https://www.packtx.org RSS feeds for PACKTX 60 https://www.packtx.org/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/408/2013-annual-pack-flounder-run-trip-report--nov-16-2013#Comments 1 https://www.packtx.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=56&ModuleID=377&ArticleID=408 https://www.packtx.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=408&PortalID=0&TabID=56 https://www.packtx.org/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/408/2013-annual-pack-flounder-run-trip-report--nov-16-2013 <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: center;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">The 2013 ANNUAL PACK FLOUNDER RUN TRIP</span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: center;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Nov. 16, 2013</span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;">The Annual PACK Flounder Run Trip had plenty of highs and lows before it started.  Weather forecasts started with 60% chance of thundershowers and improved to a perfect zero chance of precipitation with southeast breezes at 7 mph.   As of only two weeks prior to the trip, the rather late flounder run had hardly begun, with warm water, hoards of bait stealers and under developed egg sacks in the flounder that were caught.  A week out, the bait stealers were gone, nice 17 to 18 inch fat fish were showing up in unbelievable numbers , and I thought  “Oh, if this can only continue for the trip!”  In the days prior, in each of two consecutive trips for 2 of us over 40 flounder were released– all in the 16 ½ to 18 inch range. Then it was the threat of fog that conveniently cleared at first light at the boat ramp.  It all  hinted at possible PERFECTION!</p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;">Nine willing souls turned out to be ferried in 2 shifts from the boat ramp at the end of the Texas City Dike for a 5 minute boat ride to the Pelican Island Shoreline along the Houston Ship Channel.  Paul Morris contributed a lot of ice in anticipation of the big haul -  smart man.  Everyone was throwing artificial with Gulp and/or flounder bellies attached allowing for quick strikes, avoiding gut hooks and allowing safe release of fish.   The first moments after sun up were occupied by our wade fisherman fanning down the shore line to find their lucky spot.  A couple of undersized flounder came up led by new member Young Kim.  Right after teasing Bill  Leary about the pressures of taking a PACK handle  like “BIG FISH BILL”, he   nailed an 18 ½ inch fat one that led the pack for about ½  hour – and on the most unsual flounder lure I’ve ever seen.   I hope he brings it for “show and tell”.  Then Garland Sparks, a veteran from last year,  Young Kim, Paul, and new member ( and A&M physics prof and friend) Jerry Hite  all got fish.  New member Mark McGonigle, my son,  took off with 2  19’s and the bite was on for the whole east end of the line of waders.  The bite continued so long I wore out catching and releasing (except for two of course).  I don’t remember a day I ever caught so many – and only one undersized with almost nothing less than 16.   I quit to rest and socialize by 10:30 with a lot of released fish – and the big bite starting around 11:30 had not even begun.  The outgoing tide switched seamlessly to a strong incoming as the east half of the line continued with bent rods. </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;"> I had  earlier waded up to the west end of the guys to get reports and suggest the bite seemed to be VERY good 50 to 100 yards east.  Then talking to Jerry about losing his wade shoe in the mud, I  got distracted from the full time job keeping my feet under me in the slick, soft mud and took a full dunk including reels when I slipped.  The mud was so slick in places it felt like you were on roller skates – but great for flounder!   I don’t know where it fits in the report, but many juvenile porpoise were feeding, swirling and jumping in an amazing show out in front of us.</p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;">By 10 a.m.  my wife Lisa brought in a 20 inch fish, the biggest fish to that moment. and then several more. But soon after, Will Henderson, Rick Dickerson and Garland passed her up with some fine ones up to 21.   As I rested talking with other tired PACK members, Lisa lightened the beach of 3 bags of trash we later disposed of.  Young Kim and I scavenged the beach for bright Christmas ornaments (trash on strings) we could hang on the “Christmas Tree “ sunk in the beach and used for a seat, rod rack and leaning post tor the fourth straight year.  We watched 2 boats crowd in on Rick, Will, Garland, and Bill while they were catching a lot of fish.  The confirmation was poetic that they did not boat one fish while PACK was  churnin’ and burnin’ only a few yards in front of them.</p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;">We finally ended the fishing part of the trip taking two crew loads back to port  – everyone caught fish, and I believe everyone was tired.  Lisa drove the boat on the trailer.  Out of the entire nine, only Garland, Will, Mark, Lisa, Jerry and I had schedules allowing a 15 minute trip to our place in the wild life refuge at Virginia Point to clean fish, chill and enjoy a sandwich and Margarita.  Once there, Mark  sadly discovered a 4 ½ foot baby porpoise that had just died of unknown causes floating on its side at the mouth of a bayou a few yards from the bay.  So Lisa called an organization she’s dealt with (Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network – Dolphin Rescue – 1 800-962-6625)  that studies those deaths to come and pick  up the calf (?) for analysis.  Mark lifted the 80 pound youth out of the bayou after it had now drifted on the incoming tide about 40 yards inland from the bay.  He and I (I had the light tail end) carried the little guy to a nearby pier outside the refuge for the retrieval.   They confirmed pick up first thing the next morning.</p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;">On a brighter note, a new method of cleaning a flounder was demonstrated when Mark scaled, headed and gutted a flounder, and turned it slowly inside out removing the bones to make what is called a “Pocket” for stuffing  and baking.  His second one was only 10 minutes and twice as nice. He, his brother Jim and I had seen the difficult trick performed on Lake Calcasieu 15 years ago by a guide – but Mark saw it recently on a You-Tube video.  </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;">Warm water temps, a late but plentiful run, no moon, perfect tides, higher limits in December and the bigger fish yet to come  spells  “YA BETTER BE FISHIN’ THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER”.  </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;">Well, a fishing trip is usually many things.  Here a beautiful day and a great bite conspired to treat a great group of guys to a LOT of flounder on the hook,  and to the joy of witnessing the flounder population on the rebound.  Tight lines. </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria;">Dick McGonigle, trip leader</span></p> DICKMC Mon, 18 Nov 2013 14:24:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:408 https://www.packtx.org/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/280/open-beaches-proposition-to-change-texas-constitution#Comments 0 https://www.packtx.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=56&ModuleID=377&ArticleID=280 https://www.packtx.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=280&PortalID=0&TabID=56 https://www.packtx.org/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/280/open-beaches-proposition-to-change-texas-constitution <div><span style="font-size: medium"><span class="968575500-22102009"><font face="Arial">Proposition 9 amending the Texas Constitution on the November 3, 2009 election ballot is our one chance in life to make a difference for us and our kids in regaining our rightful access to the beaches of Texas.  VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN!  </font></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-size: medium"><span class="968575500-22102009"><font face="Arial">An off year election such as this can result in a small turn out creating disastrous and unpredictable results for a lazy electorate.  I regret not having the snap to raise this at our Tuesday meeting, but each of us needs to be on the phone stirring up the vote for this dream showdown with Galveston and the developers.  If we outdoorsmen and women can't get 2/3's of the vote, we don't deserve to have access to our our pristine shores!  </font></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-size: medium"><span class="968575500-22102009"><font face="Arial">Get this out on Too Cool and TKF and PACK and begin mobilizing from there.  There's a lot more of us than beach house owners, so it's ours to lose.</font></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size: medium"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: medium"><span class="968575500-22102009"><font face="Arial">VOTE FOR OPEN BEACHES - VOTE FOR PROPOSITION 9 ON NOVEMBER 3 - VOTE EARLY, AND CALL ANY FRIEND WHO'SE EVER TAKEN A FISHING POLE, CHILD, OR SAND PAIL TO THE BEACH!!!</font></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size: medium"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: medium"><span class="968575500-22102009"><font face="Arial">Any Q's, call me at 713-526-2422.            </font></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size: medium"><span class="968575500-22102009"><font face="Arial">D</font></span></span><span style="font-size: medium"><span class="968575500-22102009"><font face="Arial">ick McGonigle  -  PACK member and beach lover</font></span></span></div> DICKMC Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:280