04/06/2023
It is still dark. I Leave the house, turn right on to Highway 60, headed to Gorda! Look east and the suns halo is just revealing the signs of a new day! Drive over the levy, see the guide boats and early risers making ready. Some boats already slipping out of the harbor mouth, some heading east some west! Hook n Bull was made ready last evening. We launch, bring the engines to life, fire up the electronics, load the crew. Spirits running high with the anticipations of a great day on the Gulf of Mexico! Some are thinking of big ling, Smoker kings, giant grouper or sow snappers! Winds are light, air is heavy and has the warm swamp smell. My thoughts are, do we have our bait, all our tackle, let's keep it safe! Where are we headed this morning? What will we find? W**d lines, rips, color changes, bubble lines? Are we going to fish wrecks, rocks or rigs?
Come out of the Harbor, turn right on the ICWW, throttle up, go under the big bridge, veer left to go down the river! The light south east wind and the smell of east bay swamp bring back the memories of a Matagorda at a simpler time. The swing bridge, the small cabins along the river that were constructed from scrap lumber off of the beach! It was not a matter of if a hurricane would reclaim the island but when! Everything was expendable! Families made their living sh*****ng, crabbing, oystering or netting! Many of the places, events and characters flood my mind. The old River Bend, Allens Landing, Cracker Box. Characters like Buddy Webb, the Menke’s, Sam Hallmark, the Talasek triplets and not to forget "Hot Dam Sam"! It was a time three mile lake was open to the gulf, reds, trout and flounders by the stringers full! This was before the jetties, as you cruised down the river, you strained to see how much white water you could see, and wondered if you could safely jump the sand bars! Many did not make it! No one wanted to see a lot of white! At times, it was seconds of shear terror! We are approaching the jetties now, the seas are fair. The gulls and Pelicans are working the bait around the mouth. In the morning light you can see the splashes of the pogey's working the surface! They are everywhere! Look to my left and see a couple of skimmers ripping the slick water surface along the jetty. We are at the end of the east jetty, turn toward the sun, trim down, throttle up! The spirits are high, anticipation running through the roof, the adventure starts now! Offshore season 2023!!! Good luck to everyone and hope to see you on the water! Capt. Ron!
