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Fish Stories A4
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Island Moon Weekly
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Caribbean Sea Pigs A7
Marker 37 Tournament A11
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April 3, 2014
The Island in Texas with PINS OIL.
Around The Island
By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com
Next Publication Date: 4/10/2014
Schlitterbahn Parking and Floating Building
By Dale Rankin
For decades Islanders have heard that one of these days The Island is going to explode with growth. As we begin the fourth month of 2014 it is looking like this may be “those days.” Here is a look at some of the projects now underway and their progress.
This time they left the whole car
Schlitterbahn. Project developer Paul Schexnailder told the Island Strategic Action Committee Tuesday night that there have been twenty two days of work lost to weather but that the park is still on schedule for a June opening, if there are no more weather delays.
What happened to the good old days when college students just wore big fur coats and ate goldfish to get into the fraternity of their choice? Maybe we should look on the bright side; at least they’re not spray painting bad words on the water tower.
Naked Men of Kleberg
Other information included: It will take approximately fifteen days to pour the remainder of the “rivers” at the site. The first two floors of the main building will be ready for the park’s opening day. The remainder will be finished after the first summer season and when complete will include three restaurants and convention space. A hotel will be located on the south and west sides of the building.
Above: Floating building moving to the Island Left: Size of the floating building in red compared to the main building currently under construction at Schlitterbahn
Schlitterbahn Parking. Schexnailder also said that when the park opens there will initially be 800 parking spaces located on eight acres,
Projects continued on A14
Beach Cleanup Continues
Spoil Island Cleanup Set for Saturday, April 12 Vic Schreck Padre Island Yacht Club
The Spring Spoil Island Cleanup is April 12th and there is a need for boats, Island residents, and others to volunteer for the clean up effort. Folks should arrive at the Padre Island Yacht Club, at 13402 White Cap Blvd at 8:00 a.m. either by boat or car where boats will be assigned and gloves and trash bags will be provided. Dumpsters will be located at the Padre Island Yacht Club, and boat ramps at Cobo De Bara and Cartagena.
By Dale Rankin
Lunch - hamburgers, chips, soft drinks, etc. will be served at the PIYC Club at noon.
As of Wednesday evening crews from the Texas General Land Office are still working to clean up oil on beaches at Padre Island National Seashore which is closed to vehicles.
Everyone’s help is needed and the weather looks like it will cooperate. We’ll see you there.
Kemp’s Ridley Nesting Will Begin Soon
A little Island history
Point Penascal - Google Maps
A drive down the beach in Kleberg County this week found a gaggle of naked men taking advantage of the lack of law enforcement before the planned takeover of that beach by Nueces County. The short arm of the law in Kleberg County is not able to reach all the way over from Kingsville so for years the Naked Men of Kleberg have taken advantage of this. But alas, all things must come to an end and running around naked on Kleberg Beach is one of them. So get your reverse lobster tans while you can boys.
Stand up and be counted If you are not registered to vote there is still time to do it before the runoff elections on May 27. Island voters made a good showing in the primary and their numbers were decisive in the most heated race on the ballot, for Nueces County Commissioner Precinct 4. The County Commissioners Court controls the budget to the Nueces County Coastal Parks Board which runs the public piers on North Padre Island and in Port Aransas. If you would like to see more public amenities there this is the election to help make it happen. You have until Monday April 28 to register, and it can be done online or by mail. If you don’t vote you forfeit your right to complain.
PointPenascal Texas
Directions
And say hello if you see us Around The Island.
Save
Park officials say they expect the beaches to be open by the weekend. While they are closed to traffic Bird Island Basin boat ramp, all park campgrounds, and the Malaquite Visitor Center remain open for full use.
Cleanup continued on A3
https://www.google.com/maps/preview?q=27.26254,+-97.42443&z
It Didn’t Look That Far on the Map
Explore this area
By Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. Chief, Division G etting around of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery National Park Service Padre Island National Seashore donna_shaver@nps.gov Search nearby
Traffic ·Bicycling ·Terrain
Endangered Kemp’s ridley turtles will begin nesting in Texas this month. Sometimes nesting begins during the first week in April and sometimes not until the second, third, or even fourth weeks. Although nesting just began in Mexico, the water is still cold here so it will likely be a few days before nesting begins here. Hopefully they hold off crawling ashore until
Turtles continued on A8
Point Penascal
Editor’s note: This story by J.G. Burr first appeared in Texas Game and Fish Magazine in 1945. It chronicles the tale of a couple of tenderfoots who sought to go by boat to the land bridge in the Laguna Madre in 1928 by skiff and walk to the southern Laguna Madre, not knowing they had twenty miles of soft mud and sand to cross. We thank Dr. Richard Watson for sending it. This is part one. By J.G. Burr
Beach time This is the sweet spot of the Island season and beach driving has been very good due to the high tides. So get out there and get some sand on you folks.
Year 17, Issue 520
Update on Island Projects
Grab a bucket full of baby oil everybody, it looks like the beach oil is going to be around for a while. As oil spills go this isn’t a big one, but it’s enough to ruin a roomful of carpet when you get home, especially if you have a big ole beach dog.
We’re not sure if it’s some kind of rite of initiation or something but having students from TAMUCC crash their cars into the gate at the Padre Island Yacht Club is getting to be a regular occurrence. The first time it happened the driver took off but had the courtesy to leave his license plate behind on the ground. He eventually fessed up and paid for the damage but about the time the clubbers got a temporary gate up along came another student and, wham! took out the gate again. They also left the license plate this time but the difference was it was still attached to the car. Dave Ziler reports that the car was neatly parked in the Yacht Club lot with a purse still in, right next to the temporary gate and the dumpster, which the driver also took out.
Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
A Kemp's ridley re-enters the Gulf of Mexico after nesting at Padre Island 1 of 1 National Seashore.
In 1928 there arose a great clamor against the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, which centered around the fisheries of the Laguna Madre. This long body of water parallels Padre Island which is about 110
miles long extending from near Corpus Christi to Port Isabel. For many years the Laguna output of reddish, sea trout and drum totaled approximately one-half of the littoral catch of the coast, despite occasional loss of fish by high salt content induced by evaporation resulting from drought and hot weather. With the recurrence of these periodical losses of fish coastal inhabitants were disposed to become vocal and sometimes abusive of State administrations. In other hot days during July and August, where passes afford abundant egress and ingress, most fish leave the bays for cooler water of the Gulf; but not so in the upper M ap data © 2014 Google
2m i
History continued on A6
4/2/2014 12:19
A 2
Island Moon
April
3,
2014
The Travelling Moon Gets Around
Bird Island Sunset Photo by Ronnie Sheas
WHERE THE LOCALS SHOP
at the Esplande
1702 HWY 181, N Portland, TX (361) 643-2129 140 E. Ave. G, Port Aransas, TX (361) 749-4484 501 S. Alister, Port Aransas, TX (361) 749-6994
Monika and Bavaria are at the Hotel Resort, the water is a perfect turquoise blue on a white sandy beach and the food is great, trip of a lifetime… Inset: Bavaria and Ralf are swimming with the Dolphin’s in Curacao in the open ocean. We had to show the Moon to the dolphin’s. Swimming and diving with dolphin’s for a whole week, it does not get any better… water and weather just spectacular, we took some sunshine home with us
JESSE'S LIQUOR
13947 SPID, Corpus Christi, TX (361) 949-8961 1623 Wildcat Dr., Portland, TX (361) 643-2300
April 3rd - April 9th Smirnoff 80* Vodka 1.75L for $16.99 Jose Cuervo Silver Gold .750ml for $14.99
Pilots (left to right) Kyle, Trent, Kirk and Taylor are headed to Pensacola and Kingsville for their next assignment. Photo by Mary Craft.
Palm Bay Winter Texans enjoying the Aurora Arts Theatre Production of “The Marvelous Wonderettes.”
Eagle Scout
Bag Hero
Seagram's 7 Whiskey 1.75L for $18.99 Corona 6 pack for $7.99 Sutter Home 4 packs for $4.49 Come see our large selection of vapor products. Family Owned & Operated since 1987 OPEN Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.
By Neil McQueen
My son, Everett Wainright (center with green hat), from the island BSA troop 949 together with other troop members completed his Eagle Scout project. He logged close to 300 hours for the planning and implementation of the observation deck seen below. The deck was built on the campus of FBHS to be used by the instructors of his JROTC unit. He is pictured below with his project coach Carl Tennison (in orange) as well as other adult leaders and scouts as well as his father Patrick Wainright. Cheryl
RAY HERRERA DIRECTOR Marketing Operations Public Relations
Www.padrevet.com
361-949-8200
CHRISTI KRESSER VETERINARIAN Voted Best 2006 -13
Skip the Plastic is pleased to announce our April Bag Hero, Rae Mooney with Skip the Plastic Port Aransas. Rae and others in Skip the Plastic Port Aransas have been raising peoples' awareness about problems caused by plastic shopping bags through screenings of "Bag It" and discussions with city officials. In a recent City Council meeting, Mayor McMullin announced that possible solutions to the plastic bag problem will be on the agenda for the April 17th Council meeting.
Prom
A young man is asking his girlfriend to the prom in an unusual way! — at Padre Island National Seashore.
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Dear Moon Monkeys, I just got my Moon. I see your boot in Blue Bonnets on the front page, and I raise you 2 poodles. Photo taken in my front yard on Jackfish. Keeping Texas traditional! Tracey Siebold
April 3, 2014
Moon Monkeys
Island Moon
Letters to the Editor Blue Angels
Mike Ellis, Founder
The Blue Angels were in Kingsville Saturday and Sunday at NAS Kingsville. They do stuff like what's in the picture.
Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin
Looks like magic. Brings up some questions. . . (satire)
Classifieds
1. Uh, you had your camera upside down?
Arlene Ritley
2. Which one was flying backward?
Design/Layout
3. When flying backward, where does the exhaust come out?
Jeff Craft Contributing Writers
4. Doesn't it mess up their streamlining, flying backward like that?
Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox
5. Can a normal person fly backward, or do you have to be an angel?
Mary Craft
6. Is that plane number 6, or 9?
Maybeth Christiansen
7. Which way is the sky?
Jay Gardner
8. Are, "blue," angels, angels who are feeling sad?
Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis
9. Do the Army and the Marines have Green Angels?
Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk
Crossword Puzzle Location
Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin
Dear Moonie,
Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Office Security/Spillage Control
As a rule I don’t like to complain about anything but I do gets kicks out of complaining about the Republican Party and their propaganda of, “To h--- with the environment and to h--- with those that receive foods stamps,” attitude. My complaint today is about the crossword puzzles location on the newspaper. It should be on the bottom of the paper with the clues directly above so that it can be folded into a quarter of the page, placed on your knee, then put your brains to work trying to solve it. Bobbie Kimbrell Bobbie,
Riley P. Dog Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor Dale Rankin About the Island Moon
The Island Moon is published every Thursday, Dale Rankin, Editor / Publisher. Total circulation is 10,000 copies. Distribution includes delivery to 4,000 Island homes, free distribution of 3,000 copies in over 50 Padre Island businesses and condos, as well as 600 copies distributed in Flour Bluff, 1,400 copies on Mustang Island and Port Aransas businesses. News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads, payments, etc. may be left at the Moon Office.
The Island Moon Newspaper 15201 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 250 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
Where to Find The Island Moon
Lisabella’s Restaurant Pioneer RV Park Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A
Port A Glass Studio The Gaff Wild Horse Saloon Tarpon Ice House
North Padre
Miss K’s Catering & Bistro
All Stripes Stores
Amano
Whataburger
Felder Gallery
Doc’s Restaurant
Island Woman Boutique Coast Club Coffee Waves Moby Dicks Spanky’sLiquor IGA Grocery Store Port A Business Center Carter Pharmacy
CVS
Snoopy’s Pier Isle Mail N More Island Italian Ace Hardware Holiday Inn Texas Star (Shell) Jesse’s Liquor Padre Isles Country Club
San Juan’s Taqueria
Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant
Wash Board Laundry Mat
Subway
Port A Parks and Rec Public Library Chamber of Commerce Duckworth Antiques Back Porch Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place The Flat’s Lounge Giggity’s Stripes @ Cotter & Station
If Ping Pong is your game then Monday is your day. Instructor Doc Cannedy is holding a Table Tennis class each Monday from 5-9 pm at the Ethel Eyerly Center at 654 Graham Road in Flour Bluff. There are classes for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced players. The cost is $3 per session or $10 per month, or $40 for a family of four. The phone number at the center is 361 826-2330.
Distribution
Port Aransas
Putting the Ping in the Pong Every Monday
Island Tire And all Moon retail advertisers WB Liquor
Flour Bluff H.E.B. Liquid Town Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station
Gratitude Gift Shop
Police Station
Keepers Pier House
Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
Thanks for the suggestion, we've changed the layout so you can do the crossword on your knee.
Texas is the Second Worst State for Tax Help There’s no shame in admitting it – many of us would rather pay someone to do our taxes than spend the 20-plus hours the IRS estimates it takes to do our own. But much like State & Local Tax Rates, the accessibility, affordability and effectiveness of tax helps varies significantly from state to state, according to a new WalletHub report released this week. WalletHub compared the 50 states as well as the District of Columbia in terms of seven key metrics – ranging from the number of accountants per 1,000 jobs to their average workload and hourly compensation – in order to identify the geographical sweet spots for tax assistance across the country. Here is where Texas ranks. Texas – 2nd Worst State for Tax Help • 19th – Accountants Per 1,000 Jobs • 43rd – Accounting Job Openings Per Capita • 47th – Affordability of Tax Help • 16th – Returns Filed Per Accountant • 48th – Refund Amount • 36th – Percentage of Paid Returns
New Events Schedule for Coastal Bend A group from the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class has developed an event schedule called “What’s up Corpus Christi” which is a comprehensive events calendar available as a Free Android and iPhone application. The calendar can also be accessed at www. whatsupcc.org. Community members and/ or businesses can use the website to easily post about their upcoming events, free, if it meets the general event criteria. The group also has a Facebook page where you can find the daily events posted at www.facebook.com/ whatsupcorpuschristi. The What’s up Corpus Christi team will be out at Padre Island throughout spring break actively encouraging beach-goers to download the app and find out about all the local fun and concerts happening that week and all-year-round! Please download the free Corpus Christi event application from your App Store.
Lucky Rubber Duck Race Set for April 19 After all the eggs are collected at the Kiwanis Community Easter Egg Hunt at Billish Park on Saturday, April 19, the Rotarian ducks will line up. The Rotarian Lucky Rubber Duck Race is on. Some Lucky Duck will get pulled from the canal and its owner/sponsor will win the Grand Prize of $1000 on a VISA gift card, a BIG screen TV, or a weekend at a South Padre Island Vacation Condo, or another of the many prizes donated for the event. The event is sponsored by the Island Rotarians and tickets can be purchased from any Rotarian between now and then. Tickets are also available at Star Advantage Insurance Agency, 15201 SPID, Suite 140 or Island Architects, 14493 SPID. Tickets are $5 and enter one duck in the race; $20 -enters five ducks in the race; $100 enters 30 ducks in the race. Proceeds benefit Rotary Community and International Service Projects including eradicating polio worldwide!
Ethel Eyerly Center to Re-Open Ethel Eyerly Center at 654 Graham Rd. is celebrating a Grand Re-Opening of its facility after its recent renovation. It will be held on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 from 2-5 p.m. A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held with invited city officials expected to participate. The community is invited to come and enjoy the festivities. Refreshments will be served. There will be demonstrations by the members of Line Dancing, Zumba, Table Tennis and Chair Volleyball. Music will brighten the event by a DJ playing a variety of tunes for all ages. For the bargain hunters, there will be a Rummage Sale by the Center’s AARP Chapter. A Health Fair will offer free Eye Exams, Hearing Exams, Blood Pressure readings and Diabetes Health information. For further information or inquiries, please call 361-826-2330.
It’s Game Time! South Texas Area Athletes are Ready for the Spring Games Competition Annual Special Olympics Texas Event is April 5
A3
Did Ya Hear?
by Mary Craft
mkay512@aol.com
New Advertisers NavyArmy Community Credit Union is now offering an auto rate starting as low as 3.25%. Offer ends April 30th. Call 800-6223631.
Business Briefs The Annual Texas Sandfest weekend in Port A will start Friday, April 11th at noon and end Sunday at 6 pm. It will feature sand sculptures by fifteen well known artists. The vendors spots were sold out so expect many foods and crafts to enjoy. There will be live music from the beginning until the judging starts at 3 pm Sunday. You can catch some shade and a brew at the Beer Garden sponsored by Stingray's Taphouse & Grille. Bron's Beach Carts will be providing free shuttle service. The weekend pass to get in to the see the master sculptures up close is $5 and kids 11 and under are free. The PI Dog Group meets monthly for dog and owner activities, training, education and fun. The next activity will be on Saturday, April 5th at 9 am in the Briscoe Pavilion parking lot for a beach walk. The group is free and open to everyone, visit padreislanddogpark.com or contact Bev (bevhoffman@aol.com) or Lyn (lyn.edler@ gmail.com). Trinity-By-The-Sea Episcopal Church has their 2nd Time Around Thrift Shop open Saturdays 9 am – noon. They are located at Ave E and Trojan Street in Port A. The 17th annual Padre Island Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 19 at Billish Park. The fun starts at 11 am and the hunt is divided by age groups. It is free and everyone is invited. Sweet Swirl LLC is being sold due to transfer orders from the Navy. The family owned business (not franchised) is for sale for $250,000 and is listed in Craigslist. The POA is getting estimates for the placement of culverts on Encantada. The Sunset Sounds starts back up with its monthly free outdoor concert at the Patsy Jones Amphitheater in Roberts Point Park in Port Aransas 7 pm – 9 pm. Bring a chair, food and drinks. The event is dog and kid friendly with a playground nearby. On Friday, April 19th the Free Beer Band will entertain and on Friday, May 9th enjoy Triggerfish. The 2014 Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup takes place Saturday, April 26th for the St. Jo Island cleanup site. Volunteers can sign up online at www.texasadoptabeach.org to take part in a fun-filled day at the beach that makes a difference. This is the nation's biggest all-volunteer coastal cleanup. Island Italian Restaurant now has gluten free pizza and they deliver. Reservations are recommended during the live music performances. Enjoy the music of John Eric Thursdays, Brian Winfrey Fridays and Ruben Limas Saturdays. Call 949-7737. The Back Porch in Port A has live music every Friday and Saturday and are open daily noon until 2 am. Mark your calendar for Gary P. Nunn Friday, April 11th.
Cleanup continued from A1 The oil from last week’s barge collision in the Houston Ship Channel was first reported by shrimpers about ten miles north of Port Aransas on Friday night. By Saturday it had begun arriving on beaches from Port Aransas to Kleberg County and cleanup began. The heaviest concentration reported by the GLO was at Mile Marker 58 with concentrations diminishing southward. Some dead birds and large patches of oil were found on beaches just south of Packery Channel on Saturday. At PINS Dr. Donna Shaver says she does not believe the oil will impact the turtle nesting season which began this week. Residents, tourists and others who may observe tar balls are urged to refrain from attempting their own clean-up activities and are asked to call 361939-6349 to report the exact locations of any sightings.
On your mark, get set, go for the gold! Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) – South Texas area athletes are getting ready for the Spring Games competition on April 5. The Games will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. with Opening Ceremonies, immediately followed by athletics (track and field) events at 9:45 a.m. The Games will end with a Victory Dance and Closing Ceremonies in the gymnasium around 2:30 p.m. The day-long competition will take place at Cabaniss Field, located at 3062 Oso Drive. All events are free to attend and open to the public. Volunteers are needed to cheer on our athletes and be fans in the stands at the Games. Help is also needed to set-up and breakdown the facility, assist with judging, scoring, results and awards. For more information on volunteer opportunities, contact Alice Fulton-Garza (agarza@sotx.org) in the South Texas area office at 361.857.5679. About Special Olympics Texas Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) is a privately funded non-profit organization that changes lives through the power of sport by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect. SOTX provides continuing opportunities for more than 44,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout the Lone Star State to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship.
Creating Dreams for Island Homeowners since 1987
• • • • •
New Homes Remodels Additions Repairs No job too big or too small
Call 774-7043 for estimate www.billgoinhomes.com
Island Moon
A 4
April 3, 2014
Backwater Adventures The Winds of Change
On the Rocks By Jay Gardner About the time that they closed the National Seashore due to the Houston Ship Channel oil spill, I figured I had better learn a little bit more about it. Having gone through the 40 hour HAZWOPER training, I learned a little bit about Incident Command (IC) and dealing with the press. In fact, my instructors (Dave Jensen, Carl Christensen, and Roy Coons) made sure that I was Incident Commander for my classes’ field spill drill. One of the points of the practice drill is to make sure that an emergency comes up (spill catches fire, someone gets hurt) during a critical time during the drill, and just when you have that glazed look in your eye trying to work out three steps ahead, that you get handed a phone with a fake press member on the other line that is trying to out-scoop Ted Koppel and the rest of the journalistic west. Basically they throw 47 questions at you and don’t let you finish getting the answer fully out. It’s part of the learning curve. The correct response is to hang up on the press person and get back to work saving lives and protecting natural resources.
By Joey Farah surface area. Some of the things that make the marsh most productive also make it the most vulnerable. He said (on Tuesday) that they had already de-mobilized the southern unit staged at Brownsville, so they didn’t expect much of an impact down there. From the various graphs I pulled off Ripcharts.com, I agree with that statement. I don’t think it’s going to go much farther south at this point. The Seashore was closed as a pre-caution, and I think they’re on top of it at this point. Heck, compared to IXTOC and other spills and oil I’ve seen on the beach, this one isn’t dire, although Newstead did report a fair amount of coated shorebirds, which is bad juju. What I didn’t agree with on his assessment was that he thought the worst was over and that there wouldn’t be much more hitting the beaches. I don’t buy that at all. From what I saw on Ripcharts, our nearshore and longshore currents are in the process of changing direction. This has caused a massive “swirl” right in front of the Coastal Bend, and that stuff is just spinning around out there, waiting for someplace to land.
Farah’s Fishing Adventures This year Winter decided to cling on just a little longer than normal. We seem to have begun the winds of March now that we are starting April. With the increase of winds anglers should use the gusts to their advantage. Wind is the most influencing factor in tidal movement in the Laguna Madre’ and Baffin Bay. Baitfish of all sizes are pushed towards shorelines and structure and predatory game fish will follow. Success has come with drifts along changes of bottom structure and water color change. Live shrimp has become very available now at the bait camps, and with that the waves of anglers have ventured out as well. The drum fisherman have continued to wack and stack but for those looking for that rush of a big redfish or the thrill of a trophy trout, break out the corks. Popping Corks with live shrimp is a Texas Tradition that is fun and very effective. I mentioned the Legions Popping Cork over at Marker 37 last week and have continued to stay trout, reds, and drum under these corks. Experiment with various sizes, brands, and noise types. In very dirty water use a short leader, fish will come up to the cork and not see a bait on a long drop. In clear to normal conditions I prefer a leader long enough to reach just above the bottom, and always pinch a small split shot weight over the hook to keep the shrimp in the Strike Zone. I don’t like those big shrimp, but would rather have a medium to small shrimp when using a cork. When you have a large shrimp hook it through the last segment of the tail, it will stay on longer and stay alive with more casts. When the wind is cranking I like to add a piece of
Bruce with a nice red as waves of shrimp flood the Laguna Madre redfish have come out to play. the boat or tighten the drag as tight as it will go. Many times just a difference in line weight will decide whether you are catching fish or not. Try to downsize your line class and action of tackle to match the smaller baits that have been as successful as the swarms of adolescent bait covers the flats. Under the lights trout have been thick. Most of the Island Residents have been throwing in vain as smart trout see every detail and only nip the baits. The secret is light tackle, fluorocarbon leaders, and small 2”DOA shrimp and DOA TINY TERROR EYES. Roy’s Bait and Tackle has a large selection of these small and very dangerous lures. Go small to catch big.
Oil in Paradise Currents along the Texas Coast I sort of felt this way at the beginning of running the spill progress down the other day with the TXGLO IC, with transfers and being put on hold, but I promptly got a call back from the PR center and they answered all my questions about the spill. Well, I only had three simple questions, 1) How much of the spilled oil has been cleaned up so far? 2) How far down the coast do you expect it to travel? and 3) how long do you estimate it will be hitting the beaches? What I got was more than I expected. So, it appears since the winds shifted back and forth out of the north and south before they could get it boomed off, a “fair amount” of the 160,000 gallons escaped re-capture, and a majority of it went onto the shorelines and marshes. This is the hardest oil to re-capture, due to soft muds access, vegetation, and plain
I think we’ll be seeing that stuff up and down the coast most of the season in varying amounts. At least it’s easier to pick up on the beach, but the damage has been done in the middle coast marsh. What I’m really worried about is that it made into the bay systems. There are massive oyster reef restoration projects being constructed right now on both sides of the spill. One gallon of oil can contaminate like a million gallons of water, and oysters are filter feeders. I’m afraid we may have some contamination issues this next oyster season. Hope I’m wrong. Sorry for the gloom and doom folks, at the end of the day nature will recover and we’ll be right back in the normal mess that we usually stand in, out here on the rocks.
Ethanol and Hypoxia: The Unintended Consequences of Good Intentions Harte Research Institute at the center of studying of dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico The well-intended federal mandate to require increasing levels of ethanol in gasoline was designed as a way to reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil. As more and more Midwest farmland is converted to corn production to meet the demand for ethanol, large areas in the Gulf of Mexico suffer from hypoxia. Hypoxia, or low levels of dissolved oxygen, has been linked to increased amounts of decaying algae, often fueled by increases in fertilizer run off from fields. Hypoxic areas, also known as dead zones, can be stressful and even lethal to bottom-dwelling organisms such crabs, clams and shrimp, which can leave less food for fish and a less productive ecosystem.
The world’s leading authorities on Gulf hypoxia, Dr. Nancy Rabalais, Executive Director of Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Dr. Jim Ringelman, Former Director of Great Plains Regional Conservation for Ducks Unlimited, and Dr. Larry McKinney, Director of Harte Research Institute (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (see video: http://youtu.be/4C5F4rZ_MzQ) will continue to connect the links between increased corn production for ethanol and growing Gulf dead zones. Learn more about dead zones at tamucc.edu. http://tamucc.edu/news/2013/07/071713%20 Gulf%20Dead%20Zones.html#.Uys42vldW4I
Tides of the Week
Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) April 3-9 2014
Day
High /Low
Tide Time
Height in Feet
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
Moon Visible
Th
3
High
7:59 AM
1.7
7:17 AM Rise 10:04 AM
11
3
7:47 PM Set 11:50 PM
F
4
Low
12:21 AM
0.1
7:16 AM Rise 10:52 AM
4
High
9:11 AM
1.7
7:48 PM
Sa
5
Low
1:10 AM
0.1
7:15 AM Set 12:42 AM
5
High
10:29 AM
1.6
7:48 PM Rise 11:42 AM
Su
6
Low
2:05 AM
0.2
7:14 AM Set 1:29 AM
6
High
11:40 AM
1.6
7:49 PM Rise 12:32 PM
M
7
Low
3:10 AM
0.3
7:12 AM Set 2:14 AM
7
High
12:29 PM
1.5
7:49 PM Rise 1:23 PM
Tu
8
Low
4:22 AM
0.4
7:11 AM Set 2:55 AM
8
High
12:59 PM
1.5
7:50 PM Rise 2:14 PM
W
9
Low
5:34 AM
0.5
7:10 AM Set 3:33 AM
9
High
1:17 PM
1.4
7:50 PM Rise 3:05 PM
9
Low
7:50 PM
1.0
9
High
11:16 PM
1.2
18 26 35 45 54 64
Friday I got pictures and texts from shrimpers out in the Gulf that oil was getting in their nets and was Cooperate team building trip gone wild! Drum are 15miles north of Port A. Coast Guard was notified and I assumed that they still strong in the intracoastal canal would take action to prevent the oil from coming in the bay. I am sure that FISHBITES, or PROCURE scent additive, this will make a big difference. Long casts and hard somewhere there are piles of oil absorption pops is a must, but do not get into a rhythm, barriers waiting in a warehouse. Why would let the cork remain still every now and then. they wait for the oil to wash up on the beach and Fishermen should not get the corks close to the public to call in BEFORE they did anything others, spread them out and walk the flat as a about it? When they come out they just took a team. Loud lines of crashing corks will scare look and verified that YES IT IS HERE. The fish away. The rocks in Baffin are full of fish and GLO came out and scooped up the dead birds are good for a real mix of species. Remember and some of the oil, but no one was concerned to be respectful of others and give them a wide about the oil that came in the pass. I could see birth, the circus antics out on the water the last rainbow swirls mixing in the current around the few weeks has been unbelievable. I have seen JFK on Sunday. I scooped up small tar balls up some so called “professionals” lately that preach about TRACKING BIG TROUT barrel through boats and wade fishermen alike only to shut down and jump out in front of anglers. Make some good karma for yourself and get away from the crowd and concentrate on fishing small structure. Explore and find areas that are not receiving heavy fishing pressure. With the stronger winds many areas that are protected will see a pile-up of fishermen looking for the last bit of clean water. Don’t be afraid of dirty water. If there is bait present, use the corks to attract fish to your bait and use darker soft plastics with a vibrating tail. The high winds from the southeast will start a southerly current moving from Mansfield way. This will trigger the tide runners from the south to enter the Baffin area and pump up the chances of you hooking that trophy trout.
Go Small to Get Big Results The swarms of small baitfish and shrimp out in the bay continue to make catching fish on large baits difficult in between lunar feedings. I have found having some DOA CAL soft plastics to throw when the Shrimp and popping corks are on fire for bite is off has put fish in the boat when no speckled trout one is catching. The CAL bait is smaller than the standard soft plastic, the size of mud minnow. Large enough to throw and thread a standard jig head in, the DOA CAL bait and down the Packery Channel to “Verify” that comes in so many colors it is hard to make a it come into the bay. Nothing happened at all, choice. I have been sticking to natural patterns nothing. I suppose all those other oil tankers and in the clear waters of the Lagoon. When the cruise ships that sat out of the port of Galveston lunar fishing bite heats up I quickly switch to had priority over the Texas Coastline. What we the larger AIR HEAD baits to catch big mature saw this week was as one of my surfer friends fish when they are aggressive. Some of the described, “just collateral damage.” We have specialty baits I have mentioned in the last few so many safety issues in everything we do to weeks from DOA are small. The lighter weight protect nature, many of which are just a bunch of these baits are hard to cast compared to of bull, but when a serious and obvious disaster some of the large top waters and big plastics. happens big business can turn eyes and ears with Rig up a light action spinning rod and spool the influence of money. We did get lucky this up your reel with 2LB diameter Braided Line. time and there was not as much spill damage This might sound too light but this thin braid that one could see. What we can’t see or what oil will actually give you the strength of 12lb settled along the beaches in tiny amounts may mono or more. The casting with this rig is out have a bigger effect than is seen at first glance. of this world, long casts and very sensitive for I hope that in the future the Coast Guard, and the angler. Just don’t lift fish over the rails of GLO along with other agencies get out and start being pro-active long before the %#** hits the fan, and our beaches.
Floating oil in the Packery channel as it made it's way into the bay
The month of April is going to be amazing, fish and fishermen are ready to explode. The water in the Laguna Madre’ is beautiful and now is a great time to explore and find new areas. The clear water makes mapping out areas in your head much easier. The quick little trips close to home can be some of the most productive. The afternoon top water bite has been great and I invite anyone who has never had a trout erupt on a top water plug to dedicate yourself to two hours of working one. The last two hours of the day have been magic. I can still take a few afternoon trips a week for anyone looking to bug out of work early and get in a half day afternoon. The time is now to get some color and the wind in your face. Keep those lines tight, and your hooks sharp!
April 3, 2014
A6
Island Moon
Stoopid Oil
Letters to Riley
Letters to Riley
Island Moon
have found a significant increase in the
Island Dogs amount of leptospirosis cases they have seen.
A5
February 6, 2014
Stuff I Heard on the Island Stuff I Heard on the Island by Dale Rankin
Leptospirosis is a dangerous bacterial infection by Dale Rankin that can cause kidney and liver failure, as well As The Island continues to plays a crucial role in the moving landscape by Foundation, International Falls, Minnesota. It was a good week as death. It is also zoonotic, which means grow and newcomers abound stabilizing dune ridges along the beach and in My friends there will send them to me. Don’t for we Island dogs. I it can be transferred from there areonsome There are a lot of things happening our commonly the dune fields to the west. forget…hotdogs…International Falls. animals to other went to Stingrays up in Port Aransas where sticker prices animals and also from animals to humans. Island thisasked week. Here are a few of them. questions that get directed our way; Beach The barrier islands which stand along the Don’tLeptopsirosis send anything to the cats. Stoopidbycats my friend Deb slipped me a good supply of usually spreads contact with basic sensible questions having to doAwith theto raise move the price are of beach parkinga single geologic Texas Coast essentially Dasmarinas speed humps pizza bones. There were a lot of another animal’s urine or body fluids. history of The Island and how things got to be stickers from the current $12 has been underway humans yelling at a little square structure which is breached at various points Drivers onthe Dasmarinas of Whitecap will we forinclude about a year but is getting nowhere fast. way they north are. That is one reason Dogs can get the bacterial infection by sniffing thing on the wall with people all by tidal inlets and passes. The Padre/Mustang notice thatanfive new history speed humps are now inissue, It will take agreement of the cities of Corpus Island piece in each to give an infected animal’s urine or drinking place. water Congratulations to Dave Zeiler for his dressed alikeP.running segment of the stretches By Riley Dog around on Christi and Port Aransas, andCoast Nueces Countyfrom the Aransas Islanders a sense of common community – the it. Humans are funny. out of an unclean source that has been exposed Pass (Port Aransas) persistenceother in getting it done. to do it and so far it doesn’t appear on theythe arenorth to Brazos reason is it gives me an excuse for buying to the infected animal’s urine or body fluids. Santiago Pass iton the south. It is one of the I got kicked out of two other talking. Even after they agree will take about Island pricey world’s longest barrier islands, second only to Nohistory policebooks boat that often tend toabe I got but to warn my dog places that allwas okay friends to watch year to get the approval of the Texas General Rats are one of the most common carriers, due to their rarity. Otherwise I would be subject out if you to the beach. There’s black stuff because my go humans left with Frazer Island in Australia. Corpus Christi Floyd Simpson poked the final Land Office which must sign off on the deal.Although it is today according to the Centers for Disease Control abuse from boat the Moon everywhere it sticks you and when you me. Sometimesand dogs get in to and hole in thetohull of a police to patrolWhy IslandDid You Buy breached by passes it has historically been one and Prevention, animals capable of carrying The City of Port Aransas sold about $900,000 Another Stupid Book Department!? track it onto carpet boy do your humans sometimes we the don’t. I can’t canals when he told the Island Strategic Action and passing along the disease also include, in stickers lastcontinuous year while island. Corpus Christi sold figure it out. get mad. If cats go to the beach they’re on CommitteeSo (ISAC) thisa week that history he doesn’t here’s general of The onlyIsland, about $700,000. That Man-made has led to some buffaloes, cattle, dogs, goats, horses, opossums, passes have the manpower staffait.geologic It could point happen their own.left Stoopid beginningtowith of view which in Port A that splitting My humans me andcats! the Little grumbling the sticker raccoons, sheep and swine. sooner or later but as of now it will be later. He Yappy Dog home two nights in a is a compilation from a variety of sources Historically the island has been breached by revenue according to linear feet of beach My human says I should include this. I don’t toldget the group that he would prefer to have a So whether you have a dog or a possum row but we even. I peedother the humans should including the report from The Island 2000 by three maintained each entity might need a review. types of passes; tidal inlets, flood-relief know whygotbut he says police on The Island and is currently them their shots. And if you take them to the storefront floor andabout. the Little Yappy Dog Task Force’s Strategic Plan for Community channels and washovers. In the last one hundred know Stay tuned. looking for a location and then will be looking beach make sure to use some baby oil on their Infrastructure & Services. I will draw several years man has dug deep channels stabilized pooped the back porch. We dogs for volunteers to help staff it. He said his goal gotVeterinarians our ways. in Florida, at the University feet before they get on the carpet. Dog Shelter columns it over the who next isfew with jetties and bulkheads which serve to drain is to ultimately havefrom an “Island Cop” theweeks. Much Island Florida’s of Veterinary Medicine ofcontact what is this column is quoted from I of tried to blameCollege the wet spot on the hydraulic pressure which sought Until next time, happy trash diving everybody! main police forincitizens on The Island. ThethatIsland Moon Facebook page historically – the cat but the cat ratted me out. report. relief through– thehas natural passes. This pressure, theislandmoonnewspaper become He also said the PD is looking into the use of Stoopid Cat! Island bulletin by watching which board we seeand regularly at the Packery Bridge, cameras to catchInNo Wake violators as partcreated of a the the beginning God the has become theopen. to help apparent keep the that passes I got to go back and see Dr. department-wide computer system upgrade that it everyday itserves By Riley P. Dog
Show your love for the Texas coast Saturday, April 26
Christi again because I found another one of the pounds I lost. I think it might have been the pizza bones. Or it could have been stuff I found whenLand I Office AdoptThe the 2014 Texas General went trashSpring divingCleanup in the office A-Beach takes place at a dozen last week. Boy did I get in trouble of the Coastal Bend’s most popular tourist for that. But I scored a piece of beaches. Volunteers can sign up online at www. an old hamburger that made my texasadoptabeach.org to take part in a funstomach feel funny.
heavens and the earth number of abandoned dogs on The Island is
should be in place by the end of the year.
Prior these channels water from the bays going up steadily andtoquickly. Some arethe being The barrier Island flanking South Texas was the farms Middle andthey Upper Texas Coast found abandoned by of puppy when become Code enforcement way to the Gulf too old to sell and others, sadly, just its simply Simpson also said as of February 1 CCPD has through because people don’t want them anymore and inlets near their Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach taken over code enforcement. That means they know that if they dump them on The Island we respective southeast now can help police dumping and other formerly Cleanups are held rain or shine! won’t let them starve. Indeed a large number of These outlets corners. non-police offenses and that trespassing is at the good-hearted Islanders are taking the dogs Texans who are not able to attend the cleanup were in the navigable top of the list. until they can find permanent homes. channels found by the can help keep their beaches clean by making Trespassing a tax-deductible donation online at www. firstthat arriving Europeans. But we are reaching a tipping point where filled day at the beach that makes a difference. TexasAdoptABeach.org. There are several The anchannel would system won’t work much longer. We need And speaking of trespassing; the No IAdvance got to stop writing now my registration is required for the St. Jo different Adopt-A-Beach sponsorship levels cut care through the barrier Trespassing signs that went up on private animal facility where volunteers can take nose starting site. to throb from Islandiscleanup ranging from $25 to $25,000, allowingproperty both all over The Island two weeks ago are of them while they are looking for a home. island from north to hitting the space bar. Please send now togone. The half-life of a No Trespassing “Thousands of Texans me some hotdogs. Just putsign themup for the Adopt- individuals and corporations to contribute There are plenty of people who will/are south helpingforming a sharp sign hereabouts is about the same as a Cheeto in but they can only have so many dogs southern in a box with NotCleanup Hotdogs every year because this major cleanup effort. A-Beach Spring in their point of land. a flock of seagulls. on outsideday andatsend it’sthe a great the them beach,” said Texas The land on the west This isLand my nice human friend Deb. homes. If we had a place where the dogs could Shell Oil Company is the lead statewide to the Save Riley Dog be kept there is no shortage of volunteers. Commissioner JerryP. Patterson. “If you care sponsor for the 28th Texas General Land side of the outlet would ATVs about the Texas coast, join us at 8:30 a.m. Office Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup. broaden as currents Developer Paul Schexnailder has agreed to The ISAC this week recommended that some Saturday, April 26.” and wind deposited donate land near the water tower for a dog park. Other sponsors include HNTB, Halliburton, ATVs be allowed to remain on the beach but new sand, and these Maybe that would be a good place for a No Kill Each volunteer will be given data cards, Apache Corporation, Keep Texas Beautiful, only if they are low speed. The question is how channels were cut deep shelter as well. to distinguish between a low-speed ATV and a gloves, pencils and trash bags. All volunteers Schlumberger, SeaWorld San Antonio, Siemens enough to release flood high-speed ATV and it has now been forwarded Something is going to have to be done and now are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, bring Caring Hands Foundation, Trusted Senior to the City Attorney’s office for a legal opinion. is the time to start thinking about whatwaters is the from the bays. sunscreen and plenty of drinking water. The Specialists and Corona Del Mar Properties. Washovers and floodbest thing to do. Fire hydrants relief channels provide Any ideas? temporary passage for A recent test of Island fire hydrants found that water during hurricanes. 8% failed inspection due to corrosion. The matter became an issue after a storage facility A survey by the Texas suffered severe damage over the summer Highway Department because the nearest fire hydrant was unusable found more than forty Under the Bridge due to corrosion. cuts in The Island after the 1933 hurricane. Serving South Texas Seafood for The next check will be for water pressure after In 2000 the Bureau of a local builder said he had to install a pump in Over 30 Years a new building because the water pressure from Economic Geology the nearest hydrant was not sufficient to get Open Daily 11:00 - 10:00 found nine natural water to the second floor in case of a fire. washovers between the Aransas Pass and the So if you’re going to have a fire and don’t have builtsure byit the a pump make startsslow on theprocess first floorofbutGulf currents Nueces/Kleberg County Line. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s ninth sediment along the Gulf Coast (now remember,depositing fire burns up. season of The Today Gloria and Robert R. Furgason Padre/Mustang Islands are cut by four that’s the beginning folks). The Island has been 50 Bravo! Series man-made presents “Anpasses; Eveningthe withCorpus Hal Christi Ship geologically stable for about the last 5000 years, Linden”, Tony and Emmy Winning Channel (ferry Award crossing) in Port Aransas, since it has shifted position over geologic time. Some Broadway and2005 Film Packery Star and Channel, TV’s “Barney the Port Mansfield 30,000 years ago, during a period when Miller”sea on Friday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 the AlsoChannel, and the p.m. ShipinChannel at Brazos level was approximately five feet higher than Performing Arts Center. Santiago (Brownsville). An attempt in 1971Scoopy’s Veranda it is today, the barrier island stretched across Backed by a 72 7-piece band, Linden, a former to keep Fish Pass open for water exchange what is now Corpus Christi Bay from Ingleside With Sweet Treats, Soups, big band singer andasinstrumentalist with the failed the 300-foot jetties proved inadequate to Flour Bluff. The Live Oak Peninsula which Sammy Kaye to Orchestra, provide Salads & Sandwiches prevent will silting. Thedecades passes have served to starts at Rockport and stretches to worth Ingleside of knowledge talent and an entire in the Laguna temper and drastic swings in salinity Point was part of that island. So wasconcert Encinal filled Madre. with an assortment of poise, Peninsula between the Cayo del Osoentertainment and the and timeless big band, Broadway, The controversy jerky treats forevidence Laguna surrounding Madre. Geologists find that and jazz standards. Then people showed up pets has resumed following announcement abut 18,000 yearsanago the island was located Tickets are available for purchase online at end of the Ice that two major pet treat manufacturers will soon About 7000 years ago at the at the edge of the continental shelf, tamucc.tix.com 35 miles or by (361) 825-ARTS return theiroffshore. products to shelves. Age thecalling area experienced an extended warming Atstores’ that time sea level was or estimated stopping by the Performing Arts Center box period and a resulting population The treatsat in had current been voluntarily 425question feet below levels, the result of Monday-Friday the and drying office between 9 a.m. and 3 This is when thefrom Karankawa Indians recalled, though members last glacial age. of the public were p.m. General increase. reserved-seat tickets range by the Food and Drug Administration madetickets their appearance and European settlement $26-$36; student are $7 with a valid Prime Rib Specials on warned Overthat allapproximately that geological time the barrier followed. Not long afterward the first tourist through a report 4,500 dogs SandDollar ID. island has sick beenand an nearly ever-changing had reportedly gotten 600 dogs phenomenon showed up with an ice chest full of drinks and Wednesday 5 PM until it Libations from A1tan. The rest, as they shaped from by forces of wind, humans. continued had died, allegedly consuming jerkywater, treats. andTraffic went home with a lobster Passing lanes on “The Landing Strip” Amusements Vegetation which is resistant to occasional runs out say, is history, and that’s how the island became Ultimately, an identifying cause of the illnesses andhuman high salt Other improvements along the SH 361 corridor The Island. and deaths drought was neverconditions found. Some foodsconcentrations 18 Holes of
Volunteers needed for Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup
Hal Linden, TV’s “Barney Miller”, Brings Broadway Hits and Big Band Sound to the Island University
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between North Padre Island and Port Aransas, colloquially called The Landing Strip by locals, include $10.5 million, currently not funded, to add two “Super Passing Lanes” to State Highway 361 between the SPID intersection on North Padre and Port Aransas. The lanes will allow for faster moving vehicles to pass slower moving vehicles without having to cross into the lane of oncoming traffic, or forcing slower moving traffic onto the shoulder. The new 12foot lanes will be spaced periodically along the 18-mile stretch of road. No timetable has been set for the project. It is a temporary solution to allow easing of the increasingly busy roadway with a permanent solution of a five-lane roadway all along the area to be done at a later time. That permanent configuration will also include a center turn lane and will cost an estimated $48 million.
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Also in the plan is $4.2 million in available funding for upgrades in the ferry system in Port Aransas. The majority of the money will be used to upgrade and repair the ferry landings, with $30,000 to be used to automate the information systems informing approaching motorists of the wait time. The new system will include a Bluetooth application that will automatically update display signs placed along roadway leading to the landings every fifteen minutes and will also pay for additional signs. That work is expected to begin as early as this summer. Also in the plan but not currently funded is $6 million for new ferry landings since the current number of ferries exceeds the number of landings (5). Another $2.2 million, currently unfunded, is needed to the acquisition of and for more space for cars waiting to board the boats. The current ferry system has two 28-vehicle ferries and six 20-vehicle ferries. Up to seven ferries can operate at one time. The plan calls for $39 million for new ferries to supplement the fleet and replacing aging boats currently in use, and another $7.3 million to decrease wait time including the addition of 22 traffic control personnel.
A 6
Island Moon
History continued from A1 Laguna which is nearly land locked; hence the enormous commercial catch. Fishermen who understood this were content to let nature take her course but others in the name of conservation, demanded that a pass be cut through the island that fish might escape the hot brine of summer or that an inflow through the pass might relieve the Laguna of some of its salt. Total salt at times is as high as 10 percent. Government engineers have been skeptical about passes, other than ship channels deepened for navigation. Small passes are at the mercy of tropical storms which open and close them at will. For the past thirty years and more the Corpus Christi Pass has opened and closed and changed locations at the dictation of tropical storms, with an increasing tendency to remain closed. In about 1920 the cutting of inlets to improve fishing in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, was undertaken with disastrous results. The government engineers in that connection, in a single sentence, pictured the situation accurately with the remark: “It is not a matter of surprise, then, that the inlets should be continually opening under the influence of storms and closing before the advancing tide of sand.” As to a Laguna pass the engineers gave no encouragement for they were already aware of the situation, but complying with a request from the State, a survey showed that a new cut through the island at Murphy’s Landing would cost $127,000 plus a continuous expense. When questioned as to the maintenance expense it was said that the $127,000 was only a beginning.
Amateurs force action Amateurs were sure that the job was much simpler and criticism of the department continued with the charges of ignorance of the Laguna situation. The charge was not fair in view of the expert information of engineers and of the experience that the writer had made as to fish conditions during two consecutive summers. Indications were that the fish losses had been greatly exaggerated. Spending some days with a fishing fleet which had a 2000-foot seine (two seines tied together) it was easy to determine where the fish were during the hottest period of the summer. Mullets appeared to be indifferent to the hot brine and could be seen everywhere. The ability of the mullet to jump several feet, usually against the wind, no doubt was a relief. The water temperature at the time was about 90 degrees Fahrenheit against 85 degrees in the atmosphere. Redfish and trout were apparently going from Baffin Bay in July but a few drum remained. This was proven by a hatching made near Point of Rocks and another still further north. An encampment at Riviera Beach had ordered trout for a fish fry but commercial fishermen could supply only drum. Northward, near Peat Island the water was less salty and trout concentrated there and were hauled out in abundance by the big seine. They had remained pocketed until caught out because between Peat Island and Flour Bluff the water was shallow and hot and infested with predators. Below Baffin Bay and Rincon Penascal , hidden rocks are abundant, making navigation dangerous and fishing was poor. There was little reason for fishermen to go to those water and there was little information to be had beyond hearsay. Nevertheless it was proposed, after the preceding survey of the Upper Laguna, to continue the survey to the end of the Lower Laguna. This extended survey was prompted
by Commissioner William J. Tucker, who was anxious to make the trip and see for himself what could be learned. It was understood that the Laguna was not navigable some fifteen or twenty miles below the Baffin Bay and that stretch of sand at times divided the Laguna into two parts. No one in our command seemed to know much about the sand flats, but we were rather poorly informed that the flats did not extend more than five miles. It was therefore planned to go by boat as far as the water was navigable, then walk across the strip of sand and be met on the other side by another boat with which to continue the trip to Port Isabel. With good sailing conditions the entire trip might be completed in one day. At the date agree upon the boats were readied and Mr. Tucker and the writer with a couple of guides embarked at the Causeway near Flour Bluff. A low tide made it impossible for the shallow draft boat to take off, so we had to use a large skiff with an outboard motor. Be it here announced that we gained a lot of experience that we could have well done without. And this recalls the hardships of an engineer, who had surveyed the Laguna in connection with a proposed extension of the Intracoastal Canal, when he said “that was the place God forgot.”
As the red sun was sinking behind the horizon we found ourselves midway of Baffin Bay, and at this critical moment the motor again went dead. When the sun sets in a flat country there is little twilight, and the darkness soon settled about us miles from land. And Baffin also had its hidden rocks, and those not hidden were draped in the shadows of night. There was but one thing to do – let the wind blow us some shore. It is true that the wind bloweth where it listeth and this time it blew us into some shallows half a mile from shore. We stepped into the water less than knee deep and dragged the boat to the mainland.
The food supply. Was insufficient for much of a supper and there was very little water to drink as we were now far behind our schedule. The guide somewhat indirectly warned against continuing the cruise southward. He said it would be necessary to start at five o’clock in the morning in order to cross the ten or twelve mile stretch across Baffin before the south wind began, when great waves would be encountered. Accordingly, this early rising was agreed upon, with no thought of the customary “forty winks,” and we all turned in. Next week: A three hour tour, a three hour tour.
Many wonderful things converged at the Padre Island Yacht Club last Sunday as close to 70 members enjoyed their quarterly spring picnic with the help of the sun and beautiful weather. Live music from the PIYC Jammers, great food, scrumptious deserts, and great company made for a perfect outing.
The PIYC Jammer Band
Picnic crowd enjoyed the weather and the company
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April 3, 2014
We Were Soldiers Once and We Were Young
Dedication of Vietnam Veterans Monument at State Capitol
By Linda Walsh
There were so many distinguished guests and “We Were Soldiers Once and We Were Young” speakers at this dedication. Remarks were given is the title of a book written by Joe Galloway, by State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinosa, State and a motion picture portraying this poignant Rep Wayne Smith, State Senator Lecicia Van tale of his time in Vietnam. This sentence was de Putte, US Congressman Sam Johnson, Texas repeated several times during the Texas Capitol Lieut Governor David Dewhurst, Lieu Gen Vietnam Veterans Monument Unveiling on Saturday March 29, 2014. It was very fitting since we lost so many of our young men during the most controversial and divisive war ever fought by our nation. Our young men came home to the cruel misconception that they didn’t measure up to the WWII and Korean veterans. They came home to face jeers and shameful name calling and for many the inability to find jobs after serving, and many more lost their lives for this country. Why? Because They were Soldiers Once, and They were Young. It was a very painful chapter in our Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument country’s history. I applaud the Great State of Texas for listening to Mr. Robert Floyd and fulfilling his dream. Robert served in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. While walking past other war monuments at the Capitol Robert was inspired
Mick Kicklighter, and the list goes on and on. Governor Rick Perry Accepted the Monument on Behalf of the People of Texas. A wonderful performance by the Texas Children's Choir and the 36th Infantry Band of the “Song for the Unsung Heroes.” One of the highlights of the dedication was the Monument Benediction performed by the Lone Star Hethuska War Dance Society, in the ancient tradition of the first Texans they blessed the monument as a sacred place where all warriors will always be honored, remembered, and welcomed. Another was when 54 Edgewood Memorial High School JROTC students marched in representing 54 fallen forefathers of their school. The
John with a Huey to begin the process of building one to honor Texans who served in Vietnam. He volunteered to Chair the Texas Vietnam Veterans Monument Executive Committee and has been there since its inception in 2005 and followed thru until the Unveiling on March 29, 2014 when he presented this beautiful monument to the people of Texas. “This monument brings long overdue
We had landed at a place called Point of Rocks, so the guide told us. unlike most sea coasts there was no sandy beach and no timber had washed ashore. There was no wood nearby to make a fire, with which to dry our sea soaked apparel. The guide advised us against going out in the dark in search of wood as rattlesnakes were very numerous. But there was plenty of dried cow chips, which proved to be quite combustible, and we soon had a small smoldering fire.
By Brent Rourk
The energizing music was provided by several wonderful musicians, called collectively the PIYC Jammers, who pooled their vast talents to the delight of club members. Members left humming tunes and wondering when the next PIYC picnic will be.
At the outset we were opposed by a hot July wind which blew water over the boat and its occupants until there was hardly a dry thread. Progress against the wind and the resulting wind tide was necessarily slow until increasing dampness over the motor stopped it completely. While we wallowed and drifted in the waves for 45 minutes the guides worked with the motor and finally coaxed it into action and covered it with canvas to keep it dry.
Padre Island Yacht Club Enjoys Spring Quarterly Picnic
Vic Schreck, Jim Gaugler, and John McShane treated the members to some of their wonderful BBQ (slow cooked pork, chicken, ham, and sausage) while club members brought tables of scrumptious dishes to share. The deserts were incredible and a few folks even saved room for colossal root beer floats. As always, a small flotilla of dedicated volunteers made it run very efficiently.
recognition to Vietnam veterans who served their country honorably and courageously during a divisive time in our nation’s history. I hope it brings healing to them and to the families of the 3,417 fallen Texas heroes and that it teaches us that while Americans may disagree about the politics of a war, or disagree with the nation’s involvement in a war, they should always support our soldiers.” And support they did! An estimated 10,000 strong audience of Vietnam Veterans and families and friends showed up to show their support to the soldiers of the Vietnam Era and to Welcome them back home and thank them for their service. 500,000 Texans served in this war, 3,417 gave the ultimate sacrifice, their life, while 105 are still MIA. 700 were POW’s and 17 Texans were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Sadly to say but proudly, Texas claims the third largest number of KIA’s in any state of this country. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, and there have been 600 events across America recognizing these brave warriors, but can you believe that of these 600 events, 429 were held throughout the great State of Texas.
Edgewood school district in San Antonio along with Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia both suffered the highest rate of graduates killed or missing of any US school. The monument design as described by the Monument Committee: The Monument rises 14 feet from the northeast Capitol grounds near the Peace Officers Memorial. Above a “sunset red” granite pediment matching the Capitol itself, a series of large bas-relief panels capture scenes depicting the men and women of Texas who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam. Poised above the panels five “Dawn Patrol” figures represent the service and and sacrifice of Texas combat infantry troops and benches emblazoned with the MIA/POW symbol remind us of Texans who were held prisoners or are unaccounted for. Personalized dog tags honoring the 3,417 who were killed or unaccounted for are entombed in the monument as a permanent memorial to our Texas Vietnam Heroes and a tribute to their families and loved ones. The sculpture Duke Sundt said, “This is not a Memorial it is a Monument, A Legacy of a Lost Generation is Saved.” The March 29, 2014 date of The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument occurs on the 41st anniversary of the day the last American Combat troops left Vietnam. March 29th has been formally designated nationally and in Texas as Vietnam Veterans Day. My friend, Army Lt Col John Sutch (Ret), and I traveled to Austin this weekend and stood
beside so many others to support this beautiful memorial and the Unveiling of this spectacular Monument. John served 2 tours in Vietnam from July 1968 to July 1969, and June 1971 thru March 1972 serving with the 101st Airborne Division. John received the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1971. I felt so privileged to be standing beside him and so many distinguished individuals who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam. Fathers and sons, Grandfathers introducing their grandchildren to their friends from a war long ago. Many tears were shed Saturday along with many smiles and hugs. In front of me were two elderly men that reconnected after all these years and one man said, come over here I want to hug that neck of yours! They did and they cried! What a touching moment I will never forget. Corpus Christi and Our Island have so very many veterans. They should all be recognized and applauded and never forgotten for their service to our Country. I will again quote Joe Galloway, “It is Right and the Time is now, that we say Thank You for your Service.” God Bless our Veterans and God Bless America! Once, America Sent Them to War Now Texas Welcomes Them Home.
April 3, 2014
Island Moon
The Corpus Christi Police Department made 362 arrests by April 1, 2014 for Driving While Intoxicated or Driving Under the influence which is a 27% increase from the same time last year. There were 284 arrests for Driving While Intoxicated or for Driving Under the Influence by April 1, 2013 with a total of 1,203 total arrest for D.W.I. or D.U.I. in 2013. There were 154 D.W.I. arrests made in the month of March 2014 was an all time record high for a month surpassing the previous high record of 135 set in March of 2013.
Corpus Christi Police apprehended a chicken after it crossed the road Sunday afternoon at the 1600 block of Agnes Street. Corpus Christi Police Officer David Saldana, known among his peers as the “Chicken Hawk,” saw a chicken cross the road at about 2pm Sunday. Officer Saldana attempted to detain the chicken for crossing outside of a cross walk, but the chicken fled on foot from Officer Saldana. The chicken jumped through the open window to an unoccupied vehicle in an attempt to escape, but there were no keys in the ignition of the vehicle. Officer Saldana successfully captured the chicken and placed the chicken in his patrol car. Officer Saldana then transported the chicken to Animal Care Services. The chicken was identified as a Black Australorp. The chicken did not say why he crossed the road. Case closed.
The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section further recorded the following statistics:
Animal Care Services Investigates Animal Cruelty Case
2014 DWI Stats
On or about Tuesday, March 18, 2014, Animal Care Services became aware of a female pitbull named “Petey” that was unresponsive in her backyard. The owner of the dog solicited assistance from a Facebook acquaintance and they took the dog to a local veterinarian. The vet recommended treatment, however the treatment exceeded the owner’s funds. The owner then took the dog to a second veterinarian, however the dog died enroute.
The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section released statistics related to the offenses associated with driving while intoxicated for the year to date.
359
D.W.I. Arrests as of April 1, 2014
3
D.U.I. Arrests as of April 1, 2014
135 Suspects consented to give a sample of their breath 92 Suspects consented to give a sample of their blood 128 Suspects refused to give a sample of breath or blood and a search warrant was obtained 4 Suspects refused both blood and breath request, and no evidence was obtained 40 Felony DWI cases. 20 for DWI with two or more prior convictions 10 for intoxicated assault 9 DWI with Child Passenger 1 intoxicated manslaughter .16 Average Breath /Blood results from suspects 103 DWI arrest were involved in Traffic Crashes
Crime Stoppers There were ten fugitives arrested from tips to Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers in March for a total of $2,525 dollars in approved rewards just for the apprehension of those fugitives. Several other Crime Stoppers tips led to arrests of offenders in our area in March and the Corpus Christi Police thanks the community for the support and information against crime in this community.
Patrol Report Seven Hours The Corpus Christi Police Department generated 217 original reports for formal criminal complaints from midnight March 31 to 7:00 a.m. April 1,
After the Chicken Crossed the Road, He Met Corpus Christi Police Sunday, March 30 2:00 p.m. 1600 Agnes Street
A7
South Bound Again
Police Blotter Corpus Christi Police Evaluate Driving While Intoxicated Statistics
During this process, the acquaintance posted the information and photos on an animal rights Facebook page, suggesting/alleging animal neglect/cruelty. No person having actual contact with the animal officially reported the alleged neglect/abuse directly to the proper authorities (i.e. Animal Care Services or the Police Department) until the animal was at the veterinarian office and an email from a concerned citizen was sent to ACS management.
By Capt. Sail Offcourse When I arrived at Norman’s Cay Dock I had been greeted by a skinny grey tabby tomcat. He was very friendly and came scampering up to me as soon as I landed, being very vocal. He looked and sounded pathetic. When I looked at him I had to go to the boat and get him a can of tuna. The whole time I was ashore he would accompany me. While exploring the ruins old man McDuff came up calling “Tom, Tom”. He had seen my yacht pull up and knew where Tom had taken off to. He relayed that he was now the owner of the Motel and Tom here had more sea miles than most of the sailors that picked him up. Tom kept a sharp eye out for visiting sailboats as they always feed him and take him to Georgetown to the veterinarian. The Vet.’ knows Tom real well and would call and say Tom had made another trip. There he would be loaded up on the Mailboat and brought back home. All the old man could figure was that Tom liked all that attention and food that was lavished on him. Must be nice being a Bahamian cat always a full food bowl and lots of sailors willing to take you for a sail? He and Tom wished me well and I loaded up to head out.
Swimming pigs that beg From Norman’s Cay south is the Exumas Land and sea Park. Here there are regulations against taking anything. So for a sailor dependant on fishing to supplement their stores, I took off to sail all night past the sea park as quick as
On Thursday, March 20th, Animal Care Services obtained the remains of the dog and a necropsy was performed on Friday, March 21. The veterinarian report indicated that the dog may have died of inadequate care. Animal Care Services investigated this case and has now turned it over to CCPD Investigators for possible filing of criminal charges.
Swimming pigs
Police calls Beach View Dr. and SH 361 8 a.m. March 29 Burglary of vehicle 7100 block SH 361 6 p.m. March 28 Burglary of building 13300 block SPID (JFK Causeway) 3 a.m. March 30 Vehicle impound 13900 block Skysail 6:10 a.m. March 31 Reckless damage or destruction 15200 block Capstan 8:40 a.m. March 25 Assault with injury 15000 block Windward 10:15 p.m. March 30 Unauthorized use of motor vehicle 15100 block Leeward 5:57 a.m. March 30 Vehicle impound 14700 block Whitecap 2:46 p.m. March 30 Theft from building under $50
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possible. I arrived at Staniel Cay and anchored off Big Majors cay to rest. There on Big Majors are Wild Hogs that were left when a Haitian yacht sank. They were personable and some would swim out to beg for scraps. Ashore there was a nice beach but you have to go to the north end to stay away from the pigs.
water. The bottom is sandy and soft on the feet. If you are ever lucky enough to make it there, it is a must see destination. Having visited the Grotto I could now cross that off my bucket list.
Thunderball Grotto Captain Kidd’s cove Early the next morning I loaded up and headed out southbound. I sailed to Galliot cut anchorage where friends of mine were waiting. I could traverse the bank with my three foot nine inch draft where they had to go outside because of their draft. There is something to be said for a smaller boat because it can “Gunk Hole” where others larger yachts can not venture. It was a pleasant night with good fishing. High tide was at sunrise so out the cut we went with the sun coming up in our eyes. We headed out as a “Flotilla” of four sailboats all bound for Chicken Harbor. They call Georgetown, Great Exuma this because many sailors get there with great dreams of the Caribbean, only to look at their charts, see that entire ocean out there, and turn around and head home. We made it inside the reef and motored to the anchorage under the monument on Stocking Island in the last light of sunset. Here there were a great number of yachts both large and small at anchor all over the harbor. It was easy to se why Captain Kidd would use this bay. There is a plaque on Regatta Point that states this to be the favorite spot of Captain Kidd. They named the small cove there after him as Kidd Cove.
Thunderball Grotto Between Big Majors and Staniel Cays is the Thunderball Grotto. This is where the James Bond water parts were filmed. The movies “Thunderball” and “Never say Never again “ as well as Disney’s “Splash” all had this grotto in them. The cave is protected and nothing can be taken from it. It is easy to enter from the west, just snorkel up and dive in. Inside it is filled with all kinds of sea life. The light filters in through holes in the roof of the grotto and dances around in the
Great Exuma
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A 8
STATE
Island Moon
By Todd Hunter, District 32
The following is a sampling of charges given to different House committees. If you would like a complete list of the study charges or if you would like more information about issues being studied by any particular committee, please don’t hesitate to call my Capitol office at 512-463-0672 or visit The Texas House of Representatives at http://www.house.state. tx.us/. Here are some examples of charges given to the standing House committees:
House Committee on Natural Resources • Monitor the implementation of HB 4 (83R) and SJR 1 (83R) and the progress of the Texas Water Development Board and other entities in implementing this legislation to provide a stable, long-term funding source for the State Water Plan. • Evaluate the availability, management, and development of groundwater in the state. Consider the economic, environmental, and social impacts of groundwater usage and production in the agricultural, municipal, and energy sectors. In particular, examine methods to facilitate further development of brackish groundwater resources and to improve the consistency and certainty of permitting by groundwater districts without undercutting reasonable regional and local regulation of groundwater. • Explore opportunities to encourage voluntary protection and stewardship of privately owned lands in support of the state’s water supply and to protect environmental flow needs in Texas rivers. Examine methods in which state agencies, water rights holders, and nongovernmental organizations can work together
through programs like the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program and the Texas Water Trust. • Examine strategies to enhance the use of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects, including a review of existing ASR facilities in Texas and elsewhere.
House Committee on Pensions
The work for the week of March 31 – April 5 focuses on improvements to the left turn lanes at the intersection of PR 22 and SH 361 and pavement repairs at that intersection. While there will be lane closures, at least one lane of traffic in each direction always will be open throughout the project.At this time, the project is expected to be completed by the end of April, weather permitting. General notes: Work is scheduled for two Saturdays, April 5 and 26. Work will be suspended on Saturday, April 12, for SandFest in Port Aransas and for Easter weekend, April 18 (Good Friday) - April 20 (Easter Sunday). No work is scheduled for any Sunday. The weekly traffic control plan will be updated as work progresses.
March 31 – April 5, 2014 Note: Work is scheduled for Saturday, April 5
the tar and oil that has been washing ashore subsides and is cleaned from the beaches. The turtles will come when they are ready and the many people aiming to protect them must be too. Staff and volunteers with six nesting patrol project in Texas have been trained and will start “hitting the beach” this week. They will try to locate nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles and their tracks, so that they can protect those nesting turtles and their eggs. Nests are also found because of reports from other people working or recreating on our beaches. Thus, we need your help to protect these beautiful sea turtles and their eggs which result in the precious hatchlings that thousands of people come to see get released at Padre Island National Seashore each year.
• Study the affordability of health care for active public school employees. Examine how premiums and out-of-pocket costs have increased over time and how these increases have affected employees and school districts, and make appropriate recommendations. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Appropriations) • Examine the immediate and long-term fiscal impact of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) health care plan (TRS-Care). (Joint charge with the House Committee on Appropriations) • Explore innovative, research-based options for improving student achievement beyond standardized test scores. Evaluate standards for effective campus management as well as teacher preparation, certification, and training. Review current teacher evaluation tools and instructional methods, such as project-based learning, and recommend any improvements that would promote improved student achievement. Engage stakeholders on how to recruit and retain more of our "best and brightest" into the teaching profession. • Solicit input from leading authorities on the traits and characteristics of good governance, effective checks and balances between the board and administration and the effective relationship between a board and the superintendent. Review current oversight authority by the Texas Education Agency over school board policies on governance. Make recommendations on trustee training, potential sanctions, and means of grievances, as well as recommendations on whether the role of trustee or superintendent needs to be more clearly defined. If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces County (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
8:30 am to 5:30 pm March 31 – April 3 There will be left turn and right turn lane closures westbound on Park Road 22 at the SH 361 intersection. Traffic will be handled / assisted with flagmen through the intersection.
April 7-12, 2014 Note: No work is scheduled for Saturday, April 12 Resurfacing begins on PR 22 main lanes. Work begins on right turn lane improvements. Work continues on left turn lanes.
April 14 - 17-14, 2014 Note: No work is scheduled for Easter weekend, March 18-20. Work continues on resurfacing PR 22 main lanes and work on left and right turn lanes.
April 24 – 26, 2014 Note: Work is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 Resurface PR 22 / SH 361 intersection. Striping. Anticipated completion of project.
Left turn lane improvements / SH 361 intersection pavement repair. Weekly traffic control
7 am to 4 pm March 31 – April 5 Single, left lane closure eastbound on Park Road 22 between Jackfish Avenue and SH 361. The left turn lanes will be open at the SH 361 intersection. One CCPD officer will assist with traffic control for the single lane closure at the intersection and one CC PD officer will assist with traffic during lunch hour (10 am to 2 pm).
April 3, 2014
Entrance Station and Malaquite Pavilion each day that Kemp’s ridley nests are found on the Texas coast. The flag is rectangular, with a bright yellow background and black silhouette of a sea turtle. Smaller versions of this flag will also be flown on most of the turtle patrol vehicles on those days. These flags are intended to alert the public that the chances of finding additional nesting are elevated that day since a nest has already been found that day and this species tends to nest in arribadas. Signs and posters are again being used to alert beachgoers to watch for and immediately report nesting. Aluminum signs measuring 2 feet x 2 feet are located at most of the beach access points on Mustang and North Padre Island. The sign has a photograph of a nesting Kemp’s ridley turtle and the telephone number 1-866-TURTLE-5. This toll-free number is a recorded message that directs callers to the appropriate contact for their geographical area. For example, people wanting to report observations on North Padre Island are instructed to call me at (361) 949-8173, ext. 226. My telephone number is also listed on the nesting posters that many stores, restaurants, and hotels on North Padre Island are displaying.
What to do if you see a nesting Kemp’s ridley or tracks
House Committee on Public Education
SPID Project Work Schedule The following is the latest on the Park Road 22 (SPID) work project from the Texas Department of Transportation. The schedule depends on weather conditions.
Turtles continued from A1
Water, Education, Teacher Retirement, On Agenda for Texas House Committees As mentioned in the previous week's article, the Speaker of the House Joe Straus has released a list of interim committee charges for the standing committees of the Texas House of Representatives. These committee charges and the resulting recommendations that will be developed during the interim could form the basis for legislation to be considered during the next legislative session. House committees were each given several issues to study. Committee hearings will be held over the course of the interim period (2014) giving the public an opportunity to testify on a variety of issues. At the end of the interim, each committee will have the opportunity to submit a formal report to the Speaker of the Texas House with their recommendations on possible future legislation to be handled by the next Texas Legislature.
While you are on the beach, please watch for nesting and immediately report observations to a passing turtle patroller, law enforcement officer, or me at (361) 949-8173, ext. 226. It is essential that you report the nesting turtle or her tracks as soon as you see them, so that biologists can try to get to the site to document and protect the nesting turtle before she reenters the Gulf. We also want to examine the tracks before they disappear. We use the tracks to help us locate the nest.
A Padre Island National Seashore Biological Technician makes sure that the turtle safely re-enters the water after nesting and documentation.
If you find a nester, please do not rush up to her while she is crawling up the beach or you may frighten her back into the water. Things that you should also do to help include:
Turtle patrols underway Each year, Padre Island National Seashore conducts a program to find, document, and protect nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles and their eggs on North Padre Island. Kemp’s ridley and other sea turtles bury their eggs in the sand and never return to the nest to care for the eggs or resulting hatchlings. There are many threats to the eggs and hatchlings, including predation, high tides, poaching, and others. Eggs from all nests found on the Texas coast are removed from the beach for protected incubation, to maximize their hatching success and ensure that the hatchlings safely enter the water. Our efforts have already begun for the 2014 nesting season, and more 100 volunteers are helping with the project this year. Staff members and volunteers started our patrols of North Padre Island on April 2. They will continue to patrol during daylight hours each day through mid-July, when Kemp’s ridley nesting ends in Texas. Patrollers watch for the tracks that nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles leave in the sand as they crawl up the beach, bury their eggs in the sand, and return to the sea. About half the time, the nesting females are still on the beach when we arrive at a nest site, but the rest of the time the turtle has already re-entered the sea by the time that we arrive. When the nesters are present, we document and protect them until they safely reenter the water.
Watch for nesting Other people that work or recreate on the beach are sometimes the first on the scene of nesting and report it to us. We greatly appreciate this help since it is challenging for patrollers to find nesting Kemp’s ridleys due the large area that we patrol and nesting habits of this species. These two-foot-long olive green colored turtles nest mostly during daylight hours. Their color blends with the sand and beach vegetation. Nesters are only on the beach for about 45 minutes, from the time that they crawl out of the water, crawl up the beach, nest, and return to the Gulf of Mexico. Kemp’s ridley is the smallest and lightest sea turtle species and they leave only a faint track in the sand. They often nest on windy and stormy days, which cause their tracks to disappear quickly. Also, Kemp’s ridleys often nest in synchronous emergences called arribadas, so while patrollers are busy at one or more nesting sites, they can miss others. As during the last few years, our “nesting Kemp’s ridley alert” flag will be flown on flagpoles at the Padre Island National Seashore
1. protect the nesting turtle and nest from passing traffic and other people 2.
allow her to nest undisturbed
3. photograph or video her from above after she has finished digging and started to lay her eggs, or when she is returning to the water 4. examine her to see if she has a metal tag on a front flipper, record the tag number, but do not remove the tag 5. mark where she nested (do not pierce sand) 6.
allow her to re-enter the water, and
7. remain at the site until a biologist arrives, if possible. If the nester is already gone and you find her tracks, please mark them. Place markings where they terminate towards the water and where they intersect higher on the beach, where the nest may be located. Walk to the side of the tracks so that you do not erase them and do not poke anything into the sand or you could pierce eggs. If possible, stay at the site until a biologist arrives.
Drive carefully If you drive your vehicle on the beach during the nesting season, you can help protect nesting Kemp’s ridleys and their nests by being watchful and driving slowly. It can be difficult to see nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles that are on the beach. Two were struck by passing vehicles on South Padre Island a few years ago and we are working hard to try to avoid that here. Kemp’s ridleys nest anywhere from the high tide lines into the dunes, but often nest in the vehicle tire ruts where the sand is soft. These turtles cannot move quickly to avoid an approaching vehicle. They are slow when crawling on the beach, and are nearly motionless and enter a trance-like state when depositing their eggs into the nest chamber. Nesting Kemp’s ridleys blend in with their surroundings on the beach and often become partially covered with sand during nesting. If you find sea turtle tracks, approach carefully in case the nester is still on the beach. If you must drive past a track site, drive low on the beach on the hard packed sand if possible. This will reduce your chances of running over a nest and the amount of the tracks that obliterate by driving over them. Following these guidelines will help ensure the survival of these endangered sea turtles and their eggs that many people are working diligently to help save.
Construction continues on Aquarius
The BACK PORCH oPEN 7 dAYS + nOON-2AM Live Music The Ones
April 4
Melissa Brooke
April 5
Gary P. Nunn
April 11
Larry Joe Taylor
April 12
Rankin Twins
April 18
Ruben V
April 19
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April 3, 2014
Beach Life
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A9
A 10
Island Moon
April 3, 2014