One of the things that encouraged us to winter in Corpus Christi was the fishing. We lurked on the piers to observe and learn both the methods and the different fish. Fishing is going to be a great way to spend time out of doors but an even better way to meet people.

Every place we have gone, where their have been people fishing, we have engaged them in conversation. With few exceptions, everyone has been helpful and friendly. We wanted to learn how to fish the piers, what equipment to buy, bait, and the different types of fish we could catch. Everyone has shared openly, both with methods and good locations.

Armed with the basics, we go to Wal-Mart and buy all the stuff we need to hit the piers. We go to the bait shop everyone recommends and they are closed. We go elsewhere and get a pound of shrimp. Everywhere you buy shrimp here you specify “bait” or “table.” We go to the Red Dot pier and after about two hours we catch a 5-inch perch. This was about 4 PM. A man walks by and says that that perch was the only fish caught on the pier since 9 AM. We leave.

The next day we are off to a pier on Padre Island to fish in the gulf. We have the remaining shrimp from the day before, which we left in the truck. People are catching whiting so we bait up and wet a line. We catch a couple of pound + whiting when I notice a 7 year old kid with a $5 Zebco catch about 15 whiting in an hour. We recognize whiting from a previous lurking experience where we met a “Winter Texan” from Nebraska. He showed me how to rig the line and invited us to join him for a Speckled trout fishing trip. He was going to Mexico the next day, but come by any other time.

For my friends that gave me the business when I went to a dentist because I had a coupon, I submit to you, for your approval, the reason this kind man was going to Mexico. The dentists. He previously had 11 teeth removed and a plate made for $190, a bargain. So he was going back for more. I did not press for details. I had been trumped.

But I digress. We had caught 3 or 4 whiting when another man came by with a totally different setup. He had a treble hook, split shot and a bobber that was 5 inches long and contained rattles. I inquired about the setup and he was careful to explain what he was doing. He stopped to talk for several minutes. He told me that a lot of people used fancy multi-hook riggings with pink beads and 2 oz. weights. He said those rigs were what the locals sold to tourists. As those words rolled off of his tongue, I caught a nice whiting. When I reeled in the fish it was just me, my new friend and a whiting caught on my fancy multi-hook rigging with pink beads and a 2-oz. weight. You could feel the blush.

A few minutes later Susie went to the bait shop on the pier to get a hot chocolate. It was in the mid 60s but a stiff breeze had chilled her. The pole I was holding pulled me against the rail. I had a good one. The king of the gulf is a mature Redfish known as a Bull Red. They have to be 28 inches long and the limit is 2 per year. Each fishing license contains a tag for your first Bull Red. I had my first one; at least I thought I did. The rods we had purchased were 8 feet long and ¾ of an inch in diameter at the base. The fact that the rod was bent double attracted a crowd. The fish surfaced several times. It was about 3 feet long and later was estimated to be at least 35 pounds. My new friend gave great advice while I tried to land the beast. I kept the line perpendicular to the pier.  Others were scouring the pier for a net. Ten minutes into the fight, most of the people on the pier were following the great beast and me. Someone had gone to the bait shop to get Susie, but she was too late. The great beast had decided to go under the pier. The line rubbed on the concrete and the great beast was gone. The beast might have escaped but the glory lasted for several more hours. Later, as we were cleaning our whiting and about to leave, people were still asking if I was the one who had hooked Moby Dick?
 
 
 

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