Adventure Files: Did Someone Say Chupacabra?

Bergheim Pet Hospital & Clinic
Built By Chris Carson Contracting Co.
Photo: JM Photos

In what now almost seems like a previous life, I was a builder and remodeler.  I still dabble in that business from time to time, but nevertheless, it is safe to say that my career path has taken a detour.  In June of 2007, after a wet Spring, as I was in the process of building a vet clinic.  We were getting it “dried in” and my bricklayers were on site.  I had been discussing hunting with my masonry contractor, John, and he mentioned that he had never hunted hogs before.  He was born and raised in Midland, TX and lived in Central and South Texas for quite awhile.  How this man reached the age of 50 years old in Texas without ever hunting a hog was baffling, and I quickly decided that I would change that.

When I wrote him his check for the final payment of an outstanding job, I asked him if he was free the next weekend for a hog hunt and he was eager to go! We planned to go the following Friday evening.  We met at what was then the Super S Food Store in Castroville to pick up some snacks and drinks.  He was now working on some modifications on a tamale plant in San Antonio and brought some of the most delicious tamales I think I have ever had.

Suzuki Samurai Outfitted For Hunting
Photo: Chris Carson

We headed for my lease near Hondo, TX.  At the time, I had a Suzuki Samurai modeled outfitted much like the one in the photo.  The plan was pretty simple.  Corn the roads in specific places where I
knew hogs crossed and wait for them.  We also used some hog attractant and a pig call. 

After a few hours of prep work and showing John the lease, we headed over to one of the sites we corned, which was around a protein feeder that we had seen pictures of hogs trying to reach the feeder tubes.  We set up on the road about 50-60 yards downwind from the feeder.  We were slightly down hill and the weeds were very tall from all the rain we had been having.  I was a little concerned that a shot on a hog might be kind of tough because of the weed growth (even with the elevated rear seat), but we decided to stick it out and see what happened.

We settled into eating tamales and trading hunting stories.  If we weren’t fast friends yet, we were on our way.  He told me about bird hunting oil leases in West Texas and I told him about hunting hogs in East Texas.  Our whispered conversation was almost continuous.  About the time I thought that we didn’t have anything else to talk about, we would find another topic.

As sundown approached, we had a few deer come in to the protein feeder.  We watched as they milled around.  Most ate the corn.  I used this opportunity to judge where we did and didn’t have clear shots through the weeds. Surprisingly there were more clear shots than I thought, but they were doing a number on the corn.  I was glad to see them at the protein feeder though, because I could see a few inches of antler growth on every deer in this little bachelor group.

Corned Road Somewhere In South Texas
Photo: Chris Carson

As I was watching intently and looking at the antler growth on what seemed to be the dominant buck, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye.  I looked up unable to refocus quickly enough with the difference in light from my binoculars to actual daylight, but something crossed the road about 15 yards in front of us.  John leaned in and whispered “what was that?”.  About the time I leaned back to say “I think it was a deer.” All the deer at the feeder disappeared.

I sat back up tall and began to replay what I had seen in my head while listening and scanning the brush line.  This animal bounded in from the right.  Then it smoothly eased across the road and back into the brush.  It dawned on me that the color I saw looked like a lighter toned deer, but it didn’t move like a deer and there seemed to be something moving behind it.  I leaned back in toward John and whispered “I don’t think that was a deer.” He whispered back “me either.” 

By this time, the hair on the back of my neck was standing at attention! John leaned over and asked “What do you think it was?”  I knew what I thought it was, but I didn’t want to say it for fear of being that guy. You know, the one that always has an outlandish tale that doesn’t seem plausible.  Honestly, I didn’t REALLY see it, so I just shrugged him off.  Being from South Texas, I had to make the obligatory Chupacabra joke to lighten the mood.

Then I began thinking about the fact that just a few months prior, I hunted this property on foot because in our hasty move from our lease in Grapeland, TX, I didn’t have a chance to get everything set up because I was so busy trying to clear my backlog of jobs so I could start the vet clinic on time.  I made makeshift ground blinds out of whatever twigs and fencing were laying around.  Fallen trees, small bushes and just plain old laying on my belly had been my preferred method of hunting and quite honestly it was one of the best hunting seasons I had ever experienced. 

As if all of this weren’t unnerving enough, I realized that we were in the one area on that side of the lease
where there were large mesquite trees with horizontal limbs that were about a foot or more in diameter.  Yep, now I was pretty sure what I had seen was a Mountain Lion.  I could tell John was a little sketchy about this situation too.  His eyes were darting around and it was pretty much completely dark by this time.  I leaned in a told John “I think that was a cat.”  To which he replied “I think that was a BIG CAT!” I breathed a sigh of relief for a moment knowing that he had seen what I thought I had seen.

John's Hog
Photo: Chris Carson

We sat there for a few minutes squirming around and I pointed out the fact that the trees over our heads and behind us were large enough to support a Mountain Lion. so we mutually agreed that it was in our best interests that we move on.

We checked a few other spots and I finally put John on some hogs, but he missed.  I took him several times that summer and if memory serves, he missed a couple times.  We finally got him his hog one night in August.  We had a heck of an experience together.  One I will never forget.  I kept the Mountain Lion sighting to myself for a few months not wanting to be that guy.  I hoped that somebody would get a pic of it on a trail cam, but nothing definitive.  Lots of blurry images, and maybes.  You can see just about anything you think you want to in those photos sometimes.  Then one day, talking to the ranch owner, he told me that a neighbor had seen a Mountain Lion.  I sighed in relief again knowing I wasn’t crazy!  It was finally time to let the cat out of the bag so to speak.  

About seven years later, I was deer hunting from a blind on the other side of the lease with my son Cole.  When it got to be prime time (that 20-30 minutes of gaslight when the sun goes down and the woods come alive), I thought I had seen something out the side window about 15-20 yards from the blind.  I had no idea what it was, but I was certain that a deer must have busted me took off in the brush.  Several minutes later, I shot a Bobcat.  We gave it the usual 10-15 minutes or so to let the nerves settle before we approached it.  I told Cole to open the door and start crawling down and as soon as he opened the door, he said "What's that?" I was still packing up and wasn't in a position to see what he was talking about. He said "Is that another Bobcat? It's huge!"  I said "Where?" and moved over to look out the window and Cole said "It's gone." I said which way did it go?" and he pointed north.  We quickly hopped in the truck and tried to follow, but what ever it was, was gone.

Bobcat From The Deer Blind

On the way home that night, I quizzed him about what he saw.  He was certain it was not a deer, and it was "way bigger than a bobcat".  When I got home, I showed him a picture of a Mountain Lion and he said "That's it!" He was 7 or 8 then.  I don't think he even knew what a Mountain Lion was until I explained it to him.  He has never been one to tell tall tales, so I tend to believe that (at the very least) he thinks he saw a Mountain Lion.  Chupacabra maybe?  Who knows?!?

Have you had any “hair raising” experiences outdoors?  Comment below or on the 46 Outdoors Facebook page and share them.  

46 Outdoors: Should I Plan My Hunting/Fishing Trips Around the ...

With summer right around the corner and people planning vacations, I figured this would be a good time to toss this out there again.  As I said in the original post, these are just my observations and I am continually updating my theory.  As such, I did make an update to the original post.

Do you use solunar data?  Do you think it's crazy? What's your take?  Comment below or on the 46 Outdoors Facebook Page

46 Outdoors: Should I Plan My Hunting/Fishing Trips Around the ...: As we (here in Texas) begin to look forward to deer season, many avid hunters are planning their vacation time for the upcoming deer season...

Hunting or Fishing? Happy I Can't Decide!

Cole's First Fish
Photo: Mike Carden

I don’t remember catching my first fish, but thanks to a photo of the occasion, I can tell you who was there, about how old I was, and what I was wearing.  The species of fish was a little cloudy to me until recently when a friend and I found ourselves bored and the topic was raised. Thank goodness for Google.  I don’t think I have ever caught another fish that looked as ugly as that one! It is safe to say I have been fishing as long as I can remember.  If I am not mistaken, my first real hunting trip took place about age 12.

I owe my love of the outdoors to my older brother, Chuck.  In a recent trip taking my 10 year old son, Cole fishing, Chuck told him “your dad and I just drove around the state of Texas figuring it out”. Chuck was in high school and college and I was in elementary and middle school when that was happening.  I think it was more like he figured it out and showed me how to do it.  However, I did appreciate his including me in the credits there.

When I was a kid, I remember my grandpa referring to fishing as “drowning worms”, yet I'm told that he did enjoy hunting.  Unfortunately I never knew that side of him.  I have also known people who love to fish, but can’t stand to hunt.  I find humor in the fact that they complain about the same thing.  Drowning worms implies that fishing is boring.  People who aren’t excited about hunting are complaining that sitting in a deer blind for hours on end is boring.

Hondo Sunset & Hartcraft Broadheads
Photo: Chris Carson

Aquatic life or land loving mammals... It makes no difference to me.  I will stalk a redfish on the flats or deer in the woods. Also, as I have mentioned plenty of times before, there is something peaceful about sitting in a deer blind with no cell phone ringing or walking down a path with a pail of worms much like Opie on the way to a favorite fishing hole.  These are times to connect with our Maker and appreciate the abundance of beauty there is in this world whether it’s a beautiful green sea with a thin line of blue water on the horizon or a fiery sunset from the blind.  

I really don’t understand why some hunters don’t like to fish and some fishermen don’t like to hunt. Stalking and sight casting to a redfish in skinny water or a bass on the bed is no different than stalking a land animal.  Many hunters enjoy a good spot and stalk, and many fishermen enjoy sitting on a pier for hours on end.

I suppose the difference is that more often than not, when a hunter pulls the trigger or releases an arrow, the projectile finds it’s mark.  Many times a fisherman casts his bait into what seems like nothingness. Sometimes fish are finicky and don’t want the bait, color, or size you are throwing.  Fish can also be difficult to find if you don't have a boat with electronics.  "95% of the fish are in 5% of the water" is how I think the saying goes.  I would say that probably applies to wildlife and land too, but I guess it's easier to see them.  I do appreciate the challenge of "looking" (or HUNTING) for fish when you can't see them, but it can also be frustrating at times.  Sometimes you just have to grind it out.

Chris Castro of Next Level Fishing TV
Photo: Chris Castro

There will always be varying degrees of craziness associated with these endeavors.  Call it extreme if you will, but I must confess being somewhat drawn to them myself.  I have recently made friends with a group of guys, one of which is Chris Castro from Next Level Fishing TV.  Check out their YouTube channel in the link.  These guys go offshore kayak fishing for species one can find in the open waters and depths of the Gulf of Mexico.

Then you have folks like Cameron Hanes who puts it all on the line in the mountains of Alaska and other WILD places.  Check out his video here.  Whether close enough for a bow shot on a bear, or hanging on to a dall sheep that is mortally wounded and about to go over a ledge in the mountains of Alaska, he puts his life at risk in extreme conditions to to get the kill.

I too have dabbled in the extreme side of hunting. I can say that I have been swimming in the Trinity River with a hog while hunting with dogs trained to hunt hogs in some of the thickest briars and brambles East Texas has to offer.  A very strenuous and thrilling endeavor indeed.  I only wish I had a video of that!

Truth be told, I would take it any way it comes, fishing, hunting, or their extreme versions, it’s all the same to me.  I would like to be in much better shape than I currently find myself.  I’m not getting any younger, but then again… That’s a good reason to get myself back in shape.  My bucket list isn’t getting any shorter!

Have you had any extreme hunting or fishing experiences? Do you like one and not the other?  Share you comments with us here or on our facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/46outdoors/

Spring Turkey Season Prep

Photo Credit: TPWD

Spring Turkey Season is upon us! Here in Texas, we enjoy hunting both Eastern and Rio Grande Turkey. Dates and bag limits vary by county for the most part. Youth Only dates apply as well. Check your Outdoor Annual for details that pertain to your hunting location. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) also has an app for your smart phone now that has proven itself very useful for me, and much easier than carrying around an Outdoor Annual in whatever hunting or fishing situation I find myself.

Until about 15 years ago I had only hunted turkey in the Fall and it was more of an opportunistic endeavor than an actual turkey hunt. In other words they made the unfortunate mistake of crossing my rifle during deer season.

My first Spring turkey hunt, was a rush. I walked away empty handed, but knowing I called turkeys in from who knows how far away and seeing them strutting in looking for that hen was priceless.  It was an experience of a lifetime and I am now hooked for life!

Spring Turkey hunting is a great passion of mine. However, between baseball season, fishing and my personal lack of having a place with plentiful turkeys to hunt, I don't do it near as much as I would like. We have seen turkeys on our lease, but they have only been sighted a total of about 5 times in 10 years despite the fact that we have a dedicated turkey feeder.  The sightings are always during deer season and that includes a few sightings on camera.  But, that does not stop me from trying.  I still find time to go, because you don't know if you don't try, and a bad day of turkey hunting beats most other days in my book. Fortunately though, I can usually find some friends that can put me on the turkey.  This year, it appears I have found a place to guide some turkey hunts with Real Outfitters; an experience I am definitely looking forward to!

My packing list for turkey hunts is as follows:

Rudolph Optics Short Quad Shooting Sticks

• 12 Ga. Shotgun with turkey choke (full choke will do)
• 12 Ga. 2 oz. 5 shot Remington Premier Magnum Turkey Loads
• Rudolph Optics Short Quad Shooting Sticks
• Tenzing Turkey Vest with padded seat
• Knight & Hale Sweet Lil' Liar Box Calls for mainly for yelps and cutts
• Knight & Hale Stranglehold Glass Pot Call
• Primos mouth calls to mix it up and sound like multiple turkeys
• Primos Killer B Decoy
• Turkey wing
• Owl Locator call
• Cedar Creek Camo pants and vented micro cool long sleeve T-shirt & cap (washed in Bio Shield detergent which reples biting insects such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitos)
• Face paint
• Thin camo gloves
• Camo Hunting Boots
• Endura Cool Buff



Find these products and more at
Twisted Oak Hunting & Outfitter Supply

• Bio Shield Spray (All Natural Insect /repellent) or Thermacell

I started my calling collection with a pot call called the "The Freak".  Over the years, I have found that different days, different weather, and other conditions can make a difference in how the calls sound and my confidence in them, so I keep a variety of different calls ready. Most of these items can be picked up or special ordered at Twisted Oak Hunting & Outfitter Supply. With the exception of the gun, shooting sticks, I'm either wearing it or it's packed in the vest including my water bottle.




I have found the best results when hunting with a friend.  One shooter, one caller.  It can easily be done alone or with two shooters, but the experience of calling in a turkey for a buddy or vice versa is a great bonding experience and it's always safer to be with someone. I can't wait to share this experience with my kids.

My goal this year is to take a turkey with my Bear Attitude compound bow. That would be a first for me, and probably the only way my son will be able to take one this year. I'm not sure he's ready for the kick from a magnum turkey load; and we can't afford a shoulder injury from a shotgun during baseball season.

Stop by Twisted Oak and pick up your supplies soon.  Here's to a happy and fruitful Turkey Season!

Why do I hunt and Fish? It's A Way of Life

A day's work in the Lower Laguna Madre
Photo: Cole Carson

The other day, I had someone ask me why I hunt.  It kind of took me by surprise.  This person is more of an acquaintance than anything.  Just someone I see picking up the kids at school or at the park.  I guess living in Texas with very little resistance to my lifestyle, I have become complaisant in not having to defend my choices when it comes to hunting and fishing the way many people do in other states.

My answer was basically "because I want to" with a dose "how dare you question my way of life" attitude.  Then, it dawned on me that this person was trying to have an intelligent conversation as to why I like to hunt.  I could tell by this time that this person felt like she crossed a line by asking the question.  I tried to circle back to the conversation, but she didn't want to talk about it.  By the time that awkward conversation or lack thereof was over, I was disappointed in myself for not articulating myself in an intelligent manner.  In retrospect, I was truly surprised by the question, but my inability to give a thoughtful, accurate, and detailed response probably served to strengthen even the tiniest amount of contempt for my way of life.

My way of life... Let's think about that for a minute.  I live in the city, there is a grocery store 5 minutes from my house.  My daily routine involves shuttling kids around, baseball practices, games, tournaments, grocery shopping, work, etc., all the usual stuff most of us do.  As I write this, I can hear the traffic on a major highway.  So, how can hunting and fishing be a way of life?  Well, I guess when you compare that to life in rural Alaska or living off the land where your survival is at stake, it can be a tough case to make.

A rare moment of peace between brother and
sister brought to you by a peaceful setting
Photo: Chris Carson

Consider for a moment though, the things you find in your food.  If you eat meat from a grocery
store, the growth hormones and other toxic trash you are putting in your body is mind blowing.  The apple you had for a snack was likely sprayed with pesticide, and genetically engineered to taste a certain way or have a certain color or be a certain size, or more accurately produce a certain amount of money. I seriously doubt that the health benefits are anywhere near what they once were.  But to me this begs the question... If we can genetically engineer these things, why can't we engineer healthier, better tasting foods?

The answer I came up with is this: We can't beat nature. Nature produces the things we need to fuel our bodies.

There is also something uniquely satisfying about bringing home dinner.  I have always been a meat and potatoes kind of guy, but when you harvest your meat, gut and skin the animal yourself, cut your dinner off the bone, grind it or tenderize it, season it and cook it yourself... To quote Kenyon Bankston of Southern Boyz Outdoors; "It just don't get no better than this!"

In Genesis 1:26 God gave man dominion. He intended for us to live and thrive upon what He created. Some will bring up Matthew 5:5 in response to this and say "The meek shall inherit the earth". Let's take a look at that word "meek".  Notice it does not say "weak".  Some synonyms for the word "meek" are: mild, humble, and modest. I call this "quiet confidence" with my baseball players.  With confidence comes strength and tenacity. An antonym is pride.

A nice typical 8pt. buck near Hondo, TX
Photo: James Plant

Then there is the argument for conservation.  Without hunters hunting these animals, overpopulation would be detrimental; not only to the animal, but it's food and water sources as well.  The natural ecology would be thrown out balance.  Disease and hardship for these animals, especially in years of drought, would be devastating to their numbers and the plants, insects, and other food sources along with other animals that use the same food and water sources.  The damage to the eco-system would be exponential.  One of their natural predators is humans. Take hunters out of the mix and you will have a problem of gigantic proportions.

To those that would argue that "Shooting a deer at 100 yards is too easy." I would say this: one of the greatest advantages we were born with is the ability for critical thinking, problem solving, and an opposable thumb. Many animals are blessed with speed or strength and carry their own weapons as body parts.  Hunters were blessed with the ability to outwit their prey as well as design and build their weapons.

Sunset from a ground blind near Hondo, TX
Photo: Chris Carson

Then there are the things I get to see that most people either don't have the opportunity to see or don't appreciate.  Last August during my fishing trip to Port Mansfield, we saw a sea turtle that was about as big as the hood of my truck!  I have also seen an otter in Rebecca Creek.  I thought it was an otter, but had to look it up online.  I had no idea that there were otters in Texas.  I have also seen strutting turkeys, bobcats, foxes, a mountain lion, and a badger.  All of them just doing what they do in their natural habitat.  Then there are always the fiery sunsets, sunrises, the sounds or even the quiet time nature provides.  I feel blessed to be able to experience all these things.  Of course it is not required to have a weapon in my hands when I see these things, but hunting and fishing trips provide the convenient opportunity to appreciate these things.

In short, I am an apex predator.  I take my place on top of the food chain as it should be; as it were meant to be.  Weather it's by rod and reel, bow, rifle, or any other (legal) means, I will do what I was designed to do by my Creator: hunt, fish, and provide for my family by outwitting my prey. To me, that is my way of life!

Prepare and Pursue Fishing Checklist for March

Cole hooked up with a nice trout
Photo: Chris Carson

March is a great month to be on the water.  From the bays and marshes to the lakes and rivers, the waters are coming alive.  Black Drum are making their run, Largemouth Bass are in pre-spawn or even actively spawning, White Bass are on the move in the rivers, and trophy Specks are prowling around looking for warmer water. 

Get out that tackle box and take inventory. Below are a few common species and what you can expect to catch them on this month.

Here is your Prepare and Pursue Fishing Checklist for March:

White Bass.  White Bass are still running in some rivers down south and beginning to make their runs in the Texas Hill Country.  I have heard and had some pretty decent luck throughout the years fishing for this plentiful and tasty species fishing between the first and second rapids along the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake. The best access to this area is by kayak. Put in at the 281 Bridge and take out at the Rebecca Creek Boat Ramp.  This is about a 12.5 mile trip.  Fish all the good looking spots and work the areas near the rapids for spawning sandies. By boat, launch at the Rebecca Creek Boat Ramp, head out to the river and head up stream as far as you feel comfortable.  Throw Speck Rigs or any soft plastic tandem rig, Unfair Lures Rip N Slash, or Rat L Traps and of course, live minnows.  When you find them, keep throwing at them.

Backwater creek empties into the Guadalupe River
Photo: Bryan Taylor

Crappie. These spunky little fighters in the backs of creeks and other tributaries in sunken brush piles, laydowns, standing timber.  Other than live bait, they can be caught on Marabou jigs,  Road Runners, Beetle Spins, and other soft plastic jig and spinner combos including the Matrix Mini. Ultra light gear is best and makes for a fun fight with this little bruiser.

Largemouth bass can be caught in the typical pre spawn areas.  They will be staging on ledges, bottom transitions and other structure near bed areas.  The baits to throw are going to be moving baits designed to bring about a reaction strike such as crank baits and swim baits.  Bass are patrolling and looking for nest sites, so they will be looking to clear the area of potential threats. Nest raiders like lizards and craws are a good idea too, but with more of a power presentation than finesse. These fish are looking for a fight!

Speckled Trout are looking for warming water this time of year. Look for muddy bottom that holds heat on warm days.  Just a couple degrees of change in water temperature can hold a monster! Paul Brown Corkies, Unfair Dawgwalker, and Unfair Shrimp under popping cork are deadly.

Chris Castro of Next Level Fishing TV with a Black Drum
Caught on Vortex Shad
Photo: Chris Castro

Black Drum. Huge Black Drum are making their way back into the bays and marshes to spawn.  A great place to look for them is deep in the passes and channels as they head in from the Gulf of Mexico.  Catch these big uglies on live bait fished on the bottom.  A difficult fish to catch on artificials, but it can be done on the Vortex Shad as my friend Chris Castro of Next Level Fishing TV proved last year.  Check out the video here https://youtu.be/JWIRVtohj-8?t=2m  and give him a like and a follow.

The spring months are the best times to introduce your kids to the outdoors.  A target rich environment along with a plethora of different activities provide a multitude of things to do.  There is bound to be something that everyone will enjoy.  

Adventure Files: Family Canoe Trip Gone Wrong Part 2

Guadalupe River
Photo: Bryan Taylor

Our trip down the Guadalupe continues.  If you haven't read Part 1, please take a look. We are about 3/4 of the way through our trip and there is more drama to come.

After we thanked the couple for helping us get as much of our things together as possible, we headed off again.  Not too far downstream, we encountered another rapid that had a small drop.  There was a small gravel bar with maybe an inch of water running over it to the left side of the river. I motioned to Laura to head over there with me and she did.  We got out of the canoes and the kids played in a small eddy out of the current while I tried to figure out the best line to get through these rapids.  At some point, I became aware that this was the rapid the man spoke about where there was a chute off to the right side.  I watched as some tubers went through the rapids and some went around through the chute. I guess he had given up on waiting for us. 

I thought about the options and although I saw tubers go in and tubers come out, the safety of my family squashed and notion of adventure here.  The kids were having fun playing and Laura really wanted to keep going.  I didn’t want to put my family through that again, so I decided I would walk the canoes through the rapids myself, which I did.

Once I reached the other side, We set sail again for Bigfoot Canoes with the hope that we had just crossed our last rapid.  There was a short peaceful paddle to the FM 311 bridge (also known as Esser’s Crossing) where we encountered another rapid.

Brother and sister at Nichols Landing
Photo: Chris Carson

This one seemed to be pretty tame in comparison to the last two. No drop in elevation, just about 500 feet

of fast running water over a rock garden.  We began to encounter trouble again when we bottomed out. Laura hit a larger boulder that tossed Caitlyn out like a ragdoll.  Caitlyn actually seemed to be having fun. To hear her tell the story, she just bailed out.  As she bailed out, Laura fell to that side and began taking on water. She rolled out held on to the canoe for what seemed like an eternity.  I kept telling her to let go and she just kept looking at me. It was a tremendously amazing feat of strength I was watching as she held on to that canoe in fast moving water while it was filling up with rushing water.

I was stuck, bottomed out in my canoe.  If I stood up, and helped her, it would have floated off with Cole and Cody in the rapids.  I was not in a position to help her without putting my two son’s in danger.  Finally, after pleading with her to let go, she asked “Where is Caitlyn?”  She didn’t see that Caitlyn swam to shore just like I told her to do before we ever left home. She finally let go.  I found out later that she never saw Caitlyn swim away, and couldn't see her over the canoe. She thought Caitlyn was trapped or on the other side of the canoe and was afraid that she would get run over by the canoe if she let go. 

About the time she did finally let go, a woman who had been there with some other folks came out to help.  I stood up and pushed my canoe with the kids in it across about 30 feet of VERY fast moving water about 4 inches deep or so.  I literally had to push this canoe running behind it as fast as I could to get it to shore. It reminded me of many football workouts 30 years ago pushing the sled.

Guadalupe River
Photo: Brian Taylor

With the drift I encountered, I was about 25 yards downstream from where Laura was when I finally got it beached. I went back for her. The woman grabbed the canoe and was in some deeper, slower water where she could anchor it.  Laura was sitting in the rapids where she turned over still catching her breath.  I knew she was safe there and was not ready to stand up and make her way across the rushing water, so I grabbed the canoe and this nice woman helped me with getting the canoe (full of water) across the fast moving water and beached again now about 30 yards downstream. I went back again for Laura as she made her way to the canoes. 

The woman, who came to help, assisted me in flipping the canoe to get the water out. About this time, a man who seemed drunk came to help Laura who was sitting in the water near the canoes still catching her breath.  As he was trying to help her up or something, he dropped the woman’s dog in the water. She quickly snatched up the dog and gave him an earful as they left. It was a very awkward situation.  Later, Laura asked me “What was that guy doing?” Truthfully, I was baffled.

We got back in the canoes and paddled downstream again hoping we had seen our last rapids before the take out at Bigfoot.  Low and behold, the next turn in the river was the take out. Laura and I were glad to see it.  The kids still wanted to play.  I called the office at Bigfoot and told them we were at the take out.  The man told me that the driver would be back soon.

We let the kids play in the river while we waited. Another group of tubers showed up, picked up their tubes and headed up the hill for their cars.  Another group with some tubes and canoes showed up.  It had been 30 minutes or so since I called.  They were going to leave their rented canoes there and just head back to their cars.  I wasn’t about to haul our borrowed canoe uphill a half a mile to the truck, but I considered going to get the truck.  About the time I prepared to hike to the truck, the old beat up Scout II that took us to Nichol’s Landing showed up.  We loaded our things and headed back to the truck.  

The golf ball sized lump on Laura’s arm was holding steady.  She had good mobility and we were all hungry, so we decided to stop at Beefy’s Backyard in Spring Branch to eat some dinner, lick our wounds and decompress a little before we headed home. On the way into the restaurant, we ran into some baseball friends coming back from a tournament. Even telling them the ordeal then didn’t seem to do it justice.

Guadalupe River
Photo Bryan Taylor

I was just thinking about starting this blog back then and it took me quite some time to write about this

experience.  Some of the details are a little fuzzy at this point, but I know some things for certain.  Caitlyn and Cole were tested that day and they proved to be smart and good listeners even though there was some pretty dangerous situations.  They handled it well. I guess we didn’t do a very good job of preparing Cody for this adventure. He had no idea what to expect. I believe this is why he was so scared to start off the trip.

In the future, I will always inspect the craft in which we travel. As I’m thinking about it now, I don’t ever remember more than a basic once over in looking at either canoe.  Don’t ever take for granted that things are in good condition.

I will also have back up plans for these kinds of trips.  Where can we take out along the way if something were to happen?  How will we get back to where we need to be? etc.

We have not let this dampen our adventurous spirit. Laura and I have discussed it with the kids and pointed out things we could have done better or been better prepared for. 

I should have known that a canoe trip with two adults and three kids (one of which was 4) with experience being little to none was not a good idea. A trip to a lake in a protected cove out of the wind would have been a much better idea. I might have even been able to fish a little with that kind of trip!

Most of all, I thank God for watching over us and putting those helpful souls in our path. Without the help of these people, we would have probably lost a canoe and many other things at the very least. Laura is still upset about her ring to this day, but I am thankful it was only the ring that was lost when you consider other alternatives like our lives or our kids.

46 Outdoors Prepare and Pursue Hunting Checklist for March

Photo: Chris Carson

March in Texas and many southern states, where weather patterns can be unpredictable and ever changing; this can provide ample opportunity for hunting and fishing.  While we begin to enjoy longer days and some warmer weather, we can get our outdoors chore list done too.

Here is the 46 Outdoors Prepare and Pursue Hunting Checklist for March:

Shed Hunting.  A popular activity for the kids as well as the adults.  Get into the woods and start looking for antler sheds.  Most bucks will have shed their antlers by now. This is also a great way to begin scouting for next season.  Look for rub lines and scrapes that you may not have seen last year. These sheds are also a good way to find out which bucks made it through the season.  Look for identifiers such as point totals, and characteristics like sharp angles. Friendly wagers like total score on all sheds keeps it interesting. 

Look for roosting turkeys.  Turkey season begins in March. Start looking for those roosting birds. Look for places to set up on them.  Look for secondary areas and access routes in case you get busted.

Photo: Chris Carson

Practice your shooting. Weather you rifle hunt or bowhunt, it’s always a good idea to practice your shooting.  A little realistic practice may be in order too. Sometimes I use this time to varmint and predator hunt from my stand.  Small targets at long distances for rifle shooting is a great way to sharpen those skills.  From the bow stand, bring those critters in close and learn your distances, arc angles and other variables that will make you a better shooter. This also helps keep those predator populations in check.

Feeder Maintenance. If you are anything like me, by now your feeders are completely empty.  Use this time to perform some annual maintenance to your feeders.  Clean them out, tighten any bolts, screws, nuts that are loose. Seal holes in the drums. Look for worn out parts and replace them. Oil moving parts with some 3 in 1 oil. Touch up or repaint. Check the legs and make sure everything is anchored well. If your feeders are penned up to keep livestock out, check your fences and gates.

Photo: Chris Carson

Stand/Blind Maintenance.  Fix stand problems.  Check your ladders or stairs for unsafe conditions.  Seal up cracks to keep wasps and other critters out. Touch up or repaint.  Start your remodeling projects. How many times during deer season did you think about adding a shelf over there or a gun rack over here? Too noisy? Add carpet. Rework your windows and doors. I can’t begin to tell you how many projects I thought up while sitting in the stand.  Now is a great time to start those projects.

Plant Food Plots.  Bucks, does and fawns will all appreciate your effort in providing a spring and summer food source.  Deer get a significant amount of water from the water in the plants they eat. This will help your does that are carrying fawns and lactating throughout the summer along with those big bucks in bachelor groups. If you are thinking about planting a food plot, now is the time.

Clear and tweak your shooting lanes.  If you need to clear your shooting lanes, now is a good time to do so.  The issues you may have had during deer season are fresh in your mind.  Also, it will leave much less work to do in the heat of August if you do it before all the spring growth.

Photo: Texas Parks & Wildlife

Turkey Season.  Turkey season begins in March. Get out there and use that MRI (Most Recent
Intelligence) you gathered from the beginning of this article to start calling in those gobblers!

Hog Hunting.  If you are in Texas, these pesky critters are open season and sausage, ribs and ham are good any time of year.

Enjoy your time in the woods. Take a kid hunting.  Spring is the best time of year to introduce kids to the outdoors.  Take them for a walk in the woods or a wildlife drive at dusk.  Let them drive on the dirt roads on private property and teach them about nature. Even the most girly, girl or screen addicted child who does not want anything to do with hunting or fishing will enjoy the sight of the wildflowers, seeing a deer, or just about anything unusual we come across in nature. Be prepared for questions. Who knows, it might just open the door for another outdoors enthusiast.

Adventure Files: Family Canoe Trip Gone Wrong Part 1

Brother and sister in the most peaceful setting
they have ever known.
Photo: Chris Carson

When I was about 10-12, years old, I spent half of my summers at Camp Stewart on the Guadalupe.  I participated in sports like tennis and golf among other things.  We were trained in outdoors actvities as well, such as: archery, horseback riding, riflery, hiking, camping, and of course canoeing.  We learned a lot of techniques including how to flip and re-enter a canoe, the J-stroke, and how to work together in a tandem canoe. None of these things were helpful during the events that were about to occur.

Last July (2015), I took a Guadalupe River canoe trip with my family.  I thought it was a fun idea.  I had been trying to take my son Cole (who had just turned 10) on this trip to do some fishing the summer before and didn’t get a chance to do so.  This time, Cole wanted his 11 year old sister to go with us. 

I don’t generally like to be outnumbered with these two, so I spoke with my wife and agreed that we would drop the fishing portion of the expedition and just take an easy going, serene canoe trip with the entire family including Cody (the 4 year old). 

Before we left, I had a safety talk with the two older kids.  In this talk, I covered all the basics. I told them that we were going to the river and that it could be a dangerous place and that no matter what happened, if there was an emergency they were to swim to shore.  I told them they would keep their life vests on at all times and listen and do exactly what we say when we say. As it usually goes with talks like this; it began to get out of control with their descriptions of what they would do if something happened.  I brought them back to reality by telling them to listen and that these could possibly be life or death situations.

Guadalupe River
Photo: Bryan Taylor

We borrowed a canoe from a friend and went to Big Foot Canoes on the Upper Guadalupe, where we rented a second canoe. This is a beautiful working cattle ranch on the Guadalupe that also rents Canoes.  I went there years ago when they used to let you camp there and fish all night. Once everything was paid for, we were transported to Nichol’s Landing upriver where Spring Branch road crosses the Guadalupe. 

After getting our gear situated we thanked the driver and the gentleman that rode with us for helping us get everything down the trail to the water.  They had been talking about a particular chute that went around a rapid toward the end of the trip and weather it was blocked by debris.  He said it might be fun for the family and would wait and let us know if it was blocked or not. We shook hands and I said that would be great.

I drug the canoes half way or more into the water and got everyone situated.  My daughter Caitlyn and my wife Laura were in the canoe we rented from Bigfoot and I was in the longer one we borrowed from our friends.  I shoved the girls out into the water first, and they got off to a great start.

Immediately upon pushing our own canoe into the water and entering myself, Cody began freaking out.  We had him down in the bottom of the canoe sitting on a folding seat designed to fit a canoe with a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) on top of it.  He also had one of the struts of the canoe in front of him that he could hold onto. Of coarse all of the kids were wearing their PFD’s as well. But, all of this was no comfort to Cody.  The smallest rocking or weight shift had him screaming.

 

I kept talking to him in an attempt to soothe him.  I paddled up next to Mom hoping that would make him feel better, but no luck.  About 5 minutes into this trip I realized that this was a huge mistake.  Not only was I in a canoe with a screaming, frightened, unconsolable kid, there was no return at this point and we were signed up for about a 2 hour trip!

We hit a few small rapids, which actually helped somewhat, because Cody was a little less nervous

about the calm water now. About 30 minutes in, with a few rapids under our belt, I could see Cody still had a death grip on the strut in front of him, so I pulled over into a small area of the river where there was a gravel bar in about 2 feet of water. 

I let the big kids get out and play.  We had some snacks and drank some water.  I eased Cody into the river, which he did not like one bit, but we played and I showed him how his life vest keeps him floating and he began to enjoy himself.

Guadalupe River
Photo: Bryan Taylor

Caitlyn & Cole had fun floating in the current and making their way back upstream. They skipped rocks and played their games.  Eventually, I started floating Cody a few feet from me to Cole and Caitlyn.  He was having a blast.

As we were packing up our canoes, I noticed that one of the four rivets (back right) that held Caitlyn’s seat fastened to the canoe was broken.  This would come into play later. We packed ourselves back into the canoe, and pressed on.  The kids wanted to stop at every rope swing we saw, but I had to explain to them that they were on private property and had No Trespassing signs next to them; a point that did not go over well.

We saw a lot of pretty cool sights along the way.  I dropped a few pins on my iPhone for places I wanted to fish in the future. With every turn or narrow in the river, we faced more rapids and Cody was cool as a cucumber now.  That little stop we made did the trick.  He was no longer white knuckled and was beginning to enjoy the trip!

When we got to the 281 bridge, things took a turn for the worse.  For most of the rapids Laura went first, but at this one, somehow I ended up in the lead heading into the rapids.  I picked out what seemed to be a smooth line only to figure out that there was a drop in this area of the rapids.  I quickly shouted commands to Cole to re-route us through a safer passage and began frantically signaling Laura to follow.  We barely made it into the chute I was directing us to. As we did, we hit a large boulder which threw Cole half way out of the boat.  Thank God for his athleticism and strength; he was able to stay in the boat. Cody was still sitting in his little roller coaster like set up not phased one little bit. Fortunately, he was facing away from what was happening next. 

Creek falls into Guadalupe River
Photo: Bryan Taylor

We bottomed out in the rapids. Fortunately, the canoe was not quartered or broadside or we would have taken on water.  That would have been precarious to begin with, but with a 4 year old in the boat it could have been horrific in a multitude of ways. As I was trying to push us off the rocks with my oar, I looked over to see Caitlyn fly out of the boat.  Their boat turned broadside and Laura went in too as the canoe rolled over. It never dawned on me until just now,  but I wonder if she went in after my daughter or actually rolled... I will have to ask.

I immediately stood up and pushed the canoe ashore with Cole and Cody still in it.  There was a couple nearby that came to help. She and Cole helped drag my canoe up on an island that was about 6 feet away, while the man went after the other canoe.  I told Cole to stay with Cody, which he couldn’t do as his mother and sister were in trouble and he couldn’t have that. Caitlyn had scampered ashore rather quickly.  When I turned around, Laura screamed “Chris the cooler”.  I dove into the rapids just in time to rescue our wallets, phones, dry clothes, and the keys to my truck.

We lost a few other things, but I was more concerned about the fact that Laura was just sitting in the river with the water crashing around her. Caitlyn was trying to get to Laura and we were both yelling at her to get back to shore. Cole rescued a couple more items out of her canoe. I finally got him back to shore with Cody and the kind lady who was keeping the canoe and Cody safe. Laura sat in the rapids trying to gather herself as she was having wardrobe malfunction and crying.  I finally made my way back to help her up, and she was hysterical.  She lost her wedding ring. 

I looked briefly in the water, but I knew there was no hope for that ring.  It could have been washed away, it could have wedged between rocks, it could have been come off where she finally settled or where she fell out.  There was no telling.  But I was immediately more concerned about the golf ball sized knot on her elbow.  I just knew she had broken something.  She had mobility in her arm, and I knew we were getting close to Bigfoot again.  So, we decided to get moving because we knew she would need some first aid soon.  

Check back next week for Part 2 of this adventure gone wrong.  We have only made it about 3/4 of the trip to this point and I will recap some of the lessons learned, what we did right and what we did wrong.  Thanks for reading and leave a comment if you'd like!

Adventure Files: Too Hot To Fish? NEVER!

Cole is ready for his first trip
 to the salt.

Tomorrow, we leave for the sequel to this trip with the idea that we will try to win some scholarship money for Cole.  We plan to target flounder.  Who knows if success is in our future, but the adventure awaits!  We'll see what happens...


As most trips do, this one began with frustration as I scoured the house time after time, snapping at anyone who wasn’t helping me look for my sunglasses.  My 10 year old son, Cole was excited and had already loaded the truck. He was ready to roll.  Once we finally got on the road, we ran into traffic caused by an accident.  We re-routed and ran into more traffic.  After stopping for drinks, ice, and sunflower seeds, we eased our way out of town, headed south for Port Mansfield, TX.  My nerves calmed and Cole and I settled into what was going to be a great fishing trip.

After clipping the north side of Corpus Christi, we headed south on Hwy 77 and stopped at my favorite Dairy Queen south of Robstown (it’s my favorite because I only stop there on the way to go fishing with my brother), we settled in for the last stretch of the drive through what was and to some extent still is the King Ranch.  I told Cole that when I was a kid I could remember seeing a sign that said something to the effect of “No fuel next 100 miles”.  He was astonished.  I was too, as I learned that civilization apparently moves in at a rate of a mile per year, because there is still a sign, but 35 years later it reads “65 miles”. 

After making our way through the mesmerizing windmills dotted along the road east of Raymondville, we arrived at my brother Chuck’s little weekend getaway cabin.  Chuck was working on his boat trailer when we got there.  We made short work of finishing that off, went to the harbor to pick up the boat and got it ready for the weekend of fishing we were about to be blessed with.

As we went to bed, Cole asked me “Dad, do you think Uncle Chuck was serious about waking us up at 5:30 to go fishing and I’m going to get to drive the boat?”  He was elated to know it was true!

Saturday began at 5:30 AM with a knock at the door. Cole shot out of bed like rocket.  He was dressed and ready by the time I stumbled out of the bathroom. A quick ride to Poco Loco Marina and the boat was in the water.  Cole was behind the wheel under the watchful eye of Uncle Chuck!  Our live bait of choice was croaker, and there was no croaker to be found in port, so we knew there was a cast net in our future.  As we got out of the harbor and throttled up the boat, we began to encounter a choppy bay and Cole yielded the wheel.  Though he didn’t want to admit it, he was a little scared.

Morning run out of Port Mansfield, TX

We stopped along the South Padre Island shoreline of the East Cut to throw the cast net.  After a few throws, a couple boats went by. I looked back to check on the boat which was adrift about 10’ off the shoreline where we beached her and headed further out despite the Power Pole.  We all ran back, Cole was the first one there and decided that he was not going to be a hero when he took three running steps into the water and was chest deep.  Being the second one there, I swam after it and was immediately reminded of how difficult it is to enter a boat from the water without a ladder.  

MENTAL NOTE… All of my future boats will have a ladder (just like Chuck has carried a set of pliers with wire cutters on the boat since 1985, but that’s another story).   

With bait in the baitwell, we headed out to the jetties.  There was a boat where we wanted to fish, so we eased further down the jetties and caught a few White Trout and moved on.  We headed toward the North Cut and flagged down a croaker boat along the way.  We circled him for a few minutes as he was dealing with some issues on board.  We bought a few dozen croaker.  The exchange there was a little dicey with the choppy condtitions.  The larger vessel swamped us with water, but the Mosca Flats Raider handled it with ease.  Cole however was not so sure about that sequence of events. 

Cole fighting his first speck

Finally, we eased into the North Cut after a rough ride and Chuck got us set up.  He told Cole to cast upstream into the current and feather out line giving it a little bounce as it drifted and before he could really finish, he said “Look, see the line going?  There is probably a fish on there.”  He let it run for a few seconds and set the hook.  Cole reeled it in and there was his first Speckled Seatrout.  It was fun to see him learn just as I did from my brother.

Soon he was baiting his own hooks, making his own casts and catching his own fish.  But, as it goes with a 10 year old, inevitably he started doing his own thing and we would have to get him redirected. 

After about 30 or 45 minutes, and a few redirections, Chuck said “Let’s try something different”. He took a rod with a baitcaster and began tossing a 3” Pearl White Gulp! Shrimp around a nearby dock and let him reel it up showing him how to work the bait.  This went on for a few minutes and ultimately Cole got snagged on the dock.  They waded over to it, got the snag out and began fishing from the dock.  At this point, Cole was basically fishing vertically.  He would just drop it in and bounce it off the bottom and walk along the dock so he didn’t have to cast.  A minute or so later, he thought he had a snag.  As he pulled it up, he realized the he caught his first Flounder.  As they landed it, the fish flopped along the dock just ahead of Chuck trying to pick it up. Cole laughed and said “Are you taking my Flounder for a walk?”  Within an hour he caught his first Flounder and his first Trout

As the day wore on and Cole continued to experience success (when he did it the way he was told) and failure (when he lost focus and began doing his own thing), I was amazed to be witnessing the learning curve taught by success and failure.  Even more amazing to me was that this did not keep the distractions at bay.  I guess when you’re 10 years old, casting and reeling is just as fun as catching.  Trying to experience it as an adult through the eyes of a 10 year old is a strange dichotomy. 

Cole's first Flounder

Day 1

We worked several trout holes and probed for flounder along the way. We moved on up the North Cut to a channel that must have been cut for an oil well years ago.  We were attempting with no real luck to sight cast for Redfish.  After that we worked our trout holes again on the way back. 

We had steady success and ended the day with eleven trout and one flounder. We also caught an assortment of the usual hardheads, gar, and skipjack.  After splitting the duties of cleaning fish and cleaning up the boat and getting it ready for day 2, we had some Sausage and BBQ for dinner and relived the tales of the day. 

Day 2 began much like day 1 in that there was no croaker to be found.  So, with our trusty cast net, we headed straight to our trout holes along the North Cut.  As we were pulling into our first spot, a local guide pulled up right behind us and began fishing the same honey hole that all the guides take their clients to fish.  Chuck and Cole headed out to hunt baitfish while I stayed and got a head start on fishing with a Gulp! Shrimp.  I skipped it up under and around the dock we were next to hoping a nice doormat sized flounder was ready for breakfast, but no such luck!

While Chuck and Cole caught a bunch of bait, I landed a dink trout that needed to grow a little more, so I threw it back.  I could hear the guide giving his lessons and directing his customers.  About the time Chuck got back with the bait, the guide lowered the motor and took off.  I switched to live bait and put the first trout in the box on the next cast.  We joked that the guide saw he was about to take a butt whoopin’ from us and didn’t want to be showed up by a redneck with a cast net in front of the family that just bought bait and paid him $500 to put them on the fish.

Day 2

We put 7 fish in the box in short order.  I know, because I counted.  I think that jinxed us though, because the bite slowed after I counted, so we moved on.  We fished the middle of the cut, the mouth of the channel we fished the day before and further up the west shoreline of the North Cut.  

After a couple hours of coming up empty there, we came back and set up in our favorite trout hole and finished out our limits.  We stayed catching and releasing as the bites continued.  We never got a real total, but I figure we must undersize or over our bag limit. 

have had 15 keeper trout and we probably released 10 that were either

As the day was moving along quickly and we still had a long drive back to San Antonio, we left the trout biting (something I have never done before) and made about a 40 minute run to the jetties at the East Cut to see if we could hook up with Mr. Redfish.

31" Redfish

We pulled up to our spot and put lines in.  Almost immediately I started getting hits.  I slowly bounced my live mullet and the hits got harder. Finally, I had a fish on!  I set the hook and started reeling.  Before I had two cranks on the reel the drag started screaming.  That fish had me running laps around the boat, which is not easy with a 10 year old on board that just wants to see everything. I chased and he kept taking line.  As I got him close to the boat, off he went and thus began Round 2.  This time, he took a little more line and I let him run a bit.  When he got back to the boat he wasn’t ready for round 3.  Chuck, however was ready with the net and I was glad because I wasn’t sure I had a round 3 in me either.  This was my PERSONAL BEST Drum at 31” in length and weighing about 11 pounds. I must have put on a pretty good show, because the guys fishing from the jetties were cheering for me as I took my spot on the deck at the bow of the boat for a photo op. Poor Cole never got his line in the water before all that broke loose.

After we got Cole fishing, I baited up again and tossed it out and began working it back.  I got a few hits and jerked one out of some unsuspecting fish’s mouth.  I guess I was still a little punchy after that fight. The next cast I reeled in a slot red which put up a good fight, but nothing like the first one. About 10 minutes later, I hooked up again and the fight was on!  Again! 

41" Redfish and release  #CPR

This one, I knew, had to be bigger.  This fish took what seemed like endless amounts of line.  I recall Chuck wondering if it might be a Tarpon. He had me running laps again for awhile.  Then Chuck suggested I let Cole fight him for awhile, so we exchanged rods and I reeled his up and grabbed the video camera.  As I was taking video, he said “Take it.”  I put down the camera and watched him a bit longer as the fish kept taking line until he said “Take it” again. I took the rod back and the fish took me to the stern and tried to get me tangled up with the motor and the Power Pole.  Then back to the front and back around again.  I finally got him close to the surface and he swirled and went back down.  It looked like a red, but we didn’t see the tell tale spot, so we were thinking maybe this was a Black Drum.  What ever it was we knew it was big.  I fought hard to bring him back to the surface and noticed a tiny little dot near it’s tail.  I joked later that he had outgrown his dot.  After one more dive, and several tries with the net, we finally landed this monster redfish.  He barely fit in the net. 

Again I took my stage at the front of the boat to the cheers and congratulations of the onlookers from the jetties.  One asked what its length was and I proudly proclaimed it to be 41”.  My new and current Personal Best Red Drum was now 41” and I have no idea how much he weighed.  The scale on the Boga Grip bottomed out at 15 lbs. I would venture to say it was double that.

Cole's first Redfish  27 3/4"

After releasing the biggest fish I have ever caught, I sat on the cooler and drank a Gatorade in the 100+ degree heat of August, catching my breath once again.  I was trying to recall who it was that just told me it was too hot to fish a week earlier.  Cole hooked up with his own Redfish.  It gave him a pretty good fight that I enjoyed watching, but was no match for the strong 10 year old.  Cole’s fish measured in at 27 ¾”. 

We called it a day and headed in proud of our catch, and satisfied with a great fishing trip!  Chuck cleaned the fish again while I hosed down the boat and packed up. 

We said our good byes and thanked Chuck for a great fishing trip.  Cole was already asleep by the time we left Port Mansfield which takes all of about 3 minutes.  As HWY 186 turns east back toward Raymondville, I saw a pair of White Wing Dove fly across the road in front of me headed South and realized… Dove Season is right around the corner!