the majority of your protein feeders next to your corn feeders so the deer will be geared to go for the food source year round. Finally, you must have a water source, be it a natural pond or water tanks. Water is a must Next time we will discuss how to attract deer and keep deer in your low fence ranch. Until that time, pursue all your outdoor activities with safety in mind. God Bless and Gotta Have It !!
beauty, world class service and good taste. We arrive early in the afternoon and were shown to our quarters. I got lucky and did not have to bunk with Dave. He was the world’s loudest snorer. Dave got the room next to me and thank goodness the walls were insulated. The cabins were rustic but first class. The inside walls were overlapped planks of red cedar with the bark still attached. It gave the room a warm, reddish feel. The room was filled with comfortable furniture, bunk-beds and had a very modern bath to one side. This was a first class hunting lodge. How many hunting camps have a special printed program with the activities? This camp did, and the programs said there would be practice skeet shooting over at the skeet range. I think the guides wanted to size up the skill level of guests. While the rest of the hosts and guests were settling in and planning an afternoon at the skeet range to tune up their quail guns, Dave and I decided we were going to go on a little hunt for wild hog. He had previously told me of his plan and had asked me to come prepared, so I had brought my 270 win.
DAVE THE HOG HUNTER For those of you who might not be familiar with the rules of good taste, quail hunters and hog hunters normally do not mix. Dave and I were a little different than the rest of the hunters in this exclusive party. We both had a rather broad definition of sporting game. We were not embarrassed to fess up to our less than lofty goals of getting in some good pig hunting before nightfall. We got more than a little ribbing when the rest of the group found out what we were up to. Dave really enjoyed all types of hunting but he loved to hunt hog.
THE HUNT While the rest of the group was walking over to the skeet range, Dave and
“NOW I'M A CAPTAIN AND THE WATER IS MY OFFICE” -- ROBERT LOVE
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Next time you’re out fishing, try CPR on your catch....no, not that CPR...
CATCH, PHOTOGRAPH, RELEASE BY MIKE COX Next time you reel in a nice bass try practicing CPR on it. CPR, of course, is medical shorthand or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. TV's Jimmy Houston likes to kiss a bass after he catches it, but the type of CPR more and more anglers are practicing has nothing to do with placing your mouth over a fish's food intake and trying to revive it. When you're fishing South Texas -- or anywhere for that matter -- CPR stands or Catch, Photograph and Release. Texas Baby Boomers who learned to fish with their parents or grandparents know that catch and release was not the norm "back when." In fact, the term did not even exist, much less the practice. While people have been taking pictures of their stringers since photography became easy and common, in the early days of photography up through most of he 1970s, the idea was to take a picture of the most number of dead fish possible, at least consistent with the bag limit. Catch-and-release got off to a slow start, though it does date back longer ago than the 1970s. The late, legendary outdoor writer Lee Wulff first advocated tossing trout back in the stream in 1936. During the same decade, a West Yellowstone fly shop owner named Don Martinez advocated catch and release in
newsletters he sent to trout anglers on the East Coast. (Texans did not discover fly fishing until much later, but that's another story.) As a kid growing up in Central Texas within easy walking distance of a live creek, my friends and I practiced "catch and eat." When we had a nice stringer of worm-caught bream, we'd clean them, wash them in the creek, build a campfire and fry 'em in Crisco and cornmeal. Fresh pan fish, and a can of cold pork 'n beans made a pretty good meal. Through the 70s and into the early 80s, if I caught a legal- length bass, I generally kept it and ate it. And if I caught a lot, I'd give filets to friends. In the mid-70s, when I reeled in a six-pounder from a stock tank -- at that point the biggest bass I'd ever caught -- I took it to a taxidermist and had it mounted. These days, a six-pounder is still a
nice bass, but if anyone walked into a taxidermy shop wanting one mounted, the proprietor would think they're nuts. But that was then. I quit keeping bass or bream so long ago I can't remember when I stopped. I gave up killing fish for
of course. But what I really like is salt water fish, particularly red snapper, red fish and flounder. Thanks to chemical pollution, which is more pervasive than you'd think, there's another reason to practice CPR. Texas has no shortage of streams, lakes and coastal bays where eating more than a certain number of fish per year is not recommended. I don't know about you, but when I read that the State Department of Health suggests that because of high mercury levels pregnant women should not eat fish from a certain area, my appetite for fresh fish -- at least from that place -- drops to a hankering level of minus zero. When I fish on private property, I always assure the landowner that all I want to do is play with his fish. Like any angler, I get a rush of satisfying brain chemicals when a fish strikes and I'm able to get it to shore. If it puts up a good fight, all the better. Once I've got a finger or two under its gill, if it's a nice fish, I'll take a selfie or get someone I'm with to take a picture of me and my catch. And then I unhook the fish as gently as possible and put it back in the water. People who do want to keep their fish are constrained by Texas Parks and Wildlife as to size and bag limits. (You know the drill: A largemouth bass has to be at least 14 inches long and you can only keep five.) But folks who practice CPR have no limit or minimum size to worry about. All you have to do is have fun catching a fish, get it off the hook without hurting it, take a picture of it, and put it back into the water. When you're a CPR practitioner, you might just be catching the same bass five times, but since that is essentially improvable, you get to go home and brag that you caught your limit. Even better, you don't have to mess with cleaning and filleting. As early CPR advocate Wulff once wrote, "Game fish are too valuable to catch only once."
Gotta Have It? Advertise in Texas Sportsman Magazine!
Call Fred at (956) 776-4623 Plenty of options for plenty of needs!
Specializing in Complete Fishing Rod & Reel Repair
all the lofty reasons that make sense -to help keep the supply robust, etc., etc., etc. In addition, I had another reason: While I have eaten plenty of bass, I just don't like the taste that much. Don't get me wrong, I love to eat fish. Just not bass. Fried catfish, yes. Fried crappie,
JOE’S TACKLE SHOP Parts O Sales O Service 607 W. Int. 2, Ste A, Pharr, TX, 78577 (956) 630-0180 O www.joestackleshop.com
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HOG HEAVEN
GOTTA LOVE THIS ONE KISS A FISH?
Only Alberto Santos could tell this enjoyable story of two guys, a code-phrase and a hog hunt.
Check out the profile on Captain Robert Love.
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No, that’s not what CPR stands for in this story.
JOE’S TACKLE SHOP
Looking for big buck country?
Amazing Days in the Bay April and May have some of the best long-awaited days as late spring turns to early summer fishing action. This time of year is exciting with the warmer temperatures and more stable weather. What, where, when and how are the questions you may be asking. What fish do you want to target is one of the main questions. Some of the best jetty action is firing up. Outside of the jetties, in the surf, king mackerel are feeding about all of the time. The offshore action is also in full swing. Some of the species you can get at this time of the year include kings, jacks, mahi-mahi and cobia lings. I have immensely enjoyed a lot of offshore fishing, but I am going to talk about the bay species speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. This is also some of the best action and what I specialize in catching. The bay is coming alive with flooding currents and rising water. Freshwater is intensely pushing in from the gulf and shifting the bay system into overdrive. Temperatures on the flats are warming up and maintaining 70-plus degrees, which attracts different species from bait to
sport fish. With all of the rain in the past year, the warmer winter we had and the best fishing I have seen in the winter, the bay is set to explode. It is going to be the best fishing we have seen in years! Just imagine on a semi-overcast day, the sun just over the horizon, tight schools of mullet balled up in front of you, waist deep of water getting blown up by fish just having a feeding frenzy, trout slicks popping up like bubble gum on the surface of the water and that sweet watermelon aroma in the air. It’s enough to get your heart pumping so fast from all of the excitement and anticipation on getting that first bite. You make that first cast of the day and throw your favourite top water plug out and as soon as it hits the water “BOOM” Big Suzy monster trout or a feisty red blows it up! There are so many positive changes happening and it all adds up to great fishing. Top waters prove to be some awesome action, especially now while the trout are spawning and eating lots of mullet. Their metabolism is rising from the warmer and more stable water tempera-
tures. Mother Nature in is in full swing. Throwing jerk baits can and will pick up trout, reds and flounder. Bass Assassins are some of my favourites. Shrimp under a popping cork work great as well. With some windy days still in April, redfish action is awesome on leeward shorelines. They are feeding on shrimp and crabs pushed up by the hard winds. Wade fishing is the best way to target them. Use shrimp under a popping cork, jerk baits or top water lures to wrangle them in. Spring flounder should be moving on the edge of channels and points. Use jerk baits on the bottom and work them slowly. The ticket here is patience. It will get you in the ballpark. All of these tactics will work in May as well. This month is by far the green light month for your limit of fish - all day every day. Croaker will start working initializing those big sow trout to eat. Try Ballyhoo and shad baits for these big fish. Have a great day and time on the water! Be safe and enjoy what Mother Nature has given us.
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It’s the middle of the year and we are fishing a lot right now. However, some of us will start thinking about deer hunting just a few short months from now, in October, right ? Wrong! Deer hunting takes time and effort when it’s actually not deer season. From February through September if you are on a high fence ranch and you have been feeding protein to your deer, you have to make sure you continue to provide the protein for your deer herd. Let’s say you just took over a ranch that has not had protein and you decide to start. It’s a great source for the deer to grow bigger antlers and thicker, larger bodies. The deer corn we use is not very high with actual nutrients for the deer. The other thing you have to do is monitor your herd and and put a number on how many trophy bucks and management bucks and doe each hunter can harvest. Actually what I am talking about is the ranch that me and my partner Gus Escobar Fred Rodriguez is the Texas Sportsimplement in the deer management program at man and has decades of experience the Margo Ranch. and knowledge regarding hunting We also do a helicopter survey mid-September and fishing. You can watch his show, The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in the and do our count with our local wild game bioloRio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on gist. With doing the survey and keeping a log it will Saturdays. improve your herd. Another tip - place the majority of your protein feeders next to your corn feeders so the deer will be geared to go for the food source year round. Finally, you must have a water source, be it a natural pond or water tanks. Water is a must. Next time we will discuss how to attract deer and keep deer in your low fence ranch. Until that time, pursue all your outdoor activities with safety in mind. God Bless and Gotta Have It !!
Fred Rodriguez
Volume 3, Isssue 3. April 2016. 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
8
RGV REEF66 YEARS &
COUNTING
MISSION INSIDE: HOG HEAVEN& SKEET PROFILE: CLUB ROBERT LOVE TRAP FISHING CPR
Q SIGHT Q THE THE SHACKWITH CASTING IN THE GRAVEYARD JAGUAR RETURNS RIBSTROPHY ARE LOADED) COOKING DURIVAGE YOUR TROUT ELUSIVE WATUSI (THESE
ON THE COVER Glick Twins has had a major impact on the community during its six-plus decades of sales and service.
STAFF Henry Miller Publisher henry.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-9210
Fred Rodriguez The Texas Sportsman fredrsportsman@yahoo.com (956) 776-4623
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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
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Tiki Tillman Photographer tikitillmanphotos.com (956)572-6132
Bob Glick Contributing Editor myglicktwins.com (956) 787-4291
Hunts to Remember Hog Heaven A Journal Entry From Alberto Santos Hog Hunting
419 W. US Highway 83, Pharr, TX 78577
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(956) 787-4291
Alberto Santos is the owner of Santos Ranch LLC and Las Lomas Ranch. Visit the website www.santosranch.com for more information.
This was not the first time Dave called with this type of request. We had done this before; I knew the drill.
By Alberto Santos
I
was in my office when the phone rang. I was very busy and had asked my secretary not to put any call through to me. It was one of those days when I needed to be left alone. A very big client assignment was due that day and I still had a lot of work to do to get it finished.
My secretary walks into my office and says “It’s Dave, and he said it's something really important; he needs to talk to you immediately." She knew I always took Dave’s calls, even when I did not want to be interrupted. The call from Dave did not start with the usual “Hello” or even a friendly “How are you?” Instead he went right to the point. “Mr. Santos. Dave here. Get your calendar out. What are you doing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday?” Dave was a very good client and had become a very good friend of mine. The business relationship was all business and the personal relationship was about hunting and fishing. To somebody hearing this conversation on my speaker phone you would think a very demanding consulting client had just called and was getting ready to engage us for a very important project. But this had nothing to do with work. You see, Dave was talking in code. I knew exactly what Dave was saying to me. The code words “something very important.“ The call could only be about two possible subjects: hunting or fishing. Even my secretary had cracked the code by this time. She knew exactly what the call was about when Dave said it was about “something very important.” This was not the first time Dave called with this type of request. We had done this before; I knew the drill. Without asking where we were going, I quickly reviewed my calendar and found that it had a few internal things
that I could move. I told Dave to count me in. Then he tells me I am invited to a quail hunt on the company hunting lease. The hunting camp was a very upscale operation catering to clients from major fortune 500 companies. The hunting lease is part of a well-known Ranch. It seems there had been a last-minute cancellation and Dave was asked to get some other friends of the company as filler. Thank goodness I qualified as filler.
FIVE-STAR CAMP There are hunting camps and then there are HUNTING CAMPS. This was definitely what could be referred to as the upper end of hunting camps. The normal routine for a client quail hunt is you leave Houston Hobby by corporate jet and fly to a private landing strip. On board you are offered coffee, a wide assortment of beverages and even a ham sandwich. If you poked your head in the lavatory you will see it is impeccably clean down to the gold fixtures. When you arrive, two shiny new Chevy Suburbans are there to pick up the guests and baggage. The terrain is classic South Texas — mesquite and cactus flats interrupted by a few shallow creeks and small but colorful clusters of wild flowers. There are the patches of saltgrass. This is where the quail usually hide. Then there are the live oak trees in clusters where the game sits out in the hot mid-day heat. Several adjectives come to mind when you first experience the camp: safety (they are big on gun safety), natural
beauty, world class service and good taste. We arrive early in the afternoon and were shown to our quarters. I got lucky and did not have to bunk with Dave. He was the world’s loudest snorer. Dave got the room next to me and thank goodness the walls were insulated. The cabins were rustic but first class. The inside walls were overlapped planks of red cedar with the bark still attached. It gave the room a warm, reddish feel. The room was filled with comfortable furniture, bunk-beds and had a very modern bath to one side. This was a first class hunting lodge. How many hunting camps have a special printed program with the activities? This camp did, and the programs said there would be practice skeet shooting over at the skeet range. I think the guides wanted to size up the skill level of guests. While the rest of the hosts and guests were settling in and planning an afternoon at the skeet range to tune up their quail guns, Dave and I decided we were going to go on a little hunt for wild hog. He had previously told me of his plan and had asked me to come prepared, so I had brought my 270 win.
DAVE THE HOG HUNTER For those of you who might not be familiar with the rules of good taste, quail hunters and hog hunters normally do not mix. Dave and I were a little different than the rest of the hunters in this exclusive party. We both had a rather broad definition of sporting game. We were not embarrassed to fess up to our less than lofty goals of getting in some good pig hunting before nightfall. We got more than a little ribbing when the rest of the group found out what we were up to. Dave really enjoyed all types of hunting but he loved to hunt hog.
THE HUNT While the rest of the group was walking over to the skeet range, Dave and
11
I must admit the sight of me in a bright Hawaiian shirt with wild pigs running all around might be funny. I were loading up into a suburban. Dave tells me we are going to go to a popular late-afternoon hog hangout. The driver told us he sometimes saw as many as 40-60 hogs at this one area. I know Dave got goose bumps when he heard 40-60 hogs. The very thought of that many “porkers” put a permanent grin on his ruddy face. He was that kind of guy. As the suburban went down the road, I remember Dave repeatedly saying “Oh boy. We are going to shoot a big hog.” Each time he would say it we would just looked at each other and smiled. We drove around for about an hour but saw no hogs. Then Dave asked our driver when we were going to go to the alleged pig parking lot---you know, the hog hangout. “As soon as the sun starts to set. That’s the time we want to be there.” As the sun got close to the horizon, our sense of anticipation grew. We drive over this hill and there below us straight ahead some 250-300 yards away was the biggest mass of feral hogs I have ever seen. It was not the 40 to 60 that had been promised, it must have been a 100, or maybe even 150 hogs. We exit the truck and get ready to stalk up close but the wind is not in our favor. Hogs, while not known for having great eyesight, have an incredible nose. If they smell you, they are gone. And the wind is blowing from us to them. This was not a good situation. We quickly devise a plan because we are running out of time, we have maybe 10 minutes before we start to lose our shooting light. Both Dave and I are shooting a 270 win. with a high power scope. We need a certain amount of light. The plan is as follows: I will go for a lateral assault. I will go around the right side and come up for a shot at close range. Dave will set up for a distance shot from a nearby tree. It is a long shot but Dave feel he can do it. I am wearing a very colorful Hawaiian shirt and can easily be seen in the woods even well after dark, and I trust Dave completely. He will not be shooting near me and will not shoot unless he can see where I am. So I plan to walk down through the brush then come out near the pigs. I will try to get within 50 yards then raise my gun and take my shot. When the guide sees me raise my gun, Dave will get ready to shoot. When Dave hears me shoot he
12
They were making fun of us back at camp before we went to hunt hogs. But it was nothing to what took place when we returned and the details of the hunt were revealed. will shoot before the pigs all scatter. “You better pick a good one,” he tells me as I walk into the brush. I answer with “You better pick a nice one too.” I walk quickly because we are running out of daylight. When I come out of the brush, the pigs have moved away. The nearest pig is 100 yards from me so I decide to walk out in the open and get real close. I walk slowly and the hogs do not “see” me. When they look at me I stop and they can’t “see” me. I am approaching them with a cross wind so they can not wind me. Pigs can’t see what they can not smell. I like hunting wild hogs because you can stalk them and get really close. This time I get a little carried away because I get to within 25 yards of the hogs nearest me but I am still maybe 75 yards from the big black pig that I want to take. I raise my gun and can barely see the black hog in the dwindling light. I wait for a clean shot. I remember waiting about 1 minute but Dave later said it was at least 5 minutes. Finally, I shoot and pigs start to run in every direction. Some of the pigs are so confused they are running straight at me. I fan my arms and make sure the pigs do not run me over. I hear Dave laughing his head off. I must admit the sight of me in a bright Hawaiian shirt with wild pigs running all around might be funny.
There was such a mayhem of pigs running and dust that I did not see the hog that Dave shot. I did keep an eye on my pig. He spun around a few times then went down. I unload my gun and start to walk to my hog. Dave and the guide get in the suburban and drive down the hill to where I am. As Dave steps out of the truck I ask him what happened to his hog and he says “You are standing next to him.” “Oh no.” I say. “This is my hog” While Dave and I are still going back and forth laughing and arguing as to whose hog it was, the guide steps in and interrupts us. “Guess what guys? This hog has two bullet holes” Dave and I look at each and can only laugh. All they way back to camp, I would not look Dave in the eye without both of us laughing. They were making fun of us back at camp before we went to hunt hogs. But it was nothing to what took place when we returned and the details of the hunt were revealed. Out of what must have been well over 100 hogs, how can we have picked out the same one? I don’t know, but I am glad we did. We had many a good laugh over this incident. It also made for a good story.
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A GUY WALKS INTO A BAR.... I was sittin’ at this bar called Pop’s Place near Copano Bay in Rockport. This joint was one part cowboy, one part beachboy, and two parts Texan kinda place. I’m havin' a cold one and a bite to eat when this local fella walks in and takes the seat next to me.
KNOW WHO YOU ARE FISHING WITH A lesson learned - and written - by Brent Johnson
14
After a while we start talking and I ask him if he did much fishing around here. He replied “not really around here, but down around Ingleside in Nueces, or up in San Antonio Bay,” he said. “Fishin’ around here is a little slow, but ought to pick up soon once they reopen Cedar Bayou and Vincent Slough.” I told him I had just fished in Port Mansfield a few weeks back and had hung out with legendary guide JD Whitley. He said “No way! You know JD?” I nodded my head and he said his brother used to be a fire fighter with JD in Houston and if I was friends with Captain Whitley, I was welcome to join him for some wade fishing the following morning! As we continued to talk a guy came up behind my newly made friend and pinned him up against the bar. At first I thought it was a joke his buddy was playing, catching him off guard as he were. The man had his hand pressed up against my friend's back like he had a gun on him. When the guy let go I realized he wasn’t joking. He told my friend some threat of what to expect and then walked over to the pool table after calling him a female genatalia. I asked my buddy what that was all about. “Oh that guy is crazy,” he replied. Then he asked the waitress for his order to go. Being that this guy was a friend of JD, I felt the need to offer my services as back up should he need it. “You want me to follow you outta here?” I asked. He replied yes because this guy would most likely follow him into the parking lot. I could see the guy was occupied at the pool table as we began to leave. The wheels in my head started turning and I thought we just might sneak out of here without incident. As I walked out the door my sixth sense kicked in and told me otherwise and a second later trouble came running out the door! We turned around to confront the man and before any fist to cuffs could be thrown the toughest bouncer I er’ seen comes in to break it up. She was a little old lady about 5’ tall and tougher than the three of us put together. Fire came out of her mouth and lasers shot out of her eyes when she told us to get before she called the law! With that we quickly got in our pickup trucks and split. As I get in my truck my friend shouts out he would pick me up in the morning. Driving back to the bay house I realize how thankful I am riding in my own vehicle and not the back of some police car. It is then I start to wonder what that whole deal was about and who the hell am I going fishin’ with in the morning! I call my friend Captain Trisha, who is JD’s daughter, and I ask her if she knows this guy. She verifies that he’s a solid dude so I rig up and hit the hay. Next morning buddy drives up in an F250 pulling a 20’ SCB Stingray. We stop for coffee and a taco and then head 1 hour south of Copano to Ingleside. To this point I’ve been on just about every make and model of boat on the bay, but this was the first time I’ve ever been on one of these boats. I gotta say I was really impressed with the hull design built for speed and the deck was obviously made by a fisherman for fisherman. The 300 Merc with the 3 blade prop sounded like a dragster when he cranked the engine. Never before had I felt so alive probably because never before had I felt like I was about to die as we sped through unfamiliar territory. In fact the boat was so fast I felt like I was in a time machine because before I knew it we were at our first spot and the second hand on my watch was 2 minutes behind still trying to catch up with us. He pulls up to an island just off a deep channel. The bottom is hard with lots of oyster and rocks. I throw a blue chrome topwater, and he throws a tail. The lure I’m chunking is so sexy I think I’m guaranteed to get a bite. Then he catches a fish, and then another, and another. He motions me to come over to his spot. After a few more casts with no luck, I realize it’s time to change strategy. I tie on a red and white KWiggler Ball Tail Shad and sure enough I get my first fish. The trout are
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April and May have some of the best long-awaited days as late spring turns to early summer fishing action. This time of year is exciting with the warmer temperatures and more stable weather. What, where, when and how are the questions you may be asking. What fish do you want to target is one of the main questions. Some of the best jetty action is firing up. Outside of the jetties, in the surf, king mackerel are feeding about all of the time. The offshore action is also in full swing. Some of the species you can get at this time of the year include kings, jacks, mahi-mahi and cobia lings. I have immensely enjoyed a lot of offshore fishing, but I am going to talk about the bay species speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. This is also some of the best action and what I specialize in catching. The bay is coming alive with flooding currents and rising water. Freshwater is intensely pushing in from the gulf and shifting the bay system into overdrive. Temperatures on the flats are warming up and maintaining 70-plus degrees, which attracts different species from bait to sport fish. With all of the rain in the past year, the warmer winter we had and the best fishing I have seen in the winter, the bay is set to explode. It is going to be the best fishing we have seen in years! Just imagine on a semi-overcast day, the sun just over the horizon, tight schools of mullet balled up in front of you, waist deep of water getting blown up by fish just having a feeding frenzy, trout slicks popping up like bubble gum on the surface of the water and that sweet watermelon aroma in the air. It’s enough to get your heart pumping so fast from all of the excitement and anticipation on getting that first bite. You make that first cast of the day and throw your favourite top water plug out and as soon as it hits the water “BOOM” Big Suzy monster trout or a feisty red blows it up! There are so many positive changes happening and it all adds up to great fishing. Top waters prove to be some awesome action, especially now while the trout are spawning and eating lots of mullet. Their metabolism is rising from the warmer and more stable water temperatures. Mother Nature in is in full swing. Throwing jerk baits can and will pick up trout, reds and flounder. Bass Assassins are some of my favourites. Shrimp under a popping cork work great as well. With some windy days still in April, redfish action is awesome on leeward shorelines. They are feeding on shrimp and crabs pushed up by the hard winds. Wade fishing is the best way to target them. Use shrimp under a popping cork, jerk baits or top water lures to wrangle them in. Spring flounder should be moving on the edge of channels and points. Use jerk baits on the bottom and work them slowly. The ticket here is patience. It will get you in the ballpark. All of these tactics will work in May as well. This month is by far the green light month for your limit of fish - all day every day. Croaker will start working initializing those big sow trout to eat. Try Ballyhoo and shad baits for these big fish. Have a great day and time on the water! Be safe and enjoy what Mother Nature has given us.
Children
To book a guided fishing trip contact Captain Allen Sifford at fishonpro.com or 361-244-2747
Caps
down deep working the edge of the channel. A 1/4oz. jighead gets the soft plastic down to the strike zone. We fish the edge for about 40 minutes more until the bite turns off. All the fish we catch are around 17-18” and we end up with seven. We hop in the boat and head to the next spot. The second location is a lot like the first, but this time we pull in between two islands that have a 2’ flat between them eventually dumping off into the deep channel. The current is coming through like a rip tide as we wade. For a boy raised on the lower laguna madre, this water feels like fishing on planet Mars. After an hour and 200 yards he has caught 3 and I have caught 1. He’s not very pleased with the slow bite, but I’m not complaining as I’m just happy to be here and the few fish I’ve caught are the bonus. We try one more spot before heading in and I pick up a nice 23” fat girl. Not feeling the need to keep this one I let her go. When we get back to the boat ramp I ask my buddy what the whole deal that happened last night was about. He told me the man thought he had slept with his wife which he denied, but commented that the woman was very attractive and somewhat polyamorous in the community. There was probably more to the story than he led on, but I didn’t care as it was none of my business. After all I was the stranger and was only passing through. I was content in the fact I had managed a ride on a bad ass boat and caught a few fish in the
process. To me the whole weekend was like an adventure. Finally, a couple of weeks ago there was a bachelor party in Port O’Connor that had fishing involved. One of my friends was taking his new X3 Shallowsport and asked me if I knew any guides in the area. I told him about
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one of my friends that could take them out, and since I knew some of the guys in the party I figured I would just invite myself too. I called one of my friends who had fished with the bachelor party that day and told him about the guide I had lined up. When I asked him if he knew the guide he started cussing so that I asked him to calm down and tell me what the problem was. He finally calmed down and told me his family was the Hatfields to the guides McCoys. I said okay I’d call the guide and let him know we would have to cancel. Well when I told the guide there was a Hatfield in the party and he didn’t feel comfortable fishin’ with no McCoy, the fishing guide got so angry he wanted to demand the Hatfield pay half of what he intended charging us. I offered to pay the man for his inconvenience, but he wouldn’t accept my money and insisted on Hatfield’s money as it was “principle”. By the time I ended up in port I didn’t know whether to turn around or just get a hotel. I ended up getting the hotel and fishing from the bank the next day by myself. Those two are still mad at each other last time I checked, but hopefully everything has cooled off now. This is why I tell you people “know who you’re fishing with!” The sanity you save just might be your own. See you on the water my friends.
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A CAPTAIN’S PROFILE
ROBERT LOVE BY HENRY MILLER It didn't take long for me to place Robert Love in “I helped him out and before you know it he’s my “good guys” file. fighting with a red, and he reeled it in,” Love said. There's something in his laugh, his outgoing “He was exhausted after that.” personality and jovial conversation that can probably “Then we anchored up by the Causeway and I used attract the grumpiest of people toward him. a skipjack we caught for bait and threw his line in. Of course, his last name is wonderful for magazine Then the line just starts screaming so loud and fast, headlines – The “Love” Boat, All you need is “Love,” he didn’t know what to do but to hold on.” This Captain “Loves” what he does – the cliches are Love pulled the anchor up and whatever was on endless. the other endstarted pulling the boat. Turning his name into a cliché would be as big an “He landed a black-tip shark,” Love said. “He was oxymoron as there could be. While his last name fits speechless. He couldn’t do anything but show me all accordingly to those headlines, the person attached 32 teeth with his smile.” to that last name is anything but a cliché. Take some Love grew up hunting and fishing in what he calls time and you'll see that this guy – this Atlanta, bigthe backwoods country with his family. He moved to city native – is 100-percent genuine. Donna and slowly progressed his way to Brownsville. Unlike many anglers, you won't read about his Bay fishing was a little different than what he was “On The Water” Novela, sharing gossip, threatening used to, but he adjusted quickly. others or whining all over social media sites. When “I was turned on by the bay and I gathered all my something bad happens to him, he's quick to turn it stuff in Atlanta and brought it down here,” he said. into a lesson to be learned (“be safe out there on the “I bought a boat as a Christmas present for myself water”). and then met Capt. Alan Stewart and earned my These attributes are his way of life and his way of Captain's License through his classes. marketing. He is who he is on or off his boat, on land “Now I'm a Captain and the water is my office,” he and on sea. said. “I'm really just a big kid,” Love said. “I'm blessed to When he's not on working, Love is spending time be able to do something I love to do.” at home with his bride of just a year – Vicky Limon. That doesn't necessarily mean fish. You can find him usually either doing chores around “People are always telling me that I've got the life the house – or racing ATVs, something he has done because I get to go fishing every day. That's not true – since childhood. Recently he had been doing more there are times when I don't fish for a month because of the ATV racing while his boat was in the shop and I'm doing what I do – I'm accommodating others. keeping him off the water. That's what I specialize in,” Love said. “Being off the water is driving me crazy,” he said. “I believe in giving people their time to enjoy “It's been causing me to blow up ATV engines.” themselves,” he said. “It's their trip. They may be Love and Limon met through a mutual friend but interested more in socializing, kicking back and play- neither seemed to have much interest at the time in ing music and catching fish may be a bonus to them. the other. Then Love met a girl who worked at Valero They are my clients and my job, my whole purpose, is and kept going back to visit her. to accommodate.” “I just kept flirting with the girl behind the countOf course, if they are serious about reeling in some er,” he said. “It turned out to be her (Limon). We fish, Love is again all-too accommodating. He's quick found that out later. She gave me her number – but to admit that he may not be the best fisherman in the it was the wrong number – she knew I'd be coming world, but he has a keen sense of finding them. back to see her.” “If we're not catching them, I'm determined to find And this time – he didn't let her get away. them – and I do.” Now that's a true (I had to do it) Love Story. Maybe Love is still a “big kid” as proclaims, but that may be why youth anglers enjoy fishing out on You can book your trip with Capt. Love by calling the bay with him. Love recalls fishing one time with (956) 621-9024 or emailing him at fishingbuda young boy and his family and the boy didn’t know dy8732@gmail.com. See his ad on the following page how to fish. for more information.
“NOW I'M A CAPTAIN AND THE WATER IS MY OFFICE” -- ROBERT LOVE 18
JULY 2016 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES
JUNE 2016 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES DAY
MOON
COMMENTS
A.M.
BEST
P.M.
BEST
DAY
1
M
10:20
10:45
1
F
2
T
11:16
11:41
2
S
3
W
4
T
5
F
6
12:13
3
S
12:38
1:13
4
M
1:38
2:13
5
S
2:38
3:12
7
S
3:37
8
M
9
MOON
COMMENTS
A.M.
PERIGEE
10:58
BEST
P.M.
11:23
11:57 12:22
12:56
1:21
1:54
T
2:19
2:49
6
W
3:14
3:42
4:09
7
T
4:07
4:32
4:34
5:03
8
F
4:57
5:19
T
5:28
5:53
9
S
5:44
6:04
10 W
6:18
6:40
10
S
6:29
6:47
11
T
7:05
7:25
11 M
7:12
7:30
12
F
7:50
8:09
12
13
S
8:34
8:51
13 W
14
S
9:16
9:34
14
T
9:21
9:42
9:59
10:17
15
F
10:07
10:29
T
10:42
11:02
16
S
10:54
11:18
17 W
11:27
11:48
17
S
11:43
12:13
18 M
15 M 16 18
T
19
F
20 21
S
PERIGEE NEW MOON
FIRST QUARTER
APOGEE
FATHER’S DAY FULL MOON/SOLSTICE
S
3:08
T
3:59
24 W 25
F
27
S
28
S
29 M 30
4:51
T
26
T
1:25 2:16
22 M 23
12:36
LAST QUARTER
FIRST QUARTER
7:55
8:13
APOGEE
8:38
8:56
12:34
1:01
1:26
1:50
20 W
1:53
2:18
2:41
21
T
2:46
3:11
3:33
22
F
3:38
4:03
4:24
23
S
4:29
5:54
24
S
5:20
5:45
25 M
6:11
6:36
7:03
7:28
27 W
7:57
8:22
28
T
8:51
9:16
29
F
9:48
10:13
30
S
10:45
11:10
31
S
11:42
19
6:06
6:32
6:57
7:22
7:47
8:14
NEW MOON/INDEPENDENCE DAY
12:09
1:01
5:16
5:41
T
8:39
9:07
9:32
10:02
10:27
BEST MORNINGS OR AFTERNOONS
26
T
T
FULL MOON
LAST QUARTER
PERIGEE
BEST MORNINGS OR AFTERNOONS
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.
Dr. Sotelo has more than 30 years of experience and has treated more than 50,000 skin cancers. If you have questions or concerns about your skin, call R. Sotelo now - don’t wait!
From Dr. Oscar Sotelo’s Lunar Transit Times, 23rd edition
20
BEST
OSCAR SOTELO, M.D. Board Certified Dermatologist
6900 N. 10th St. Ste 3 McAllen, TX 78504 (956) 682-1591 osoteloskincancer.com
Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel
June 2016
N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9' Date
Day
1
We
1:52a
High Tide 0.9
11:21a
High Tide 0.9
6:59a
Low Tide
Sunrise
Sunset
Moonrise
Moonset
0.8
7:23p
2
Th
3:16a
1.1
11:16a
0.9
3
Fr
4:26a
1.3
4
Sa
5:30a
5
Su
6
Low Tide -0.2
6:37a
8:17p
3:53a
4:44p
8:39a
0.9
8:03p
-0.5
6:36a
8:17p
4:38a
5:49p
8:47p
-0.8
6:36a
8:18p
5:27a
6:54p
1.4
9:32p
-1.0
6:36a
8:18p
6:20a
7:59p
6:28a
1.5
10:18p
-1.0
6:36a
8:19p
7:16a
9:02p
Mo
7:22a
1.5
11:05p
-0.9
6:36a
8:19p
8:14a
10:00p
7
Tu
8:11a
1.4
11:52p
-0.7
6:36a
8:19p
9:14a
10:53p
8
We
8:53a
1.4
6:36a
8:20p
10:13a
11:40p
9
Th
9:28a
1.3
6:36a
8:20p
11:10a
12:39a
-0.5
10
Fr
9:56a
1.2
1:27a
-0.2
6:36a
8:21p
12:05p
12:23a
11
Sa
10:17a
1.1
8:23p
0.6
2:17a
0.1
5:48p
0.6
6:36a
8:21p
12:58p
1:03a
12
Su
10:33a
1.1
11:24p
0.7
3:10a
0.4
6:03p
0.5
6:36a
8:21p
1:50p
1:39a
13
Mo
10:42a
1.0
4:12a
0.6
6:31p
0.3
6:36a
8:22p
2:41p
2:15a
14
Tu
1:39a
0.8
10:43a
1.0
5:30a
0.8
7:01p
0.2
6:36a
8:22p
3:31p
2:49a
15
We
3:08a
0.9
10:34a
0.9
7:07a
0.9
7:32p
0.0
6:36a
8:22p
4:21p
3:24a
16
Th
4:09a
1.0
8:01p
-0.2
6:36a
8:22p
5:12p
4:01a
17
Fr
4:56a
1.1
8:31p
-0.3
6:37a
8:23p
6:03p
4:39a
18
Sa
5:36a
1.2
9:00p
-0.5
6:37a
8:23p
6:55p
5:21a
19
Su
6:11a
1.2
9:30p
-0.5
6:37a
8:23p
7:47p
6:05a
20
Mo
6:44a
1.3
10:01p
-0.6
6:37a
8:23p
8:39p
6:54a
21
Tu
7:16a
1.3
10:36p
-0.6
6:37a
8:24p
9:28p
7:45a
22
We
7:47a
1.3
11:13p
-0.6
6:38a
8:24p
10:16p
8:40a
23
Th
8:17a
1.3
11:54p
-0.4
6:38a
8:24p
11:02p
9:36a
24
Fr
8:45a
1.3
6:38a
8:24p
11:45p
10:34a
25
Sa
9:07a
1.2
12:39a
-0.3
6:38a
8:24p
26
Su
9:24a
1.1
7:30p
0.6
1:28a
-0.1
4:46p
0.5
6:39a
8:24p
12:27a
12:32p
27
Mo
9:35a
1.0
10:37p
0.6
2:24a
0.2
5:01p
0.3
6:39a
8:25p
1:09a
1:32p
28
Tu
9:40a
0.9
3:30a
0.5
5:34p
0.0
6:39a
8:25p
1:51a
2:33p
29
We
1:08a
0.7
9:40a
0.9
5:00a
0.7
6:16p
-0.3
6:40a
8:25p
2:34a
3:35p
30
Th
2:50a
0.9
9:27a
0.9
7:04a
0.9
7:01p
-0.7
6:40a
8:25p
3:20a
4:39p
Phase
New
1st
Full
11:33a 3rd
©2016 FreeTideTables.com - For comparison only - Times are local - Tides in feet from MLLW
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Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel
July 2016
N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9' Date
Day
Sunrise
Sunset
Moonrise
Moonset
1
Fr
4:01a
High Tide 1.1
High Tide
7:48p
-0.9
6:40a
8:25p
4:09a
5:42p
2
Sa
4:58a
1.3
8:35p
-1.0
6:41a
8:25p
5:02a
6:45p
3
Su
5:47a
1.3
9:22p
-1.1
6:41a
8:25p
5:58a
7:45p
4
Mo
6:31a
1.3
10:09p
-1.0
6:42a
8:25p
6:57a
8:40p
5
Tu
7:09a
1.3
10:55p
-0.8
6:42a
8:25p
7:56a
9:31p
6
We
7:42a
1.2
11:39p
-0.6
6:42a
8:24p
8:55a
10:17p
7
Th
8:09a
1.1
6:43a
8:24p
9:53a
10:58p
8
Fr
8:31a
1.1
4:36p
0.7
12:22a
-0.3
2:48p
0.7
6:43a
8:24p
10:48a
11:37p
9
Sa
8:48a
1.0
6:30p
0.6
1:04a
0.0
3:25p
0.6
6:44a
8:24p
11:41a
10
Su
9:00a
0.9
8:49p
0.6
1:44a
0.2
4:08p
0.5
6:44a
8:24p
12:33p
12:13a
11
Mo
9:06a
0.9
11:44p
0.6
2:21a
0.5
4:52p
0.4
6:45a
8:24p
1:23p
12:49a
12
Tu
9:06a
0.9
2:55a
0.6
5:34p
0.2
6:45a
8:24p
2:14p
1:24a
13
We
8:57a
0.9
6:14p
0.0
6:45a
8:23p
3:04p
1:59a
14
Th
8:25a
0.9
6:51p
-0.1
6:46a
8:23p
3:55p
2:37a
15
Fr
4:33a
1.0
7:26p
-0.3
6:46a
8:23p
4:47p
3:17a
16
Sa
4:59a
1.1
8:01p
-0.4
6:47a
8:22p
5:39p
4:00a
17
Su
5:24a
1.2
8:35p
-0.5
6:47a
8:22p
6:31p
4:47a
18
Mo
5:49a
1.2
9:10p
-0.6
6:48a
8:22p
7:22p
5:37a
19
Tu
6:14a
1.3
9:47p
-0.6
6:48a
8:21p
8:11p
6:31a
20
We
6:39a
1.3
10:27p
-0.5
6:49a
8:21p
8:59p
7:28a
21
Th
7:03a
1.2
11:08p
-0.4
6:49a
8:21p
9:44p
8:26a
22
Fr
7:24a
1.2
11:52p
-0.2
6:50a
8:20p
10:27p
9:26a
23
Sa
7:41a
1.1
4:48p
0.8
1:42p
0.8
6:50a
8:20p
11:09p
10:26a
24
Su
7:54a
1.0
6:45p
0.7
12:38a
0.0
2:17p
0.6
6:51a
8:19p
11:51p
11:26a
25
Mo
8:01a
0.9
9:03p
0.7
1:26a
0.2
3:03p
0.3
6:51a
8:19p
26
Tu
8:04a
0.9
11:42p
0.8
2:19a
0.5
3:55p
0.0
6:52a
8:18p
12:34a
1:29p
27
We
8:01a
0.9
3:25a
0.8
4:50p
-0.3
6:52a
8:18p
1:18a
2:30p
28
Th
2:00a
1.0
5:22a
1.0
5:46p
-0.5
6:53a
8:17p
2:05a
3:32p
29
Fr
3:19a
1.2
6:41p
-0.7
6:53a
8:17p
2:55a
4:34p
30
Sa
4:12a
1.3
7:35p
-0.8
6:54a
8:16p
3:48a
5:33p
31
Su
4:54a
1.4
8:26p
-0.8
6:54a
8:15p
4:45a
6:29p
7:43a
1.0
Low Tide
Low Tide
Phase
New
1st
Full
12:27p 3rd
©2016 FreeTideTables.com - For comparison only - Times are local - Tides in feet from MLLW
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8521 N. 10th Street McAllen, TX
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A MAJOR IMPACT More than a store, Glick Twins a generational institute BY HENRY MILLER If you said “Glick Twins” was a household name, you’d be correct - but you wouldn’t be painting the complete picture. You may want to clarify it, however, as a household name for generations. Now in its 71st year, (66th year at the same location - 419 W. U.S. Highway 83 in Pharr), Glick Twins remains the cornerstone for most outdoorsmen when it comes to hunting, shooting and anything there is to know about those subjects. What started out as a surplus store and morphed into the one-stop shop for your guns, ammo and hunting needs. “I remember coming into the store as a kid,” said owner Bob Glick. “I loved the helmets and the clothes and the bayonettes.” The store’s gun department back then had very few guns and what they did have in stock was just the basic Remington models, 721s and a few others. “When the twins ran it, outdoor sporting stuff was basically insignificant,” Glick said. “When I started having more influence on it, we started being a lot bigger fishing and hunting store. Plus, surplus became difficult to find so this was a much-needed change. We probably wouldn’t have survived if we didn’t make some sort of major overhaul.” Not only has Glick Twins survived, but is has
thrived. It’s not only what the store offers as far as merchandise, but also the institutional memory and knowledge of those who work there - most of them for several years. “Our attitude of being knowledgeable and helpful has allowed our customers to be more successful in the field, which over the generations has had a huge impact.” Glick is a model example of the generations he talks about. First, it was the Glick Twins who ran the store, now Bob Glick and in the future you may see his now 11-year-old daughter following in her dad’s footsteps. “I would hope that she decides in the future that she likes the retail business and marries somebody who enjoys the retail business and they run it as a family.” So far the future possibilities look bright. Glick’s daughter is an avid hunter and angler. She’s harvested deer and javelina, pulled in a Marlin at age 5 (“all I did was support the rod for her - she did all the other work,” Glick said), and reeled in a large amberjack all by herself. “She loves to hunt and fish and shoot.” Glick is one of the fortunate ones to be able to have great bonding time with his daughter in the outdoors. One of the major changes over the years however, has eliminated many families from being able to do the same and Glick sadly doesn’t see that ever changing back. “The cost of hunting has changed so dramatically,” he said. “Whether you’re hunting dove or deer, it’s expensive. It’s a sad change but today it is much
less of a family activity than in the past.” Back in the 80s deer leases were moderately priced - at least compared to today and they were meant for families to enjoy time together and harvest animals together. “You can’t take a whole family out like when I was a young man,” he said. “Back then people weren’t managing their leases for trophy quality and a family could shoot three or four bucks - it was about harvesting, not trophy size. As that changed it changed the pricing structure and made it a lot less accessible to a lot of people.” “It’s never going to change,” he continued. “The population exceeds the resource so you have a supply and demand mix that can’t change.” While Glick Twins has thrived over the years as an outdoorsman paradise for guns and other equipment, another growing area is in personal protection. “We’ve had experiences where people bought personal protection and utilized them in a short period of time,” Glick said. Whatever lies in store for the future is a “relative” unknown, but generations have enjoyed sharing time together because of Glick Twins. “Fathers have come in with sons and then years go by and those sons bring their sons,” Glick said. “That, along with a massive population that enjoys the shooting sports has allowed us to thrive.”
Next time you’re out fishing, try CPR on your catch....no, not that CPR...
CATCH, PHOTOGRAPH, RELEASE BY MIKE COX Next time you reel in a nice bass try practicing CPR on it. CPR, of course, is medical shorthand for cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. TV's Jimmy Houston likes to kiss a bass after he catches it, but the type of CPR more and more anglers are practicing has nothing to do with placing your mouth over a fish's food intake and trying to revive it. When you're fishing South Texas -- or anywhere for that matter -- CPR stands for Catch, Photograph and Release. Texas Baby Boomers who learned to fish with their parents or grandparents know that catch and release was not the norm "back when." In fact, the term did not even exist, much less the practice. While people have been taking pictures of their stringers since photography became easy and common, in the early days of photography up through most of the 1970s, the idea was to take a picture of the most number of dead fish possible, at least consistent with the bag limit. Catch-and-release got off to a slow start, though it does date back longer ago than the 1970s. The late, legendary outdoor writer Lee Wulff first advocated tossing trout back in the stream in 1936. During the same decade, a West Yellowstone fly shop owner named Don Martinez advocated catch and release in
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newsletters he sent to trout anglers on the East Coast. (Texans did not discover fly fishing until much later, but that's another story.) As a kid growing up in Central Texas within easy walking distance of a live creek, my friends and I practiced "catch and eat." When we had a nice stringer of worm-caught bream, we'd clean them, wash them in the creek, build a campfire and fry 'em in Crisco and cornmeal. Fresh pan fish, and a can of cold pork 'n beans made a pretty good meal. Through the 70s and into the early 80s, if I caught a legal- length bass, I generally kept it and ate it. And if I caught a lot, I'd give filets to friends. In the mid-70s, when I reeled in a six-pounder from a stock tank -- at that point the biggest bass I'd ever caught -- I took it to a taxidermist and had it mounted. These days, a six-pounder is still a
nice bass, but if anyone walked into a taxidermy shop wanting one mounted, the proprietor would think they're nuts. But that was then. I quit keeping bass or bream so long ago I can't remember when I stopped. I gave up killing fish for
all the lofty reasons that make sense -to help keep the supply robust, etc., etc., etc. In addition, I had another reason: While I have eaten plenty of bass, I just don't like the taste that much. Don't get me wrong, I love to eat fish. Just not bass. Fried catfish, yes. Fried crappie,
of course. But what I really like is salt water fish, particularly red snapper, red fish and flounder. Thanks to chemical pollution, which is more pervasive than you'd think, there's another reason to practice CPR. Texas has no shortage of streams, lakes and coastal bays where eating more than a certain number of fish per year is not recommended. I don't know about you, but when I read that the State Department of Health suggests that because of high mercury levels pregnant women should not eat fish from a certain area, my appetite for fresh fish -- at least from that place -- drops to a hankering level of minus zero. When I fish on private property, I always assure the landowner that all I want to do is play with his fish. Like any angler, I get a rush of satisfying brain chemicals when a fish strikes and I'm able to get it to shore. If it puts up a good fight, all the better. Once I've got a finger or two under its gill, if it's a nice fish, I'll take a selfie or get someone I'm with to take a picture of me and my catch. And then I unhook the fish as gently as possible and put it back in the water. People who do want to keep their fish are constrained by Texas Parks and Wildlife as to size and bag limits. (You know the drill: A largemouth bass has to be at least 14 inches long and you can only keep five.) But folks who practice CPR have no limit or minimum size to worry about. All you have to do is have fun catching a fish, get it off the hook without hurting it, take a picture of it, and put it back into the water. When you're a CPR practitioner, you might just be catching the same bass five times, but since that is essentially improvable, you get to go home and brag that you caught your limit. Even better, you don't have to mess with cleaning and filleting. As early CPR advocate Wulff once wrote, "Game fish are too valuable to catch only once."
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26th annual Texas Hunters & Sportsman’s Expo
Event expected to be its largest The 26th Annual Texas Hunters/Sportsman’s Expo is coming back to the McAllen Convention Center, July 22-24, 2016. According to show director(s), Chris & Justin Curl, “We have had solid crowds over the past 25 years, and the show’s attendance continues to grow each year. Our 12/13/14/15 shows were our biggest and best shows ever, and it’s only going to get better…This 3 day weekend event is expected to draw several thousand hunting & fishing enthusiasts and visitors from both sides of the Texas/Mexico border.” “ The Texas Hunters/Sportsman’s Expo is recognized as the Highest Quality Hunting/Fishing Trade Show in South Texas, designed for the entire family. This is the only show of its kind south of San Antonio and north of Monterrey, Mexico. The show features guides and outfitters from across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Africa, booking hunts for Trophy Whitetail, Big Game, Exotics, Bear, Nilgai, Moose, Elk, Mule Deer, Turkey, Quail, Dove, Waterfowl, Trophy Bass & Saltwater fishing trips and more. Manufacturers and dealers will be on hand offering special show prices on Hunting Blinds - Feeders - Gun Safes -
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26th annual Texas Hunters & Sportsman’s Expo $GPLVVLRQ 3ULFHV Prices are good for all Weekend Compliments of Academy Sports & L&F Distributors Adults: $12.00 Senior Citizens: $10.00 Children 12 and under FREE 6KRZ 'DWHV 7LPHV Friday, July 22 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Saturday, July 23 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday, July 24 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM For More Information, Call (956) 664-2884 or visit www.texashunterassociation.com
Come check out the Hunter’s & Sportsman’s Expo July 24-26 andmeet Texas Sportsman Fred Rodriguez.
Presenting the
26th Annual
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Dear Future Exhibitors & Friends, The 26th Annual Texas Hunters & Sportsman’s Expo can provide your organization the best opportunity to reach thousands of serious buyers who can afford your products and services. Why not reach both the Texas & Mexico market at the same time? We Do! Thank You, Christopher & Justin Curl Ducks Unlimited
A Proven Show (25yrs) with Proven Results! Reserve your exhibit space today! Call us at (956) 664-2884 or Visit www.texashunterassociation.com
Check out the
2015 HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO 29
on our website!
Custom Knives - Hunting Vehicles - ATV’sBoats - Fishing Rods & Reels- Camouage - Ranching Equipment - Tractors - Hunting Accessories and Supplies. We also have the “mom & popâ€? outďŹ ts on hand selling their goods and services and special show prices. This is not just a show for the hunter‌.. Fishing guides and camps will be on hand as well to book that ďŹ shing trip of a lifetime. Additionally, Laguna Graphite Rods, Cajun Rods, Stick- Em Rods, Johnny’s True Value, HYDRO-GLOW Fishing Lights, and Fish Stix Rods will have a large exhibit of ďŹ shing tackle and rods at special show prices. Don’t forget boats and motors will be on sale as well. Dargel Boats, Shawllo Sport, New Water Boats and several other dealers will have huge displays all on sale - so if you are looking for a boat at a fair price, then come to the show ready to shop. We will have Laguna Rods, Yeti Coolers and other dealers with the latest ďŹ shing equipment and accessories. Anglers Edge will have all the latest in ďŹ shing rods, reels and lures on sale at special show prices. “This is a show the entire family can enjoy,â€? The Curl Brothers said. “There is something here for everyone. Wildlife Art, Hand-crafted Rustic Furniture, Bar-B-Q
Pits, Smoked Meats, Gourmet Foods and Exotic and Silver Jewelry, are just a few of the exhibits and attractions. Another crowd pleasing favorite is the free samples of the latest homemade jellies, jams, beef jerky and wild game jerky, roasted almonds and much more! We will have several ladies exhibits too! “The July Expo promises to be one of the best shows ever... we’re bringing back all the “oldâ€? favorites, but we continually add new exhibits each year. “ Other Feature attractions for the July Show, include the following: -Don Breeden wildlife artist will be on hand for the ďŹ rst time in the RGV -La Coma Ranch Inc. Trophy Exotic Exhibit- Book your hunt now! -Newhouse & Co. will be on hand with a large display of Polaris ATV’s for the Sportsmen in the market, as well as the avid rider. -Hourly giveaways (ďŹ shing & hunting trips, gear, and more) compliments of The Texas Hunters & Sportsman’s Expo -C.C.A. boat rafe- tickets will be on sale at the show for a chance to win this boat at the C.C.A.banquet -Landers Marine & Deer Blinds will be on hand with a large selection of blinds &
feeders. -Horn and Antler Furniture & Chandlers -Joe Martins Live Rattlesnake Pit - Ottea Taxidermy – Kristen Ottea will be on hand. The ďŹ rst female Taxidermist at the show! As mentioned earlier, “There is something here for the entire family. Our goal is to preserve our hunting and ďŹ shing heritage and ensure that the sport of hunting & ďŹ shing has a future in Texas for our children, grandchildren, and their future generations to enjoy. Children under 12 , get free admission to the Expo (Compliments of L& F Distributing & ACADEMY SPORTS) , so bring all the kids out for a good time. Door prize giveaways will add another dimension to the show, i.e.: Hunting supplies and ďŹ shing supplies, hunting trips, ďŹ shing trips, Bar-B-Q Pits will be given away daily. “In a Nutshell, this show is designed for the sportsman and his family by sportsmen who know what they want. This is the type of show people can attend and leave with a feeling of satisfaction. It’s all under one roof - A Sportsman’s Paradise!â€?
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CALL YOUR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, JOEY DOWDEN, TO FIND OUT MORE (956) 607-0853
10TH ANNUAL BDS FISHING TOURNAMENT
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LOADED! 34
Rick at Bob Starks shows us how loaded ribs really look - and taste
NO BONES ABOUT IT (well, three bones actually)
THESE BOYS ARE THE KING OF RIBS
101 E. Colorado Ave. Rio Hondo, TX. 78583
Get your Chupacabra seasonings and marinades at either Bob Starks locations. You can also find a wide variety of cutting boards by Jerry Garcia (as shown in the photo) at Bob Starks.
SCORPION WELDING & METALS
Rick’s Loaded Ribs Cover the ribs in Chupacabra seasoning (or your favorite seasoning) Place on the grill over direct heat (always keep the bone side down) Keep on the grill for approximately 90 minutes Remove from grill and season with garlic powder and, preferably, squeezable butter Wrap in foil and place back on the grill for 90 minutes When you are done, you can pull the three bones out and slice it like brisket. Rick’s Tip: When you are looking for true loaded ribs, look for a three-bone rib. “The three bone is the best.” Serve with potato salad or rice and charro beans – or just about anything – and enjoy your feast.
PROVIDES NOTHING BUT THE BEST QUALITY! 14 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND NOTHING BUT PASSION AND QUALITY IN OUR WORK.
How do you like your ribs? Meaty? Tender? Delicious? Then you have to try Rick Rodriguez’s loaded ribs – these are the king of ribs. Rick, along with his brother Benny, are the owners of Bob Starks Meat Shop in McAllen and Mission.They bought the store from the original owner 16 years ago and kept the name going. “He had it for 20 years prior to us buying it,” said Rick, who you can find at the store in Mission. “He had a great reputation so we decided to keep his name. We kept everything in place – suppliers, the different blends and recipes to season the meat. So this market has been around for 36 years.” When the brothers bought the place, they weren’t exactly meat experts – but they were into tortillas. After tasting some of Rick’s loaded ribs, you could say there’s some expertise there now. “Well we love to social barbeque for the family – we’re not into competition. They’re too serious – we like to have fun,” Rick joked. When he’s not cooking up the monster ribs, he especially enjoys a good ribeye, or St. Louis pork ribs or whole chicken fryers slow-cooked on the grill. Rick explained what makes the loaded rib so good. “They call them loaded because of how much meat they have on them,” he said. “The proper word for them is short ribs but people have different names for them – dinosaur ribs, English ribs – just all sorts of names.” The piece picked out this time ranged somewhere between 2 and 2½ inches thick. “They are really good,” Rick said. “They’re a little fatty but the fatter, the better.”
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE - A FIRST CLASS EXPERIENCE Nestled between the levees of the mighty Mississippi River and the Southeastern marsh you will find the small town of Buras, Louisiana (population 3,358 according to the 2000 U.S. Census). You will also find one of the best inland charter fishing experiences at Southern Exposure Inland Fishing Charters. Owners Tim Anderson and Creighton Ward began building a dream in 2007 of providing the complete fishing package to full expose their clients to what South Louisiana has to offer. They promised to give their clients the experience of a lifetime for years to come. Southern Exposure offers the finest in coastal fishing and the best in Southern Hospitality. With some of the world's best estuaries at its fingertips, Southern Exposure Inland Charters has a location that gives the option to fish the east or west side of the river, depending on weather conditions. You are in for an experience you will never forget when you book an all-inclusive trip with Southern Exposure. The day prior to your fishing trip you will arrive at the lodge for dinner and a meet and greet. Here you will meet the local charter captains you will be fishing with the next day. Ms. Sheri Birk, manager and chef at the lodge, will have a firstclass meal prepared starting with local appetizers, main meals, salads, and Louisiana's favorite desserts. Your main meals are some of Louisiana's known favorites such as Shrimp Etoufee', Shrimp Creole, Seafood Gumbo, BBQ Shrimp and many more. If you have a sweet tooth, you can finish off your meal with rum sauced bread pudding, cobblers or pecan pie. The main lodge has a large dining table and living room area wth a big-screen TV for you to relax. After dinner, they encourage all of the guest to come enjoy the "Captain's Corner" area of the lodge. There is a large outdoor covered area with a fire pit, big screen TV and barstools to kick back and take a load off. This also is a great area to enjoy stories of past trips and what you can look forward to on your fishing excursion. The lodge is adequately equipped to sleep large groups of up to 24 people with 3 people per cabin. Each cabin has a small living/dining area with television, a queen bed and a set of bunks. But don't think your meals are done just yet. The morning of your fishing trip, Ms. Sheri has you covered with a large home-cooked breakfast of whop biscuits, grits, bacon, sausage, eggs just to name a few items. You will not leave from the lodge hungry. You're fishing captain will have the boat loaded with all the rods, reels, tackle and bait you need to reel in the big ones for the day. The boats are loaded with snacks and lunches for the day. Make sure you have your sunscreen, hat and polarized glasses ready along with a fishing license (your captain can help you obtain prior to your trip). You will be launching by daylight and hitting the water. Your captain's main goal is to put you on the fish and will navigate the waters to find the redfish and trout you will be proud to tell your friends about. Your captain can bait the hook and take the catch off to keep you casting out as much as possible. When you hook into your first bull red and you hear that "zing," you will realize you are in for
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Capt. Nick Lapre and Southern Exposure Inland Fishing Charters advertise with RodnReel.com. Wanda Stewart is their promotional agent and Sales rep. RodnReel.com was one of the first hunting and fishing websites on the internet in 1995 and is owned by Mike Lane. the fight of a Louisiana Redfish. After your day on the water, you will go back to the lodge for pictures of your catch! You can go relax in your cabin, while your captain cleans and bags up your filets to take home. If that isn't the first class fishing experience here in South Louisiana, I don't know what is! Visit Southern Exposure Inland Fishing Charters on the web at www.southernexposurefishing.com or call 504-250-9887 for your complete inland fishing experience.
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Comedian Raymond Orta and his dad booked a trip with Capt. Eli from South Texas Fishing Expeditions and came out victorious. “I could not stop laughing from the beginning of the trip to the end...such a humble & funny person.� said the Captain.
Sometimes you have to do whatever it takes I am a Valley native and I used to stay at my grandparents house just west of Bayview. They live by share cropper farms. A lot of migrants lived in little huts during picking season all along the resacas. My grandfather was one of the largest bell pepper growers in the Walley. I used to sit on his tractor whenever possible. I used to be the king of perch in those resacas. When there wasn’t bacon or salt pork, I would crack snails apart and use the meat for bait. I became very resourceful in ways to catch fish. This escalated to big catfish. I have been known to try some stupid stuff to catch fish. Some of it worked, a lot of it didn’t. My wife says I’m an expert on what won’t catch fish. Well here are some items that may work right here in your house right now. Some people have used Ivory soap on trotlines to catch catfish. Others have
Master Captain Alan Stewart owns and operates Stewart Training Center and holds a Master license with the U.S.C.G. Stewart Training Center is located at 39572 Loop Road, Bayview, Tx., 78566.
used hotdogs. Now I know personally that trick works.Have you ever read the ingredients of hot dogs? It’s probably safer to feed them to the fish. Bacon is another bait you could use. Just hook some
uncooked bacon on your hook and you will pull up a big catfish. This is mainly for canals or resacas around Bayview. It is a fact that salt pork works on bass. That is where the lure jig-n-pig got it’s name. A catfish is literally covered in over a quarter million taste buds all over its body. Do you ever notice the sheen on the water when you put bacon or salt pork in the water? This will attract them right to the wonderful morsel. Here is a fishing spot that will be successful for you if you want to catch some channel cats - 803 just a little south of Los Fresnos Jr. High. There is a canal going along the road. Pick a crossover road and catch your supper. This is clean, fresh water and you can harvest some nice cats. Walmart has good bait for this kind of fishing. Chum with bacon grease - it works too. Be safe.
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