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Baby’s first hunt
Continued from page 1
about their young son being on his first hunt than harvesting a turkey.
“I’m glad I had my whole backpack, though,” Sally said. “That was a two-diaper change hunt.”
Jeff said this was only the beginning for young Daniel.
“This kid is going to grow up in the outdoors, not behind a screen,” he said as the group sat down for dinner.
The next morning, Sally took care of the baby and let her husband hunt by himself. In the afternoon when her mother, Kim Raymond, arrived, she gladly took her first grandchild and told Sally to get in the blind where Jeff had been most of the day.
The afternoon wind continued to blow, and the birds were quiet.
Jeff had passed the time by watching The Masters golf tournament on his phone, and it wasn’t long before two jakes made their way to their setup. When they got close to the hen decoy, the hunt became action-packed.
Jeff shot one. Not to be outdone, Sally quickly jumped on his lap, grabbed his gun and shot the other jake.
There was a lot of excitement at camp that evening with plenty of pictures taken of Sally holding Daniel in one hand and a turkey in the other. Sally even had time for socializing with the rest of the group after the baby boy was put to bed — thanks to the baby monitor.
Jeff’s 12-year-old son, Jeffrey, also was on the hunt. He was excited for his parents and his new baby brother, but he really wanted to shoot a turkey for himself.
“I’m ate up with hunting,” he said.
Jeffrey spent many hours patiently waiting for the right moment and saw some interesting turkey behavior. The first morning he had 13 jakes walk within a foot of the blind, and the next morning he watched with amazement as a hen attacked the hen decoy. He did have a tom gobble on and off for 30 to 40 minutes, never showing himself. He even did a mid-day spot-and-stalk, but the toms slipped away.
Jeffrey didn’t seem to mind that he left the hunt without a bird.
“I’ve had the best time,” he said. “I know I could’ve shot a jake but I really wanted to hold out for a longbeard.
The next week at his grandparents’ place, he got his wish, shooting his first turkey, a double-bearded tom with 9- and 6-inch beards.
Feeding orphans
Continued from page 4
with groceries each month,” Fidalgo said. “I truly love to help and love our girls so much.” Stinson said 24 years ago, he witnessed one of the most tragic stories turn into triumph thanks to the selflessness of Casa Hogar Enrique Tomás Lozano. A baby was found in a trash dump and the police brought her to the orphanage.
“The kids and volunteers were so excited to see the baby,” Stinson said. “They raised her, watched her graduate, go to college, and now she works for one of the biggest custom brokers in Mexico.”
Every year, the girls experience a Christmas party with gifts. Stinson said through the Jeannette Briley Stinson Foundation, they conduct an annual fundraiser to continue their support for the orphanage.
Time to plant
Continued from page 4
will mature or wither and die in the summer heat.
Both grain sorghum and oil seed sunflowers should be drilled at 10-20 pounds of seed per acre. Native sunflowers are more drought resistant and require 85-90 days to maturity, but sowing native sunflowers requires modifying a grain drill by stopping up every other hole. Native sunflower seed can be expensive, but you only drill 7 pounds per acre. Because native sunflowers will go to seed in the field, you probably don’t want to put these in a crop area, as they will continue to resprout in subsequent years.
Different varieties of millet can also be grown as both a crop and a food plot attractant, but in general millet requires as much rainfall (or irrigation) as sorghum or sunflowers. Millet matures in 70-90 days postplanting and is generally drilled at 6-10 pounds per acre.
Waterholes are another consideration. Even a 1/2-acre stock pond can support two or three shooters for an afternoon. Should natural water get low, you can create a water hole by scratching out
and utilizing a water truck. In sandy country, some
the water better. But be prepared to keep the
a lot of water.
a depression in the soil
landowners put in a pond liner to hold
pond wet — the hot September sun evaporates
Jeff and Sally Patton, their new son Daniel, and Jeff’s son Jeffrey show their turkeys. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Creating even small waterholes can be a hunting hotspot come fall. Photo by Mike Bodenchuk, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT
ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 65 degrees; 2.25’ low. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
AMISTAD: Water stained; 72 degrees; 68.13’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits, spinner baits and top-waters. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs and crankbaits. Catfish are good on stink bait.
ARLINGTON: Water stained; 70 degrees; 0.17’ high. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and soft plastics.
ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 70 degrees; 4.39’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on fresh cut shad.
ATHENS: Water stained; 76 degrees; 0.23’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged worms, wackyrigged senkos and chatter baits. Crappie are slow.
AUSTIN: Water stained; 75 degrees; 0.52’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and jigs.
BASTROP: Water stained; 80 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, small Alabama rigs and small jerkbaits.
BELTON: Water stained; 71 degrees; 3.19’ low. White bass and hybrids are good on live bait and slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait.
BENBROOK: Water stained; 71 degrees; 0.34’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits. White bass and crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Hybrids are good on live bait. Catfish are good on cut bait and stink bait.
BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 74 degrees; 0.26’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and swim jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait and chicken.
BOIS D’ARC: Water stained; 67 degrees; 1.81’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, flukes and stick worms. Crappie are good on jigs.
BRAUNIG: Water stained; 79 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Redfish are fair on crawfish and shrimp. Catfish are fair on cheese bait.
BROWNWOOD: Water lightly stained; 73 degrees; 0.49’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs. White bass are good on crankbaits. Catfish are slow.
BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 69 degrees; 21.30’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Stripers are good on live shad. Hybrids and white bass are good on live bait and jigging spoons. Catfish are good on cut shad.
CADDO: Water stained; 67
degrees; 1.21’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on frogs, buzzbaits and top-waters.
CALAVERAS: Water lightly stained; 81 degrees. Redfish are fair on crawfish, soft plastics and spoons. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
CANYON: Water lightly stained; 71 degrees; 31.09’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on moving baits and soft plastics.
CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 73 degrees; 0.03’ low. Hybrid striped bass and white bass are good on slabs and spinners. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
COLETO CREEK: Water stained; 70 degrees; 1.67’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics.
CONROE: Water stained; 78 degrees; 0.01’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Hybrids are fair on slabs, spoons and live minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait.
COOPER: Water stained; 60 degrees; 2.00’ low. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
CORPUS CHRISTI: Water stained; 70 degrees; 14.00’ low. Gar are good on shad and live bait. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.43’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are fair on jigging spoons. Catfish are are fair on cut bait, chicken and dough bait.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 67 degrees; 2.30’ low. White bass are fair on swimbaits and inline spinner baits. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait and shad.
FALCON: Water stained; 79 degrees; 44.88’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, power worms and spinner baits. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on stink bait, shrimp and cut bait.
FAYETTE: Water lightly stained; 80 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, shaky heads and Carolina rigs.
plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
GRANBURY: Water stained; 70 degrees; 0.21’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics, spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Striped bass are fair on live shad and trolled Alabama rigs. White bass are good on slabs, spinner baits and spoons. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows fished under a cork. Catfish are good on cut shad.
GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 70 degrees; 0.19’ high. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits. Crappie are good on jigs. White bass are good on slab spoons. Catfish are good on Zote soap and shad.
GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 68 degrees; 1.60’ high. White bass are good on slabs.
GREENBELT: Water stained; 70 degrees; 48.73’ low. White bass are good on minnows. Crappie are slow.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 70 degrees; 0.27’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 70 degrees; 12.68’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits or chatter baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.
INKS: Water stained; 70 degrees; 0.76’ low. Largemouth bass are good on craws, worms, top-waters and crankbaits.
JACKSONVILLE: Water lightly stained; 78 degrees; 0.13’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and swimbaits.
JOE POOL: Water stained; 68 degrees; 0.52’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 72 degrees; 4.08’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows.
FORK: Water stained; 73 degrees; 0.21’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chatter baits, spinner baits, top-waters and wacky rigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and punch bait.
FT PHANTOM HILL: Water stained; 70 degrees; 5.64’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on creature baits and soft
LAVON: Water lightly stained; 65 degrees; 0.59’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits and soft plastics. Hybrid stripers are fair on jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs. White bass are good on inline spinners, jigs and live minnows. Catfish are good on cut shad, carp and drum.
LBJ: Water stained; 71 degrees; 0.27’ low. Largemouth bass are good on craws, worms top-waters and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait.
LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 70 degrees; 1.13’ low. White bass are good on jigs, slabs and live bait. Hybrid stripers are fair on jigs and slabs. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut shad.
LIMESTONE: Water stained; 75 degrees; 1.18’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and chatter baits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on minnows and cut bait.
LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 71 degrees; 0.62’ high. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 79 degrees; 0.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged trick worms. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on live and cut bait.
MEREDITH: Water stained; 61 degrees; 47.29’ low. White bass are good on silver spoons and artificial grubs. Walleye are good on minnows, floating worm harnesses and jerkbaits. Catfish are good on cut bait and frozen shad.
MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 65 degrees; 2.64’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Sand bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are slow.
Catfish are slow.
PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 74 degrees; 0.22’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on shad.
POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 68 degrees; 0.40’ low. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.
PROCTOR: Water stained; 70 degrees; 2.27’ low. Hybrids are fair on top-waters. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
RAVEN: Water lightly stained; 70 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on chatter baits, drop shots and wacky rigs.
RAY HUBBARD: Water stained; 71 degrees; 0.06’ low. White bass are fair on slabs, swimbaits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on stink bait.
RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 70 degrees; 0.10’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chatter baits, weightless flukes and swim jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs. White bass are good on moving baits. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
RICHLAND
NACOGDOCHES: Water stained; 77 degrees; 0.10’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are slow.
NACONICHE: Water stained; 77 degrees; 0.50’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on jerkbaits, drop shots and Texas rigs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are slow.
NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 79 degrees; 0.46’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait.
NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 70 degrees; 2.04’ high. Crappie are fair on minnows.
O H IVIE: Water slightly stained; 68 degrees; 22.82’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits, jigs, and topwaters. Crappie are slow. White bass are fair on rattle traps and spinnerbaits. Catfish are good on shrimp, earthworms, cut shad, and chicken liver.
OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 65 degrees; 18.15’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, frogs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs.
CHAMBERS: Water stained; 70 degrees; 0.64’ high. Largemouth bass are good on swim jigs and spinner baits. White bass are good on slabs and jigs. Hybrid stripers are good on live shad. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait, cheese bait and shad.
SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 73 degrees; 0.06’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows under corks. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
SOMERVILLE: Water stained; 73 degrees; 2.38’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and spinner baits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrids are good on cut bait. Catfish are good on cut shad and punch bait.
SPENCE: Water stained; 60 degrees; 47.24’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastic creature baits. White bass are fair on slabs and jigs. Catfish are fair on stink and dough baits.
STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 71 degrees; 4.26’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass are fair on slabs.
TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 64 degrees; 0.36’ high. Largemouth bass are good on frogs and flukes. Hy-
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brid stripers and white bass are good on slab spoons and swimbaits. Catfish are good on cut shad, cut carp and cut buffalo.
TEXANA: Water stained; 67 degrees; 4.08’ low. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait.
TEXOMA: Water stained; 62 degrees; 12.90’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Striped bass are good on top-waters and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and small shad. Catfish are fair on cut shad and prepared baits.
TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 73 degrees; 0.56’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, crankbaits and Texas-rigged worms. Crappie are fair on jigs. White bass are fair on crankbaits and spoons.
TRAVIS: Water stained; 75 degrees; 45.32’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, swimbaits and drop shots. White bass are fair on slabs.
WACO: Water stained; 74 degrees; 1.51’ low. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on rooster tails and live minnows.
WALTER E LONG: Water lightly stained; 77 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, spinner baits and Alabama rigs.
WHITNEY: Water stained; 66 degrees; 0.67’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Striped bass are good on live bait. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait.
WORTH: Water stained; 69 degrees; 2.33’ low. White bass are fair on swimbaits and inline spinners. Crappie are fair on jigs and shallow on jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait and shad.
WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 67 degrees; 10.23’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. —TPWD
New lake, big fish
Continued from page 1
Why the instant success on the new lake?
Jake Norman, the Inland Fisheries District Supervisor in Tyler, said Bois d’Arc is the perfect example of the new lake effect.
“We started stocking it in 2019, but ponds on the watershed were stocked earlier, so the lake already had 5-plus pounders when it opened,” he said.
“New lake effect” results in rapid fish growth and high numbers in a new or restocked lake, or occasionally after a period of drought when the lake refills, due to abundant resources and less competition.
“On average, bass can grow about a pound per year,” Norman said. “Most 10-pounders are 10 years old, but in a new lake, growth rates are faster. That’s what you’re seeing at Bois d’Arc.”
All of the bass stocked in the lake have been produced by the ShareLunker breeding program, and data suggests the bass are growing by 2 pounds per year.
Conn holds the current lake record with his 10.63-pound largemouth, caught more than a year ago. The fish was genetically analyzed by Inland Fisheries biologists, and they learned it was one of the first 6-inch fish stocked in one of the small ponds within the future footprint of the lake in the fall of 2019 before the lake filled.
“The lake is setting up to be the next Lake Fork,” he said. “In 2 to 3 more years we will be catching teeners.”
This 10 2-pound largemouth was caught this year on Bois d’Arc Lake by an angler fishing with guide Jason Conn. Photo by Jason Conn.
GRIP & GRIN
Eli Huffman IV, of Houston, shot his first turkey in Gonzales County while hunting with his dad. The 10-year-old made the shot at 25 yards after the toms was attacking a jake decoy.
Porter Johanson, 10, shot this gobbler opening morning in Medina County at 11 yards with his new 20-gauge.
Bass fishing guide Stan Gerzsenyi shows one of the many big bass he and his clients have caught this spring, on O.H. Ivie.
Rebekah Craig, Judy Rhodes and Liz Velasco, of DIVA-Women Outdoors Worldwide, bagged mature Rio Grande turkey in Concho County during the first weekend in April.
Coty Dosch traveled from Iowa to catch this 11.33-pound bass at O.H. Ivie.
Bonus on the turkey hunt
hunting, but never coyotes.”
Each time, the setups included some sort of jake decoy.
“Sometimes we would have a jake decoy in a half-strut or breeding pose out, and other times we were using a jake strutter decoy,” Bray explained. “It was like the coyotes heard the birds that were working into our setups and gobbling, and came in to investigate. Then, once they saw our decoys, they would come charging in to attack them.”
In addition to the three coyotes shot, a few other times coyotes showed up but winded the hunters getting in shotgun range.
“Twice during the season, my business partner, Daniel Bristow, was hunting with clients and had multiple coyotes come running by within 15 yards or so of them in pursuit of gobbling birds,” Bray said. “Both times, the coyotes intercepted the birds before the hunters could get a shot off on the gobblers. “As soon as a coyote shows up within shotgun range, the turkey hunt quickly turns into a coyote hunt. It didn’t take long this season to figure out that the dogs were no match for TSS Turkey loads when they were in the decoys.”
One decoy now has holes and teeth marks from one of the coyotes.
“I’m not sure if these encounters were due to the drought conditions we experienced throughout most of the spring turkey season, or if these properties just recently had an increase in their coyote population,” Bray said. “Whatever the case may be, it made for some interesting and exciting moments.”
Dove seasons set
The 2025-2026 Dove Season dates are now official, as follows.
North Zone
Sept. 1-Nov. 9, and Dec. 19-Jan. 7
Central Zone
Sept. 1-Oct. 26 and Dec. 12-Jan. 14
South Zone
Sept. 14-Oct. 26 and Dec. 12-Jan. 22
Special White-Winged Dove Days
Sept. 5, 6, 7, 12 and 13 with shooting hours from noon to sunset.
Lake Corpus Christi improvements
The water levels have been unusually low at Lake Corpus Christi, so Inland Fisheries biologists and state park officials took advantage. They installed caged-in brush piles to enhance the fish habitat around the fishing piers in Lake Corpus Christi State Park.
When the water levels return, these caged-in brush piles will help draw fish into the area and help anglers catch more fish,” Inland Fisheries Corpus Christi said. They plan to add more habitat improvements at the lake this year.
As of May 1, the lake was just 21.1-percent full, with the mean water level at 79.93 feet, according to Water Data For Texas. The conservation storage was at 54,129 acre-feet, while the conservation capacity is 256,062 feet.
Photo by TPWD Inland Fisheries
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES
Freeport Harbor
Port O’Connor
Nueces Bay
Navigating FFS
One thing is certain. Forward-facing sonar is here to stay.
Jake Norman, the TPWD District Supervisor in Tyler, said it was crappie anglers who more broadly accepted the technology first.
“More people are interested in trophy crappie, 2-plus-pounders,” he said. “With forwardfacing sonar, you can find fish out in the middle of the lake. People are putting baits in front of fish more consistently. It’s impressive technology.”
If your goal is big bass, before running out and spending $3,000 or more, it’s worth it to hire a guide, even at the high cost.
Other anglers attest to the learning curve of FFS for big bass. Stan Gerzsenyi, a longtime guide, said it took many trips to gain some expertise.
“I didn’t know what I was looking at,” he said. “You might know there is a fish there, but not what it is or what size it is.”
If you choose to invest in FFS, recognize it’s a time-consuming learning process to become proficient. YouTube and other videos can help, but only time on the water will help you master the technology.
Anglers who have hired guides or regularly use the units are quick to advise you owe it to yourself to give FFS a try before either deciding whether it’s the best thing ever or condemning it.
Rates for Marsh and other guides reach up to $1,000 per day. A few of his peers charge up to $2,000.
But when you fish with Marsh, he’s not just guiding you. He’s teaching you how to use this new technology.
Brush piles and timber
Continued from page 8
water,” Shelby said. “There’s been some fish concentrating around flooded timber in these areas as well.”
On Cypress Springs, Shelby said the crappie have just begun moving into a post-spawn pattern, and can be found in the mouths of creeks, suspended in a variety of depths from 2-24 feet.
“Some days, all of our fish on Cypress Springs have been coming from 10 feet of water, and other days we’ve found them in 18-20 feet of water,” Shelby said. “They are just roaming around and chasing bait.”
There are still some crappie spawning up shallow, but not enough to make Shelby want to target them.
On Lake Fork, guide Jordan Sanders has been chasing crappie roaming along the edges of main lake points and channels near flooded timber in 18-25 feet of water. Some of these fish are staging and moving toward the shallows in preparation to spawn, and some have already spawned and are moving back out to deeper water.
“The crappie are in the middle of their spawning season right now,” Sanders said. “We still have some fish that are staging in a pre-spawn pattern. There are also crappie that are actively spawning, and some that are making their way out of the creeks toward the main lake in a post-spawn pattern.”
Sanders uses forward-facing sonar to target large crappie in staging areas around flooded timber.
“I’m not looking for big schools, but rather larger crappie by themselves,” he said. “Flooded timber with large concentrations of fry have been holding some solid fish.”
Sanders said 1/16-ounce hair jigs and a live minnow rigged on a 1/16-ounce jig have been producing strikes. Most of the crappie have been 1.4-1.6 pounds with a handful of 2-pounders each trip.
Guide trips inshore and off
Continued from page 8
The nickname came from a group of local Galveston fishing guides early on in his career. He had developed a reputation for pursuing sharks with just about any angler up for the challenge.
“I enjoy catching redfish and speckled trout, but I’ve always been infatuated with catching sharks and bigger fish,” Marquez said. “After spending a little time catching inshore species, I would always try to talk my customers into going after a shark. Many of the local guides started to call me Capt. Sharky because they knew I was willing to try to put any of my anglers on a shark, regardless of the conditions. The nickname stuck, and now everyone calls me Sharky.”
The captain’s enthusiasm toward big fish is something that becomes immediately evident to just about anyone that goes fishing with him. He’s known for shouting the phrase, “It’s a Monsta!” when someone on his boat hooks into a hefty specimen. During the early stages of his charter fishing career, he turned this slogan or motto into a brand and fishing apparel company, called Monsta Apparel.
Marquez’ passion for fishing began at a young age. Two of his favorite things to do as a youngster were to go fishing in the pond in his Angleton backyard and to go fishing with his dad in the surf at Surfside Beach, near Freeport.
“Fishing the surf is really what hooked me on saltwater fishing,” Marquez said. “I loved fishing for bass and perch in our pond but never knowing what size of fish or species I might catch next is what kept me going back to the salt.”
His goal for Out Cast Charters has always been to provide anglers of all ages and experience levels with unforgettable memories.
“Our team of captains, deckhands and other staff members are professionals who go above and beyond to provide our anglers with a positive and meaningful experience,” Marquez said. “That goes beyond just catching fish. We like to have fun on the water, and we do everything we can to make sure our anglers enjoy every moment of their trip, no matter what the conditions or the bite is like.”
LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER
Solution on Page 21
ACROSS
6) Hunting TV host
9) Sinker type
12) Hondo’s county
14) Another name for brush piles
15) Texas’ largest lake, ____ Bend
16) The male elk
17) Hardeman County’s seat
20) A turkey sound
22) Grandview’s team name
23) Salmon species
26) Nederland’s river
29) Where crappie go to spawn
30) Slang for the antlers
31) Minnow species
33) Smith County’s seat
35) A nontoxic shot
37) Safari destination
39) A spaniel
40) Belton’s county
43) Fishing knot type
44) A dabbler
45) One of the falcons
46) The juvenile hen
Spice rub
1/8 cup cornmeal
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
Catfish
4 catfish fillets
2 tsps. vegetable oil
1 lemon (quartered)
DOWN 1) Gatesville’s county 2) Crankbait brand 3) A deer gland 4) Turkey hunters’ org. 5) Border lake 7) McMullen County’s seat 8) The slab crappie 10) Trout species 11) Good white bass river 13) Ammo brand
18) Greenville’s county
19) Coastal bay 21) The boat’s fish holder
22) Duck call brand
24) Falls County’s seat
25) Hill Country lake
27) Turkey call type
28) Lever-action rifle brand
29) Frio River town
32) Hunting boot brand
34) One of the cats
36) One of the retrievers
37) Bass ambush spots
38) An African antelope
41) Robert Lee’s county 42) A deer favorite
Sales manager position at
Seaguar
Seaguar Products is seeking an assistant sales manager to develop sales operations and activities.
Irwin to lead AlumaCraft
Bryton Marine Group named James Irwin as president and chief operating officer of AlumaCraft Boats.
Russell joins ASP
Armament Systems and Procedures hired Shea Russell as director of sales for the midSouth region.
International ammo sales position
The Kinetic Group, manufacturer of Remington, Federal Premium, CCI, Speer and HEVI-Shot, is seeking an international sales manager.
New head at AGFC
Doug Schoenrock was named the 20th director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Sutton promoted at Sports South
Sports South promoted Caleb Sutton to vice president of merchandising and named Brian Billiet as vice president of technology.
Retail software acquisition
Retail software provider Celerant Technology acquired Saledock, a UK-based retail software company.
Allman to lead ICAST
Kendra Allman has joined the American Sportfishing Association as vice president of member services and business development and will oversee the fishing trade show ICAST.
your
Put the cornmeal, oregano, cayenne pepper, thyme, paprika, salt and pepper on a plate and combine well. Dredge both sides of the catfish in the spice mixture. Put the skillet on the stove and turn the heat to high. When the skillet is hot, add the oil. Add the fish and cook about 4 minutes on each side, until browned and cooked throughout. Serve right away garnished with lemon wedges.
—Mississippi State Extension
6 large (4-inch) portobello mushrooms
1/2-lb. ground venison
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup finely chopped red pepper
1 tbsp. fresh parsley
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 tbsps. olive oil Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Position oven rack in top third of oven. Cut stems off mushrooms flush with cap. Finely chop stems and set side. Arrange caps on baking sheet, top side down. Set aside. In 10-inch skillet, brown venison over medium heat about 5 minutes. Drain. Stir in garlic, red pepper and chopped mushroom stems. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until stems begin to release liquid, stirring occasionally. Stir in remaining ingredients, except oil. Spoon mixture evenly into mushroom caps. Drizzle filling evenly with oil. Bake 1012 minutes or until mushrooms are soft (sprinkle fresh Parmesan cheese over mushrooms during the last few minutes of baking).
—PA Game Commission
Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News
DATEBOOK
MAY 9-10
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Central Texas Banquet Georgetown Community Center (325) 277-6770 muledeer.org
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Wild Game Cooking with Chef Joshua Schwencke DSC Headquarters (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
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ROLLING PLAINS QUAIL RESEARCH FOUNDATION
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DELTA WATERFOWL
Cen-Tex Dinner Riesel Lion’s Club (254) 412-9742 deltawaterfowl.org
WILLACY COUNTY YOUNG FARMERS
Bob Austin Memorial Fishing Tournament Port Mansfield Chamber Pavilion wcyf.org
MAY 29
DELTA WATERFOWL
North Houston Chapter Banquet Hochzeit Hall, Spring deltawaterfowl.org
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OPERATION GAME THIEF
Austin Clay Stoppers Shootout
Hog Heaven Sporting Club Dripping Springs ogttx.org
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TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOCIATION
Sporting Clays Shoot
National Shooting Complex, San Antonio (210) 764-1189 texasdovehunters.com
CLASSIFIEDS HUNTING
RENO EQUIPMENT/ RIO GRANDE PIPE
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HUNTING RANCH FOR SALE
With Unique Underground Lodge & Bunker
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Our companies sell structural pipe in several sizes, from small pipe for gates, to standard sizes for fencing, on up to the larger sizes for H-braces, barn legs and even culverts. We stock pipe sizes from 1” to 20”, we even have heavy weight and thick wall pipe in several sizes for heavy duty projects. We also sell an assortment of other equipment, currently we have some surplus tanks (8400gal, steel, 12’w x 7’h), some tinhorn/culvert material (from 4’dia x 6’-10’L to 16’dia x 10’-20’L), 18’ & 20’ gooseneck tandem single trailers, and some cattle guards. Contact Josh Brown at (505) 366-3428, or Cody Hudson at (575) 441-1186.
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Fish cribs at Edinburg pond
Habitat structures were deployed in Edinburg Municipal Park Pond. The Inland Fisheries Corpus Christi District, with help from the City of Edinburg and the World Birding Center, added five new habitat sites to the pond.
Each new site consists of two pine fish cribs. These structures provide refuge for forage species and create ambush points for predator species.
The addition of habitat should improve the largemouth bass and white bass populations in the pond.
Photo by TPWD Inland Fisheries
