Saturday was indeed a good day for boating and fishing. Bill and John and I went out about noon. We tried Mock reef and there were a lot of small trout on the eastern part of the reef. My half ounce DOA did get some vindication after the turn of events that I wrote about last week. Bill and Don had rigged up quarter ounce DOA based on Don's success. However after I had three keepers in the cooler and they have only a few nibbles, they searched their tackle boxes for any half ounce types. Later we went to Half Moon and again found many almost keepers. Bill did box one keeper with a Gulp.
The Pilot newspaper did surprise me by running the picture and caption that I submitted of Don Gormley's catch like the one that I posted last week. I think this time of year trout catches are not too plentiful and they were glad to have a picture on someone with some trout to show.
Yesterday would have been a great day to be out on the water, but the tide was as low as I've seen this season and the there was not enough water in the ramp to float my boat. One boat did make it out this morning, but it was a short trip. He had not gone very far when he ran out of gas. He used his trolling motor to get back in, unhooked his trailer, went to get some more gas, put his boat back on the trailer, and called it a day. He had parked his boat in front of the motel last evening and it was full on gas. Some time during the night someone helped themselves to fifty gallons. This evening he is parked under the security light by 701. Maybe the security cameras did their job and the case will be solved. Yesterday was so fine I even saw Richy and Echo, his dog, soaking up some sun on the end of the pier behind his house.
Concrete work has not progressed this week. The crew came out and removed the forms Monday morning and then left. They have not returned. The Pilot is running an ad for remodeling contractors and laborers. They are to apply at Kontiki. I'm sure there is a lot of work to do and people here work on Rockport time.
Kinsel is working on a pier south of here and has been leaving his barge in the marina. With the low tide I thought he might have a problem getting in. I watched today and he did slow down at the shallow part where the breakwater gap was, but he did come on in. The barge is not that big.
I did get an email from Lynn Edwards today. She is spearheading the effort to reopen Cedar Bayou. She said that the GLO has approved the plan and now they can proceed with the Environmental Statement and resubmit for a permit to dredge. The work was to begin last July, but the wheels on government turn slowly and then Texas Parks and Wildlife had some reservations. I think the whole ecosystem is suffering while the pass is closed.
Rockport now has two car rental agencies. We had an Avis at the airport and how we have an Enterprise Rental at Larry's Paint and Body on Market.
There was a surprise in the Aransas County Sheriff's election yesterday. Mark Gilliam, the incumbent, lost. He had a really massive amount of advertising and even gave away free bar-b-que yesterday. He lost to Bill Mills by 2 to 1.
Oysterfest opens tomorrow so, of course, we have rain in the forecast and a cold front coming. For the first time they have a park and ride set up at the old Walmart. Parking is $2, but the ride is free.
Bradley Phair, former owner of 208, called yesterday. He said he got bored with retirement and has gone back to doing some work in real estate law. I told him that if he had not sold his condo, he would have had no problem with boredom here.