Texas sportsman april 15 by Texas Sportsman

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The Texas Sportsman / South Texas Golf Present

THE FIRST FISH & CHIP CLASSIC BROUGHT TO YOU BY Benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr

The Texas Sportsman & South Texas Golf present the first

South Texas Fish & Chip Classic

FISHING

SATURDAY, MAY 30, 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. WHITE SANDS MARINA, PORT ISABEL -- 3 persons per boat -- Must be in line at 3 p.m. for weigh-in -- Payouts 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Redfish Flounder and Trout -- Receive 1 point per pound of each judged fish for grand fish and chip title -- Captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting will be held from 6-10 p.m. at White Sands on Friday, May 29

GOLF SUNDAY, MAY 31 1 p.m. SHOTGUN START TIERRA DEL SOL, PHARR

$500 per team (covers fishing & golf)

-- 3 person team (can be same as fish team or exchange players! -- Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd -- Exciting games on course - Get a shot at $50,000! -- One golfer WILL win a cruise - guaranteed! -- 1 point per stroke under par for grand fish & chip title

CALL (956) 776-4623 or (956) 607-0853 TO SPONSOR OR REGISTER A TEAM TODAY!!!

Sponsors: Miller Lite, City of Pharr, Capital Farm Credit, White Sands Marina, Pueblo Tires

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PHARR

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L A R G E S T

R U R A L

L E N D E R

Singleterry excelled as an athlete and worked himself into a linebacker position on a football team at the Mcallen Boys & Girls Club – a position he played most of his high school and younger years – until his junior year when he beat out a senior on the PSJA High School team and was put in as the team's starting center. “There I was, just 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds and playing center,” Singleterry said. “I don't really know how that happened.” He thought he was returning his senior year back in his beloved linebacker position when coaches came up to him and persuaded him to play tight end. “They brainwashed me. They said that the offense would run to that side and they would throw that way and I'd catch some touchdowns,” he said. “I was like 'touchdowns?!' Let me give this tight end thing a try.” It turned out to be another good decision. Singleterry caught four TD passes that year include the team's first of the season. He ended up on the All Valley and All District teams. From high school it was off to the University of Houston for his undergrad degree and then the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. “That was a major step leaving the comfort of my home and parents to go to a real big city. Everything was different,” Singleterry said. “But all the work, the sacrifice – it was all worth it. Sometimes you don't realize it while you're going through it but

DECISIONS, DECISIONS Choices made at an early age - like walking to the Pharr Boys & Girls Club every day - helped mold, guide Singleterry in career and life Story by Henry Miller grades, grades, grades. That was a good thing.” If he wasn't out playing sports with his buddies, Singleterry recalls going fishing with his dad. “I remember the first time we went, I was really young,” he said. “I don't recall if we caught anything or not but I know I was hooked from that point. Later in life I had an uncle and cousin who exposed me even more to the hunting and fishing world. It was addicting.” Fishing, playing sports and the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr will all come together May 30-31 as the Texas Sportsman and South Texas Golf present the first Fish and Chip Classic (see ad on Page 2 and back cover). Three-person teams will head to White Sands in Port Isabel on Saturday, May 30 for the fishing part of the competition. Then on Sunday, May 30 they will trade in their boats and fishing rods for golf carts and golf clubs at Tierra del Sol. The two-day event will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr. “I don't know if all the things we did there growing up were free or not but I do know that they were never a burden financially on my parents,” Singleterry said. “Sports had a lot to do with my upbringing. Not only did I enjoy them but they taught me discipline, teamwork, hard work and sacrifice – all those things that come along with sports.”

It was a short walk to the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr from where future Judge Manuel Singleterry was raised. He and friends would walk that short distance, passing then Buell Elementary School and the old Pharr Police Department en route to the game du jour, whichever sport was in season – but especially basketball, football or baseball. Even back then a young Singleterry – who has made a life and career making decisions – had choices to make that would shape his future and put him on one path or another. “There was a lot of gang activity in the neighborhood I grew up in,” Singleterry said. “I stayed away from that stuff. I had a different set of friend – we enjoyed playing sports and had fun that way. At that time I could choose to go to the Boys & Girls Club or go with these other groups of guys, who were also having fun but doing mischievous things. It was one of the first good decisions I ever made in life.” Being able to go to the B&G Club was also based on another decision – keeping his grades up. “Before they had the no pass no play rule in school my parents made it a law in our household,” he said. “My dad was a teacher and my mom had very little education so they were both always stressing

RED SNAPPER ON LIGHT TACKLE; WHAT A WORKOUT

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picked up my buddy Joe Swoboda at 4:30 am and we began our trip to Port Mansfield, stoppingone more time to pick up the final leg of our party, Felipe “Flipside” Guajardo. The purpose of our trip was to tape another episode of The Texas Sportsman. As we pulled into the parking lot at our destination, we were greeted by Mike Resendez, owner of IWizard Company, and Albino Mendoza of IWizard, the company doing the actual taping of the TV show. Fred Rodriguez is the Texas Sportsman and has decades of experience Assisted by Gio Mares and Jorge Salcines on and knowledge regarding hunting the camera boat, we pulled out of the harbor. and fishing. You can watch his show, When heading out to the Gulf make sure you The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in the know what the seas are going to be. Rio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on Saturdays. Going to our fishing hole was exciting. It is breathtaking when you are headed out to the wide open Gulf of Mexico. I was ready to catch my first legal snapper, fishing with my 7-foot light action American Rodsmith and using my Lew’s SS 300a spinning reel with 12lb. Fins braided line. We were using pieces of squid for bait and started catching smaller fish than the 15-inch regulation. Later the fishing turned like wild fire and we were having a great time. The biggest one I caught was a 29-inch Red Snapper. We were fishing over a reef and the depth was 67 feet. We fished until about noon before being joined up with our other buddies. This type of fishing on light tackle is a workout. I strongly recommend that try it one day on light. Will see you next time, be safe and take your children fishing with you!!

The Texas Sportsman / South Texas Golf Present

THE FIRST FISH & CHIP CLASSIC BROUGHT TO YOU BY Benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr

ON THE COVER Arnie Segovia plans to defend his cook-off grand championship at the Pharr HubPhest . (tikitillmanphotos. com)

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

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

Name: 2nd Annual Fish 4 Autism Date: April 18 Time: Call for details Where: Arroyo City Contact: Mireya Chavez Phone: 956.212.8181 Name: Autonation Tournament Date: April 24-25 Time: Safe Daylight Where: Marker 37 Corpus Christi Contact: Todd Wilson/Scott Simmons Time: 361.249.6634/210.744.3577 Name: 9th Annual Big Dog Status Date: May 3 Time: 5am Where: Port Mansfield Pavillion Contact: J.R. Rodriguez Phone: 956.357.8944 Name: Port Isabel Bay Classic Date: May 8-9 Time: 4-9pm May 8 (Register) Where: Pirates Landing Fishing Pier Contact: Betty Wells Phone: 956.943.2262 Name: Shallow Sport Fishing Tournament Date: May 15-16 Time: 6:30am Where: Louie’s Back yard Contact: Wes Hudson Phone: 956.233.9489 Name: TITS Tournament Date: May 21-22

Texas Sportsman Magazine Calendar of Events Time: Call for Details Where: Jim’s Pier Contact: Charlie Cavazos Phone: 659.605.5441 Name: Willacy County Young Farmers Date: May 23 Time: 6am Where: Port Mansfield Contact: john.butler@cca.com Name: Texas Sportsman & South Texas Golf Fish and Chip Classic Date: May 30(Fish) - 31(Golf) Time: 6am Where: Port Isabel – South Padre Island – Tierra Del Sol Contact: Fred Rodriguez Phone: 956.776.4623 Name: City of Pharr Police Athletic League Date: June 5-6 Time: 6am Where: Port Mansfield Contact: Sara Guerra Phone: 956.402.4725 Name: 5th Annual Friends for Hope Date: June 6 Time: 6am Where: Louie’s Backyard Contact: Joey Holand Phone: 956.212.9081

INSIDE

then when you look back you understand. “And a lot of that hard work and determination and who I ended up being shaped as person has to do with my parents, the Boys & Girls and making right decisions.” Singleterry, who has been married for two years to Nereida Lopez Singleterry, an attorney who is a native of La Joya. passed his BAR exam in 1997 and as soon as he was done he came back to the Valley to begin practicing law, opening up his own law practice. He confined on that course until in 2004 when he was offered a position as a municipal judge in Pharr. Ten years later he ran – and won – the 92nd District Court Judge title. He was sworn in Jan. 1, 2015. “I was at a point in my life where I thought I had the right experience for the voters of Hidalgo County,” he said. “With my career and type of legal I had been doing on a daily basis I thought I could do this job. I made a run and thank God for the results.” And most of his results come from the decisions he made starting at a young age. “It's important no matter what your background is – whether you are poor or a minority – whatever setbacks you have, if you work hard, sacrifice, believe in yourself and obtain an education there are not limits to what you can accomplish. I got those first tastes of victory and defeat at a young age playing sports but that's what builds your character. You learn how to savor both, you learn from winning and losing. You build from there and those lessons you learn stay with you throughout time.”

20 Texas Sportsman Magazine and South Texas Golf Magazine have paired up to run the first Fish & Chip Classic, May 30-31 to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Pharr.

“Sports had a lot to do with my upbringing. Not only did I enjoy them but they taught me discipline, teamwork, hard work and sacrifice – all those things that come along with sports.”

WHAT’S INSIDE

24 Texas, Padre Island

Name: Dargel Fishing Tournament Date: June 6 Time: 6am Where: South Padre Convention Center Contact: Cleve Ford Time: 956.464.2263

Date

Day

135am

1.2

302pm

1.2

236am

1.3

306pm

1.1

2 3

420am

510am

1.1

Low Tide 828am

0.6

912am

0.7

953am

1.0

1032am

1.0

1113am

605am

1.3

242pm

1.0

706am

1.4

9 11 12

816am 933am

1.5

1046am

1.6

1145am 1229pm

1.6

102pm

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125pm

1.4

141pm

1.3

135am

Low Tide

1.3

Sunrise

1154pm 151pm

1.2 1.1

Sunset

834pm

0.8

720am

745pm

855pm

0.7

719am

746pm

918pm

0.5

718am

746pm

943pm

0.4

717am

747pm

1011pm

0.2

716am

747pm

0.9

1043pm

0.1

0.0

1204am

-0.1

1255am

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155am

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304am

0.0

419am

0.1 0.2

717pm

0.4

734pm

801am

0.5

804pm

537am 612am

719pm

722am 759am

955pm

837am 919am

749pm

712am

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711am

750pm 750pm

1143pm

1004am

1237am

1146am

130am

1242pm

751pm

221am

751pm

310am

707am

752pm

358am

706am

752pm

443am

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528am

257am

1.4

158pm

1.1

909am

0.7

841pm

0.1

704am

753pm

613am

412am

1.5

201pm

1.0

1015am

0.9

923pm

-0.2

703am

754pm

659am

1.6

159pm

1.1

1.0

1007pm

-0.4

141pm 346pm 450pm 554pm 659pm 804pm

Su Mo

634am

1.6

1053pm

-0.5

701am

755pm

836am

1009pm

745am

1.6

1142pm

-0.4

700am

755pm

928am

1108pm

856am

1.6

659am

756pm

1020am

1003am

1.6

1233am

-0.3

658am

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1114am

1203am

127am

-0.1

757pm

1207pm

1253am

23 24

1101am

1.5

1125am

702am

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747am

1146am

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226am

0.1

657am

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100pm

139am

1219pm

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0.3

656am

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152pm

221am

1242pm

1.4

1257pm

1.3

105am

1.2

216am

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1125pm

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New

908pm

26 28

3rd

243pm

19 20 21

523am

Full

1053am

709am 708am 0.9

705am

Phase

646am

810pm 902pm 1049pm

0.7 0.4

Moonset

538pm 628pm

748pm 748pm

710am

536am 651am

Moonrise

715am 714am 713am

1.6

Tu We Th

0.7 0.8 0.9

1203pm 1120pm

1.4

Th Sa Su Mo

14 15 16

SEND INFORMATION TO: joey.texassportsman@gmail.com

High Tide

305pm 301pm 254pm

WANT TO HAVE YOUR EVENT/FISHING TOURNAMENT PLACED IN OUR CALENDER OF EVENTS?

1.3 1.3 1.3

6 7

Name: Texas International Fishing Tournament (TIFT) Date: July 29 – August 2 Time: Call for details Where: Port Isabel - South Padre Island Contact: Kristi Collier Phone: 956.802.3475

High Tide

330am

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

April 2015

N 26° 04.1' / W 97° 09.4'

Name: 3rd Annual Full Pop Invitational Date: June 6-7 Time: 4pm Where: Port Mansfield Pavillion Contact: Frank Enriquez Phone: 956.369.0211

442am

0.5

712pm

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655am

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1st

Photos from the Los Cataneros del Valle 1st Gar and Catfish Roundup

FOR ADVERTISING YOUR EVENT/ TOURNAMENT CALL JOEY AT (956) 607-0853.

New program aims to ensure angler “get theirs” for Red Snapper

Above, Joe Swoboda, Fred Rodriguez and Felipe “Flipside” Guajardo enjoying a day out on the water catching Red Snapper. Left, Fred hauls one in. Volume 2, Isssue 2. April 2015. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors or its publisher. Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy in the material published in this magazine. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. Texas

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

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

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

AUSTIN– Red snapper are a favorite among anglers for its tenacious fight and, arguably, as the tastiest fish in the Gulf. But management of the species over the years has been challenging and controversial. In light of those challenges, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries Division staff is asking recreational anglers for assistance to help manage red snapper. Beginning June 1, Texas anglers (with the exception of party boat anglers) are asked to report their red snapper landings via a short online survey at www.tpwd. texas.gov/snapper. At the end of each day’s trip or soon afterwards, parties that land red snapper are asked to submit basic information about the trip’s total red snapper catch, the date it occurred, number of fish landed, etc. Only one person needs to report for the entire angling party. Anglers fishing from party boats are exempt from reporting as the captain reports for then. Party boats are generally larger

boats where people pay per person, as opposed to paying a single fee (for one or more persons) for a guided trip. This data will be used in conjunction with current harvest monitoring programs, and will be useful in designing future harvest monitoring programs. It will also serve as an indicator of the health of the red snapper fishery off Texas shores. “Anglers are strongly encouraged to report their landings,” said Robin Riechers, TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division Director. “Not only does it help manage the fishery, but it allows all red snapper anglers to get involved in management of the species.” Texas and the other four Gulf states, cooperatively with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), manage red snapper in federal waters. One of the key pieces of information in the management of the red snapper fishery is the total recreational harvest, that is, how many red snapper are landed by recreational anglers in a given

year. Texas state waters (less than 9 nautical miles from shore) are open year-round for red snapper with a four fish bag limit and a minimum size limit of 15 inches. Regulations in federal waters (greater than 9 nautical miles from shore) may differ from state regulations. This year, the recreational season in federal waters will run June 1-9 with a two fish daily bag limit and 16inch minimum length limit. While TPWD currently performs routine dockside creel surveys to monitor the landings and fishing effort for a variety of species along the Texas coast, this pilot program will utilize angler reported data to compliment these routine surveys allowing for better estimation of the recreational red snapper landings in the state. If you have further questions regarding red snapper management and/or the reporting program, contact the TPWD Coastal Fisheries office at 361-825-3356.

COME VISIT US TODAY FOR GREAT OFFERS AND UNBEATABLE SERVICE

NICE CATCH Check out photos readers submitted to us of their most recent catches.

AMIGO POWER EQUIPMENT 304 W MONTE CRISTO ROAD EDINBURG, TX

8 CHALLENGING Fred Rodriguez goes after Red Snapper on light tackle.

Calito Gonzales (son of writer Calixto Gonzales) with Capt. Jimmy Martinez. My how time flies.

TIME WELL SPENT By Calixto Gonzales

My boy. He grew up with a rod and reel in his hands, beet red and smelling of sun block and fish slime. I will miss those times.

y son graduates high school in June. It’s a bittersweet time for me. It means that 18 years of hard work, frustration, long nights, study sessions, tantrums, encouragement and worry are over. It also means Sandie and I got our boy to adulthood (or at least what passes for adulthood to an 18-year-old in the 21st Century). After he, to borrow a line from Nature Boy Ric Flair, walks that aisle, he gets his diploma and launches into college and the rest of his life. My wife and I? We’re going fishing! The time on the boat will be the bitter part of the bittersweet. More often than not, there will be an empty spot on The Teacher’s Pet. My best fishing partner, with whom I have shared many a boat, and many more memories has

moved on. Oh, I’m sure he’ll fish with me whenever he can, but something tells me that “whenever” will be few and far between. My son will have his own life, his own direction, and most of the time he does fish, it will most likely be with his friends, and not his crusty, grumpy old man and perfectionist mother. It’s the way of things. Our children grow up, and they create their own spheres of influence. You did it. So did I. Whenever I watch the Texas Sportsman on FOX and see Fred dedicate an episode of his show to hunting or fishing with his daughter Hannah, I smile. Waves of nostalgia wash over me as memories of time spent with my boy at similar tender ages fill my mind. I see him as a spirited 4-year old, a Snoopy pole bent in a “C” as a 12-pound

GOING S ON? All sorts of fishing tournaments and events around South Texas.

TIDES Do you want to see the best times to fish - check out our tides pages.

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sheepshead rampaged in the Finger Channel just off of Pompano Street in Port Isabel (how he landed the monstrous convict fish with that thin line and tiny rod is still amazing to me, as was how happy he was - not for catching the fish, but for saving his Snoopy bobber). Then he’s a tall, thin 12-year-old hanging on for dear life as a 32-inch redfish tears across the Lower Laguna Madre and strips line from the Shimano rod and reel that I gave him for his birthday while Captain Jimmy Martinez and I stood by and hollered encouragement. Then he’s 15, still tall and a little broader, doubled over with a horrible case of food poisoning, thanks to eating an order of crab nachos he’d left on the hotel room counter overnight, but having enough grit to catch a 5-spot redfish Texas Sportsman Saltwater Fishing that was good enough to win Editor Calixto Gonzales has been an the Junior Division in the outdoor writer for 15 years and a Dargel Owners tournament. school teacher for 20. The fish he He even showed up, pale and doesn’t catch are left very intimidated. wobbly, to accept his trophy. My boy. He grew up with a rod and reel in his hands, beet red and smelling of sun block and fish slime. I will miss those times. I’d be a liar if I said all my fishing trips with my son were successful, or even memorable. There were plenty of times where the only fish biting were hardhead catfish and pinfish. My son never cared, however. He was fishing, and he was having a blast. Even when we fight — and fathers and sons always fight — there is still that inextricable link we created with time spent on the water, from getting up on dark mornings to get to Port Mansfield or Port Isabel and on the water at first light. Even when he doesn’t like me too much, he has those memories and that bond. If for no other reason than those, the time I spent on the water with my boy was well-spent. Every fun, exciting, frustrating, maddening minute of it. I’m gratified when I see grown parents continue the outdoor tradition through their children. I love meeting men and women who love to regal me with stories not of what they’ve caught, but what their sons and daughters have caught. The look of pride and excitement on their faces tells me as much as the details of their stories. They also make me think of my son and our stories. I also look forward to hearing his stories with his children…if anyone will have him (I kid, I kid). He’ll discover how much that time with his kids is time wellspent. As I wrote this, it was one week to the Super Bowl. Some of the commercials that will fill the airwaves during the big game are already being leaked out. One that jumps out is Always Feminine Products’ “…Like a Girl” commercial. They attack the put downs such as “you hit like a girl,” or “you run like a girl,” and show girls going through the various motions of running, hitting, throwing, and other things girls allegedly do badly. If they wanted to be especially effective, they should include the phrase “you fish like a girl,” and go about showing women such as Sugar Ferris and Cindy Garrison. THAT would have been a great message.

SHARK FISHING

Brent Johnson and crew’s trek into a new adventure led them to thrills, spills and pushed them to their limits BY BRENT JOHNSON Special to Texas Sportsman A while back my friend and I decided we wanted to do something different from the beatin’ path of the summer bay. That something turned out to be land-based shark fishing. This is fishing’s version of chasing Cape Buffalo on the African Savannah in that this sport is spiced with danger. Like Captain Quint said in Jaws, ”not like goin down the pond chasin bluegills or tommy cods. This shark, swallow you whole. Little shakin’, little tenderizin’, and down you go.” I’m talking about targeting a fish that could potentially target you. That’s not the only risk. Drowning, getting impaled by large hooks, or bodily injury from prop blades running through the surf. Usually this all happens far from medical attention. So buyer beware and be prepared. Six years ago my buddy and I put our money together and bought a small zodiac raft, equipped with a 15 horsepower outboard engine. We purchased a

few offshore rods that provided enough line capacity to reach beyond the third sand bar and then some. We made our own spider weights from melting down used tire balance lead and poured into copper tubing. After researching online we devised a plan to venture up the beach far north of South Padre’s lights. We broke camp with a table full of tackle and some lanterns in front of a massive sand dune that had lots of broken shell. As the sun went down we deployed our first bait 300 to 400 yards off shore. There’s definitely some pucker factor when you look back at your spot on the beach and it looks really small, but then even more so when that spot becomes a little light as darkness swallows you whole. The running is definitely part of the fun, but the thought of the line getting snagged and coming taut is a very real concern as the hook could easily grab you and pull you out of the boat, or puncture a hole in the raft. Once I reach the magic spot I pull the coiled leader out of the bucket. Attached to the leader is a 12 ot hook wrapped in electrical tape. The tape disguises the metal hook, which puts out a minute static electricity. Sharks have very sensitive noses and may pass on a bait that has amp.

GAR GRABBING Photos from the first Gar and Catfish Tournament.

On the hook is a 12 inch Black Back Ballyhoo ziptied so it won’t come off in the current. Our line is 80lb. braid attached to 90lb. weed wacker leader that is strong enough to withstand sand bars, sand paper skin and razor sharp teeth. There is also a second leader line attached to the weight. This leader is weaker and meant to break off once the fish has taken the hook. Now that I have uncoiled the leader it is ready to drop. At this point I send a signal with my flashlight telling the man onshore to set the weight into the sand by taking up all the slack. This keeps the bait from drifting parallel to the beach and out past the breakers. Once back onshore we kick back to cold beer and stories of exgirlfriends. Pretty soon we hear the drag peeling line. The man closest to the rod picks it up and runs up the beach toward the dunes. This action along with the heavy weight on the second leader drives the hook into the sharks jaw. The fish starts to fight even more now that he knows something is wrong. Five minutes in and he breaks the line. About an hour later same thing, same result. On the third bite, however, we got ourselves a fish! After 40 minutes of cranking, a large dorsal fin can be seen swimming through the surf. It turns out to be a 6-foot Bull Shark - one of the meanest sharks, known to have more testosterone than any other animal on the planet. It is also the culprit with the most attacks on man! We attach a rope to his tail and proceed to take pictures. It feels like I’m holding the tail of Satan as he is all muscle with

rough skin one direction and smooth the other. He wakes up and slaps me in the chest, giving us all a good scare. Once photographed we release the beast back to the sea walking him part of the way. Our first trip was a great success in our minds as we did something that required lots of preparation and teamwork. The two trips after did not yield such glory as the first. Summary of the second trip: mosquitos and electrical storms. The third trip was a plan B with a kayak when our outboard wouldn’t start. The seas were mighty rough that night. I got dumped off three times before making it past the third breaker. When I was finally out far enough and leaned back to drop my bait, a big wave

rolled me just enough to where I went in head first. Quickly, I made the decision to let go of the line before it entangled me. There I was treading water in the deep, black ocean with a big, dead bait around me. Seconds seemed like minutes as I looked at the backside of big waves opening and closing my site of the distant beach. I swam back to the kayak 10 yards away, somehow managing to find the paddle. I went back in on my belly. I’d had enough fun for the night. My buddy Chase Smith attempted and had similar results. It just wasn’t our night. The last shark trip we ever made was an early morning sunrise adventure. Again, we were looking at a morning with heavy surf. It was one of those rare

34 DON’T FORGET Always remember to drop your sea anchor.

GETTING LUCKY

Author admits the most consistent part of his hunting may be his luck By Alberto Santos ABOUT THIS ARTICLE I have never denied being lucky. When confronted with the accusation, I have always confessed that it is true: I am lucky. So if you call any shot I make as “luck” or even “pure luck” I will not feel insulted. But if you were to hunt with me regularly, you may have to admit that I am consistently lucky. I occasionally have bad luck but it does not happen very often and I certainly have my share of missed shots. That is why in the second half of this article I share two of my most memorable misses. DOVE SHOTS Even I can’t believe some of these shots, but I promise they are all true. Because I know that some of you may doubt the truthfulness of these stories I have subtitled each story with the name of the witness to the shot. Don’t ask me if any of these stories are true. Of course they are all true. But if you have doubts ask my witnesses.

Life is good and sometimes sweeter when we push ourselves to the limit, possibly kiss death and live to write about it later.

CARMEN SANTOS My wife was the witness to my first incredible dove shot. She and I were dove hunting in Laredo, Texas. This was before we had children and it was the first time I took her dove hunting. I had decided I was going to teach her all the basics of dove hunting in one day. For some unknown reason she got a little frustrated at all my coaching.

We were hunting on the Bustamante Farm. This was a farm south of Laredo on the Mines Road. The month was November and the morning doves were flying south. Carmen and I had picked a good fly path by a large eucalyptus tree. The birds were coming from the north and flying straight at us. Being that this was not opening day of dove season, all birds were high flyers. These were late season birds that had been shot up through Iowa, Oklahoma and all of north and central Texas. By the time they got the Laredo they were flying high and on full afterburners. In spite of the high degree of shooting difficulty, I was leading the birds perfectly and dropping them with regularity. When I thought a bird was low and slow I would encourage Carmen to take a shot. She was missing…..all of them. I guess you could have said she was not having any luck. One particular bird, which was about to become immortalized in my personal history of hunting, came in straight at me and was flying very fast. The bird was not very high but it sure was coming in fast. I did not think Carmen could get it so I stood up from my folding stool and took my shot. To my surprise……I mean…. as I expected, the bird folded up and dropped. But I was still coming straight at me and was going to hit me. I closed my eyes , squeezed my knees together and went into a modified hunkering position.

Next, I feel a thump just above the knees. And to my amazement…..I mean… as planned, I caught the dead bird between my legs before it hit the ground. Now I am sure some of you reading this might be wondering why I closed my eyes. The reason I closed my eyes, is that I have always been a sportsman. I thought it would be more challenging to catch the dead bird with my eyes closed. Carmen congratulated me on my fine shot and laughed at how I caught it. This was my first incredible dove shot but not my last. JAIME HERRERA My good friend Jaime Herrera and I met at St. Mary’s University. We were both attending graduate school at night. When I started graduate school I was only taking one class per semester and the study load was fairly easy. As I got close to earning my MBA I became anxious and wanted to finish up sooner. Jaime and I were in many of the same classes. Somehow, I convinced Jaime that if one class was easy, two would be twice as easy. Needless to say, our next semester was really tough but we stuck it out taking two classes per semester. Jaime and I both had full time jobs so we covered for each other when by chance we had to miss a class. We also studied for exams together. During one of our much study session we discovered we both liked to hunt. That year we made it a point to find good

dove hunting areas near our home in San Antonio. It was on one of these late afternoon hunts that I made my second incredible shot. The dove was a high flyer coming straight at me. I shot and instantly knew when the bird folded that I had a very good chance of catching it. I had time to put the gun on safety and with my left-hand open the pouch on the back of my shooting vest. The bird went straight in. It was near the end of the day so we stopped the hunt and went to have a beer to celebrate my good fortune. Now verifying this one will be a little tough. You see, my good friend Jaime passed away some ago. But when you get to heaven you can check on this one. ERICH BLOOMBERG Erich was a consultant with Hewitt Associates in the Woodlands, Tx. While working together on a client assignment, I discovered that he came from Kansas. Not only that, but he was a bird hunter and loved to hunt doves. Erich had heard that during dove season, it was rumored that I carried a shotgun and camouflage clothes in the trunk of my car. He had also heard that on certain afternoons I would disappear after lunch and could not be reached till the next day. Being a good Kansas boy he asked if I knew of any good places to go dove hunting and before you knew it we had made a date to hunt. He flew in the client meeting in San Antonio. Erich came to San Antonio to consult with Client on some important issue. The meeting was carefully scheduled for the morning so we had the whole afternoon was free of comitments. After our morning meeting and lunch

we went to a little farm just outside San Antonio. I had never hunted there before. I got the name and number from an ad in the San Antonio paper. The gentlemen said he did not have very many hunters during the week so I thought we would have lots of open spaces to pick a good spot. When we got to the farm, there were a few birds flying. Erich was shooting with one of my guns so he had a ready excuse for all his misses. After two misses, Erich went on a hot streak. He nailed three birds in a row and instantly earned my respect for shooting under pressure. The pressure came from my red-hot shooting on that day. I was shooting my favorite Spanish side by side and I was very confident. Erich will tell you just how lucky I really was. I shot the first 5 birds that flew near me. Not only was I “5 for 5” that day I caught the last dead bird with my right hand before it hit the ground. This time I had to run a bit to catch it. When the bird folded I knew I had a chance at catching it and I went for it. We did not kill our limits that day but we both had a good story to tell. MIGUEL SANTOS The last witness is my son Miguel. We went dove hunting just west of Sabinal on a day lease. I had hunted that field just one-week prior so I asked to go to the same spot. We arrived at the field before sun up but right away I knew it was not going to be a good day. No one else was hunting the field. Usually there are several people at the good spots. As the sun showed us its first rays of light the sky was very still. I sat and watched

the eastern horizon and did not see a single bird. I told myself the birds may be moving later, but I did not believe my own lie. I knew this was a good spot. The week before I had limited out (15 birds) by 7:30 am. It was one of those days when you could pick your shots. I only shot at birds I was sure I could hit. This was not going to be one of those days. Eventually the birds started to move but they were very scarce. Miguel was a good sport but he felt he really needed to go to his 11 AM class at St. Mary’s University. I did not blame him. But before we left we decided to hunt by the gate near the road. Miguel set up about 30 yards to my left. I was close to the front gate. Out in front, I saw a dove flying towards us. It was flying low--about 40 feet off the ground. “Miguel,” I called out, thinking he would swing into a bird coming between us. Just when I yelled the bird diverted and was now coming straight to me. I instinctively swung and shot once. The bird folded came right at me. I shifted the gun to my right hand and I caught it with my left hand. I actually dropped the bird after I had caught it because the bird’s beak stung my hand. Miguel gave me credit for the lucky shot and the very lucky catch. Miguel has seen other lucky shots in Africa so he was not overly impressed with my continuous streak in incredibly lucky shots.

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

Photos opposite page: (Left) The author going for a high flier on an Argentina dove hunt. (Middle) Another lucky shot by the author. (Right). The author always smiles after a lucky shot. Photos Above: (Left) My wife Carmen (In the straw hat) witnessed my first incredible dove shot and amazing catch. (Middle) My son Miguel witnessed one of my incredible dove shots and I witnessed his one bullet for two pigs shot. (Right) Erich Blumberg, a living witness to one of my amazing and incredible dove shots.

THAT’S MY BOY

SHARK SMARTS

GOOD, OR LUCKY?

Writer Calixto Gonzales recalls some great times with his son - his soon-to-be graduating son.

Brent Johnson enjoyed the adrenaline rush of shark fishing - even after a somewhat kiss of death event.

Author admits to plenty of great - and lucky - hunting shots.

Red Snapper on Light TaCKLE; What A Workout

FREE! TAKE ONE!

FREE! TAKE ONE

picked up my buddy Joe Swoboda at 4:30 am and we began our trip to Port Mansfield, stopping one more time to pick up the final leg of our party, Felipe “Flipside” Guajardo. The purpose of our trip was to tape another episode of The Texas Sportsman. As we pulled into the parking lot of our destination, we were greeted by Mike Resendez, owner of IWizard, and Albino Mendoza of IWizard, the company doing the actual taping of the TV show. Assisted by Gio Mares and Jorge Salcines on Fred Rodriguez is the Texas Sportsthe camera boat, we pulled out of the harbor. man and has decades of experience When heading out in the Gulf, make sure you and knowledge regarding hunting and fishing. You can watch his show, know what the seas are going to be. The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in the Arriving at our fishing hole was exciting. It is Rio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on breathtaking when you are headed out to the Saturdays. wide open Gulf of Mexico. I was ready to catch my first legal snapper, fishing with my 7-foot light action American Rodsmith and using my Lew’s SS 300a spinning reel with 12lb. Fins braided line. We were using pieces of squid for bait and started catching smaller fish than the 15-inch regulation. Later the fishing turned like wild fire and we were having a great time. The biggest one I caught was a 29-inch Red Snapper while we were fishing over a reef and the depth was 67 feet. We fished until about noon before being joined up with our other buddies. This type of fishing on light tackle is a workout. I strongly recommend that you try it one day on light tackle. Will see you next time. Be safe and take your children fishing with you!!

The Texas Sportsman / South Texas Golf Present

THE FIRST FISH & CHIP CLASSIC BROUGHT TO YOU BY Benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr

ON THE COVER The First Fish & Chip Classic will take place May 30-31 and benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Pharr.

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

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

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

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

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Name: Dargel Fishing Tournament Date: June 6 Time: 6am Where: South Padre Convention Center Contact: Cleve Ford Time: 956.464.2263 Name: 3rd Annual Full Pop Invitational Date: June 6-7 Time: 4pm Where: Port Mansfield Pavillion Contact: Frank Enriquez Phone: 956.369.0211 Name: Texas International Fishing Tournament (TIFT) Date: July 29 – August 2 Time: Call for details Where: Port Isabel - South Padre Island Contact: Kristi Collier Phone: 956.802.3475

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New program aims to ensure angler “get theirs” for Red Snapper AUSTIN– Red snapper are a favorite among anglers for its tenacious fight and, arguably, as the tastiest fish in the Gulf. But management of the species over the years has been challenging and controversial. In light of those challenges, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries Division staff is asking recreational anglers for assistance to help manage red snapper. Beginning June 1, Texas anglers (with the exception of party boat anglers) are asked to report their red snapper landings via a short online survey at www.tpwd. texas.gov/snapper. At the end of each day’s trip or soon afterwards, parties that land red snapper are asked to submit basic information about the trip’s total red snapper catch, the date it occurred, number of fish landed, etc. Only one person needs to report for the entire angling party. Anglers fishing from party boats are exempt from reporting as the captain reports for then. Party boats are generally larger

Calito Gonzales (son of writer Calixto Gonzales) with Capt. Jimmy Martinez. My how time flies.

TIME WELL SPENT By Calixto Gonzales

My boy. He grew up with a rod and reel in his hands, beet red and smelling of sun block and fish slime. I will miss those times.

SHARK FISHING Brent Johnson and crew’s trek into a new adventure led them to thrills and spills, pushing them to their limits BY BRENT JOHNSON Special to Texas Sportsman A while back my friend and I decided we wanted to do something different from the beatin’ path of the summer bay. That something turned out to be land-based shark fishing. This is fishing’s version of chasing Cape Buffalo on the African Savannah in that this sport is spiced with danger. Like Captain Quint said in Jaws, ”not like goin’ down the pond chasin bluegills or tommy cods. This shark, swallow you whole. Little shakin’, little tenderizin’, and down you go.” I’m talking about targeting a fish that could potentially target you. That’s not the only risk. Drowning, getting impaled by large hooks, or bodily injury from prop blades running through the surf. Usually this all happens far from medical attention. So buyer beware and be prepared. Six years ago my buddy and I put our money together and bought a small zodiac raft, equipped with a 15-horsepower outboard engine. We purchased a

skin one direction and smooth the other. He wakes up and slaps me in the chest, giving us all a good scare. Once photographed we release the beast back to the sea walking him part of the way. Our first trip was a great success in our minds as we did something that required lots of preparation and teamwork. The two trips after did not yield such glory as the first. Summary of the second trip: mosquitos and electrical storms. The third trip was a plan B with a kayak when our outboard wouldn’t start. The seas were mighty rough that night. I got dumped off three times before making it past the third breaker. When I was finally out far enough and leaned back to drop my bait, a big wave

rolled me just enough to where I went in head first. Quickly, I made the decision to let go of the line before it entangled me. There I was, treading water in the deep, black ocean with a big, dead bait around me. Seconds seemed like minutes as I looked at the backside of big waves opening and closing my site of the distant beach. I swam back to the kayak 10 yards away, somehow managing to find the paddle. I went back in on my belly. I’d had enough fun for the night. My buddy Chase Smith attempted and had similar results. It just wasn’t our night. The last shark trip we ever made was an early morning sunrise adventure. Again, we were looking at a morning with heavy surf. It was one of those rare

Life is good and sometimes sweeter when we push ourselves to the limit, possibly kiss death and live to write about it later. 16

moments where we had good waves - if we were there to surf - but we looked at each other and wondered whether we could safely accomplish our goal. Chase fired up the engine and I jumped in, holding the bucket containing our hook and leader. He gunned it and we launched over the first sand bar. He timed the second bar and as a big wave started to build he gunned it again, launching with more air. When we landed this time, the engine stalled. He pulled the starter, but no luck. Yard sale is the only outcome if we don’t act fast. I grabbed a paddle and somehow made it over the last sand bar before the wave crashed. At 300 yards we deployed the bait and tried to time it back in. We ended up a quarter mile down the beach from the rod. Our buddy onshore forgot, or wasn’t briefed on setting the weight into the sand and our bait drifted parallel to the shoreline. All that work and our hopes for catching a shark were diminished. Chase walked off and I sat there thinking about the drive ahead. Then, out of nowhere, Chris yells out in a high octave “Brent!” I looked over to see him fighting a fish. A crowd started to gather as Chris brings in a 4-foot Blacktip. What a glorius reward on a beautiful beach. I haven’t chased shark since. It requires a lot of work, but I can say after writing this article my next trip will be as soon as I’m feeling the itch. Life is good and sometimes sweeter when we push ourselves to the limit, possibly kiss death and live to write about it later. I highly recommend this adventure to anyone willing to seek the boundaries of our human existence. See you on the water!

DECISIONS, DECISIONS Choices made at an early age - like walking to the Pharr Boys & Girls Club every day - helped mold, guide Singleterry in career and life Story by Henry Miller It was a short walk to the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr from where future Judge Manuel Singleterry was raised. He and friends would walk that short distance, passing then Buell Elementary School and the old Pharr Police Department en route to the game du jour, whichever sport was in season – but especially basketball, football or baseball. Even back then a young Singleterry – who has made a life and career of making decisions – had choices to make that would shape his future and put him on one path or another. “There was a lot of gang activity in the neighborhood I grew up in,” Singleterry said. “I stayed away from that stuff. I had a different set of friends – we enjoyed playing sports and had fun that way. At that time I could choose to go to the Boys & Girls Club or go with these other groups of guys, who were also having fun but doing mischievous things. It was one of the first good decisions I ever made in life.” Being able to go to the B&G Club was also based on another decision – keeping his grades up. “Before they had the no pass, no play rule in school my parents made it a law in our household,” he said. “My dad was a teacher and my mom had very little education so they were both always stressing

grades, grades, grades. That was a good thing.” If he wasn't out playing sports with his buddies, Singleterry recalls going fishing with his dad. “I remember the first time we went, I was really young,” he said. “I don't recall if we caught anything or not but I know I was hooked from that point. Later in life I had an uncle and cousin who exposed me even more to the hunting and fishing world. It was addicting.” Fishing, playing sports and the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr will all come together May 30-31 as the Texas Sportsman and South Texas Golf present the first Fish and Chip Classic (see ad on Page 2 and back cover). Three-person teams will head to White Sands in Port Isabel on Saturday, May 30 for the fishing part of the competition. Then on Sunday, May 31 they will trade in their boats and fishing rods for golf carts and golf clubs at Tierra del Sol. The two-day event will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr. “I don't know if all the things we did there growing up were free or not but I do know that they were never a burden financially on my parents,” Singleterry said. “Sports had a lot to do with my upbringing. Not only did I enjoy them but they taught me discipline, teamwork, hard work and sacrifice – all those things that come along with sports.”

Singleterry excelled as an athlete and worked himself into a linebacker position on a football team at the Mcallen Boys & Girls Club – a position he played most of his high school and younger years – until his junior year when he beat out a senior on the PSJA High School team and was put in as the team's starting center. “There I was, just 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds and playing center,” Singleterry said. “I don't really know how that happened.” He thought he was returning his senior year back in his beloved linebacker position when coaches came up to him and persuaded him to play tight end. “They brainwashed me. They said that the offense would run to that side and they would throw that way and I'd catch some touchdowns,” he said. “I was like 'touchdowns?!' Let me give this tight end thing a try.” It turned out to be another good decision. Singleterry caught four TD passes that year, including the team's first of the season. He ended up on the All Valley and All District teams. From high school it was off to the University of Houston for his undergrad degree and then the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. “That was a major step leaving the comfort of my home and parents to go to a real big city. Everything was different,” Singleterry said. “But all the work, the sacrifice – it was all worth it. Sometimes you don't realize it while you're going through it but

then when you look back you understand. “A lot of that hard work and determination and who I ended up being shaped as a person has to do with my parents, the Boys & Girls Club and making right decisions.” Singleterry, who has been married for two years to Nereida Lopez Singleterry, an attorney who is a native of La Joya, passed his BAR exam in 1997 and as soon as he was done he came back to the Valley to begin practicing law, opening up his own law practice. He continued on that course until 2004, when he was offered a position as a municipal judge in Pharr. Ten years later he ran – and won – the 92nd District Court Judge title. He was sworn in Jan. 1, 2015. “I was at a point in my life where I thought I had the right experience for the voters of Hidalgo County,” he said. “With my career and type of legal work I had been doing on a daily basis, I thought I could do this job. I made a run and thank God for the results.” Most of his results come from the decisions he made starting at a young age. “It's important no matter what your background is – whether you are poor or a minority – whatever setbacks you have, if you work hard, sacrifice, believe in yourself and obtain an education there are no limits to what you can accomplish. I got those first tastes of victory and defeat at a young age playing sports but that's what builds your character. You learn how to savor both, you learn from winning and losing. You build from there and those lessons you learn stay with you throughout time.”

“Sports had a lot to do with my upbringing. Not only did I enjoy them but they taught me discipline, teamwork, hard work and sacrifice – all those things that come along with sports.”

Texas, Padre Island

April 2015

N 26° 04.1' / W 97° 09.4' Date

Day

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135am

High Tide 1.2

302pm

High Tide 1.2

828am

Low Tide 0.6

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745pm

538pm

537am

236am

1.3

306pm

1.1

912am

0.7

855pm

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719am

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628pm

612am

330am

1.3

305pm

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1.3

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1032am

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747pm

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510am

1.3

254pm

1.0

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0.9

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0.2

716am

747pm

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759am

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1.3

242pm

1.0

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0.1

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919am

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221am

141pm

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1.5

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Texas, Padre Island

May 2015

N 26° 04.1' / W 97° 09.4' Date

Day

Sunrise

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Moonrise

Moonset

314am

High Tide 1.3

104pm

High Tide 1.1

856am

Low Tide 1.0

821pm

Low Tide 0.3

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800pm

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521am

405am

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1249am

-0.1

639am

812pm

1142am

1216am

1034am

1.4

136am

0.1

639am

812pm

1234pm

1257am

1055am

1.3

227am

0.4

637pm

0.8

638am

813pm

125pm

135am

1107am

1.3

325am

0.6

624pm

0.7

638am

813pm

215pm

211am

1200am

0.9

1112am

1.2

433am

0.8

638pm

0.5

638am

814pm

305pm

246am

145am

1.0

1112am

1.1

552am

0.9

659pm

0.3

637am

814pm

356pm

320am

255am

1.1

1106am

1.1

714am

1.0

723pm

0.1

637am

815pm

447pm

356am

348am

1.2

1051am

1.1

843am

1.0

749pm

-0.1

637am

815pm

540pm

433am

1.3

818pm

-0.3

637am

816pm

635pm

513am

0.9

Full

1037am

904pm

Phase

3rd

New

1st

MAY 2015 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES

APR. 2015 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES DAY

MOON

COMMENTS

APOGEE

GOOD FRIDAY

FULL MOON

A.M.

BEST

11:44

P.M.

12:09

EASTER SUNDAY

12:07

12:32

12:52

1:17

1:27

1:52

2:11

2:36

2:56

3:21 4:08

4:32

4:57

5:23

5:48

6:16

6:41

7:10

7:35

8:05

8:30

8:59

9:24

9:54

10:19

15 W

10:49

11:12

T F

3:43

PERIGEE

11:43 12:08

12:38

1:03

1:34

1:59

2:30

20 M

2:55

3:26

NEW MOON

1:39

2:04

2:28

2:53

3:19

3:44

4:12

4:37

5:06

5:31

6:01

6:26

MOTHER’S DAY

6:55

7:20

11 M 12 T

LAST QUARTER

7:48

8:13

8:41

9:06

13 W 14 T 15

18 M 19 T

9:59 10:52

11:20

11:45 12:15

12:40 NEW MOON

1:10

1:35

2:06

2:31

3:02 3:56 4:49

5:14

5:39

6:04

6:26

6:51

7:11

FIRST QUARTER/MEMORIAL DAY

7:36

7:54

APOGEE

8:19

8:37

3:51

4:22 5:16

5:41

6:09

6:34

6:59

7:24

7:46

25 M 26 T

8:11

8:32

27 M

8:57 APOGEE

9:34 10:27

4:21

4:47

28 T

PERIGEE

3:27

FIRST QUARTER

FULL MOON

20 W 21 T

22 W

P.M.

BEST

A.M.

11:49

LAST QUARTER

COMMENTS

1:09

13 M

MOON

12:44

12:14

BEST

DAY

9:02

9:19

9:16

27 W 28 T

9:44

10:02

9:41

9:59

10:27

10:46

29 W

10:24

10:41

11:11

11:32

30 T

11:06

11:24

11:57

BEST MORNINGS OR AFTERNOONS

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

WHAT ARE LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES? Hunters, fishermen and farmers since ancient times have known of a certain relationship between the moon and nature. They knew that at certain times of the day the world of the animal kingdom came alive with activity. This knowledge had been passed on from generation to generation and used for their basic needs: planting, hunting and fishing. Today we have come to understand the scientific basis for the moon’s biological effect on all wildlife and marine life. Very simply, it is peak gravitation of the moon that stimulates animal activity. That’s why deer, cattle and marine life feed at the same time of the day or night. This gravitational stimulus is at its greatest when the moon is directly overhead or on the opposite side of the Earth. A law of physics states that for every pull there is an equal and opposite push. In other words, as the Earth rotates on its axis, any location on Earth will each day pass under two peak gravitational forces occurring 12 ½ hours apart. These peak forces coincide with lunar transit times. The following lunar transit times coincide with high tide and increased game and fish activity. Just like at high tide, animal activity increases, peaks, then decreases around transit times. This “window” of activity usually lasts 2-4 hours. What this all means is that the best hunting and fishing occurs when gravitation is greatest at transit times of the moon. From Dr. Oscar Sotelo’s Lunar Transit Times, 20th edition

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GETTING LUCKY Author admits the most consistent part of his hunting may be his luck By Alberto Santos ABOUT THIS ARTICLE I have never denied being lucky. When confronted with the accusation, I have always confessed that it is true: I am lucky. So if you call any shot I make as “luck” or even “pure luck” I will not feel insulted. But, if you were to hunt with me regularly, you may have to admit that I am consistently lucky. I occasionally have bad luck, but it does not happen very often and I certainly have my share of missed shots. That is why in part two of this article I share two of my most memorable misses. DOVE SHOTS Even I can’t believe some of these shots, but I promise they are all true. Because I know that some of you may doubt the truthfulness of these stories I have subtitled each story with the name of the witness to the shot. Don’t ask me if any of these stories are true. Of course they are all true. But if you have doubts ask my witnesses. CARMEN SANTOS My wife was the witness to my first incredible dove shot. She and I were dove hunting in Laredo, Texas. This was before we had children. It was the first time I took her dove hunting. I had decided I was going to teach her all the basics of dove hunting in one day. For some unknown reason she got a little frustrated at all my coaching.

We were hunting on the Bustamante Farm. This was a farm south of Laredo on the Mines Road. The month was November and the morning doves were flying south. Carmen and I had picked a good fly path by a large eucalyptus tree. The birds were coming from the north and flying straight at us. Being that this was not opening day of dove season, all birds were high flyers. These were late season birds that had been shot up through Iowa, Oklahoma and all of north and central Texas. By the time they got to Laredo they were flying high and on full afterburners. In spite of the high degree of shooting difficulty, I was leading the birds perfectly and dropping them with regularity. When I thought a bird was low and slow I would encourage Carmen to take a shot. She was missing…..all of them. I guess you could have said she was not having any luck. One particular bird, which was about to become immortalized in my personal history of hunting, came in straight at me and was flying very fast. The bird was not very high but it sure was coming in fast. I did not think Carmen could get it so I stood up from my folding stool and took my shot. To my surprise……I mean…. as I expected, the bird folded up and dropped. But it was still coming straight at me and was going to hit me. I closed my eyes, squeezed my knees together and went into a modified hunkering position.

Next, I feel a thump just above the knees. And to my amazement…..I mean… as planned, I caught the dead bird between my legs before it hit the ground. Now I am sure some of you reading this might be wondering why I closed my eyes. The reason I closed my eyes is that I have always been a sportsman. I thought it would be more challenging to catch the dead bird with my eyes closed. Carmen congratulated me on my fine shot and laughed at how I caught it. This was my first incredible dove shot but not my last. JAIME HERRERA My good friend Jaime Herrera and I met at St. Mary’s University. We were both attending graduate school at night. When I started graduate school I was only taking one class per semester and the study load was fairly easy. As I got close to earning my MBA I became anxious and wanted to finish up sooner. Jaime and I were in many of the same classes. Somehow, I convinced Jaime that if one class was easy, two would be twice as easy. Needless to say, our next semester was really tough but we stuck it out taking two classes per semester. Jaime and I both had full-time jobs so we covered for each other when by chance we had to miss a class. We also studied for exams together. During one of our many study sessions we discovered we both liked to hunt. That year we made it a point to find good

dove hunting areas near our home in San Antonio. It was on one of these late afternoon hunts that I made my second incredible shot. The dove was a high flyer coming straight at me. I shot and instantly knew when the bird folded that I had a very good chance of catching it. I had time to put the gun on safety and with my left-hand open the pouch on the back of my shooting vest. The bird went straight in. It was near the end of the day so we stopped the hunt and went to have a beer to celebrate my good fortune. Now verifying this one will be a little tough. You see, my good friend Jaime passed away some ago. But when you get to heaven you can check on this one. ERICH BLOOMBERG Erich was a consultant with Hewitt Associates in the Woodlands, Texas. While working together on a client assignment, I discovered that he came from Kansas. Not only that, but he was a bird hunter and loved to hunt doves. Erich had heard that during dove season, it was rumored that I carried a shotgun and camouflage clothes in the trunk of my car. He had also heard that on certain afternoons I would disappear after lunch and could not be reached till the next day. Being a good Kansas boy he asked if I knew of any good places to go dove hunting and before you knew it we had made a date to hunt. He flew in the client meeting in San Antonio. Erich came to San Antonio to consult with Client on some important issue. The meeting was carefully scheduled for the morning so we had the whole afternoon was free of comitments. After our morning meeting and lunch

we went to a little farm just outside San Antonio. I had never hunted there before. I got the name and number from an ad in the San Antonio paper. The gentleman said he did not have very many hunters during the week so I thought we would have lots of open spaces to pick a good spot. When we got to the farm, there were a few birds flying. Erich was shooting with one of my guns so he had a ready excuse for all his misses. After two misses, Erich went on a hot streak. He nailed three birds in a row and instantly earned my respect for shooting under pressure. The pressure came from my red-hot shooting on that day. I was shooting my favorite Spanish side by side and I was very confident. Erich will tell you just how lucky I really was. I shot the first 5 birds that flew near me. Not only was I “5 for 5” that day, I caught the last dead bird with my right hand before it hit the ground. This time I had to run a bit to catch it. When the bird folded I knew I had a chance at catching it and I went for it. We did not kill our limits that day but we both had a good story to tell. MIGUEL SANTOS The last witness is my son Miguel. We went dove hunting just west of Sabinal on a day lease. I had hunted that field just one-week prior so I asked to go to the same spot. We arrived at the field before sun up but right away I knew it was not going to be a good day. No one else was hunting the field. Usually there are several people at the good spots. As the sun showed us its first rays of light the sky was very still. I sat and watched the

eastern horizon and did not see a single bird. I told myself the birds may be moving later, but I did not believe my own lie. I knew this was a good spot. The week before I had limited out (15 birds) by 7:30 am. It was one of those days when you could pick your shots. I only shot at birds I was sure I could hit. This was not going to be one of those days. Eventually the birds started to move but they were very scarce. Miguel was a good sport but he felt he really needed to go to his 11 AM class at St. Mary’s University. I did not blame him. But before we left we decided to hunt by the gate near the road. Miguel set up about 30 yards to my left. I was close to the front gate. Out in front, I saw a dove flying toward us. It was flying low--about 40 feet off the ground. “Miguel,” I called out, thinking he would swing into a bird coming between us. Just when I yelled the bird diverted and was now coming straight to me. I instinctively swung and shot once. The bird folded came right at me. I shifted the gun to my right hand and I caught it with my left hand. I actually dropped the bird after I had caught it because the bird’s beak stung my hand. Miguel gave me credit for the lucky shot and the very lucky catch. Miguel has seen other lucky shots in Africa so he was not overly impressed with my continuous streak in incredibly lucky shots.

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

Photos opposite page: (Left) The author going for a high flyer on an Argentina dove hunt. (Middle) Another lucky shot by the author. (Right). The author always smiles after a lucky shot. Photos Above: (Left) My wife Carmen (In the straw hat) witnessed my first incredible dove shot and amazing catch. (Middle) My son Miguel witnessed one of my incredible dove shots and I witnessed his one bullet for two pigs shot. (Right) Erich Blumberg, a living witness to one of my amazing and incredible dove shots.

Reminder: Use Your Sea Anchor Engine breakdowns at sea in small boats are major causes of foundering, and another good reason to have a sea anchor on board. In a pinch, throw out your regular anchor. If you're one of those people who doesn't perform preventative maintenance, you're heading for trouble. When was the last time you checked over all the hoses, clamps and fuel lines? You need to check over that bilge pump wiring and float switches frequently and make sure everything is in operating condition before each and every time you head out. Don't fool around with old batteries. Replace them at the first sign of weakness. Many people make the mistake of replacing paired batteries one at a time. You already know that you can't do that with dry cells because an old battery will drag down a new one. Whether you like it or not, batteries have to be replaced in pairs. Besides, you're not saving anything by doing it one at a time; it's actually costing you more because you're damaging the new battery. Check systems over carefully. Little things

like loose wires and corroded wire connections can lead to major problems. Keep in mind that a boat rocking and rolling at sea is what tends to cause things to break down. The violent motion puts a strain on everything. Treat the systems like your life depends upon them; whether you realize it or not, it does. As for lifesaving devices, these should be kept immediately available. When a boat starts to go down suddenly, there's no time to go rooting around in the cabin trying to get them out from under the seats where they're stuffed away. I'm not saying that you have to wear them, just keep them out where you can grab them quickly whenever you're offshore. People are drowning out there not because they don't have them, but because they can't get to them in time. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget your float plan as well. Always tell or leave a copy of what your intentions are for the day with someone who can monitor your return. A good captain will have an approximate return time on this plan. If you are delayed, notify someone of your late arrival. The United States Coast Guard offers float plans

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online at www.uscgboating.org. Complete this plan and leave it with a person who can be depended upon to notify the U.S. Coast Guard or other marine rescue organization, should you not return as scheduled. As always, be safe and see you on the water.

Captain Alan Stewart owns and operated Stewart Training Center and holds a Master license with the U.S.C.G. Stewart Training Center is located at 39572 Loop Road, Bayview, Tx., 78566.

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