Continue reading »]]> Welcome to South Padre Island for Spring Break 2012!

On behalf of the City Council, I would like to welcome you to the beautiful community of South Padre Island. As you know, we have many opportunities for you to enjoy yourself during your visit and I would like to provide you with some information that you may find helpful during your stay.

Parking & Transportation

Parking on the island during peak season is at a premium. The City has a free public Transportation System called “The Wave” and it operates daily from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. along Padre and Gulf Boulevards which are primary street running north and south. We regulate our parking on residential side streets that are east of Padre and you must obtain a residential parking permit to park on these streets. To ensure that you will not receive a parking ticket, all four tires must be off of the improved roadway. Also, please avoid blocking or parking in private driveways.

By all means, enjoy a taxi ride to your destination by contacting the following licensed service providers:

A Cab/A Taxi – (956) 761-2222

Airport – (956) 761-9292

BB’s – (956) 761-7433

JJ’s Taxi – (956) 761-9292

Padre Cab – (956) 761-2525

Law Enforcement

Our Police Department is well staffed during Spring Break and we have already promised your parents to keep you safe so please do your part by following these simple safety tips:

1) Travel in groups with friends.

2) Don’t leave luggage unattended or anything of value in plain view in vehicles.

3) Don’t drink any unattended drinks or consume drinks from unknown persons.

We will have eight alcohol enforcement officers from the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) on the island promoting responsible drinking and subsequent enforcement. TABC is working on education and additional public relation strategies, along with their enforcement efforts.

Additionally, we will have the Highway Patrol Officers from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) on the island during the latter part of Texas Week to assist us in deterring the criminal element that has become more prevalent over the past few years. DPS has developed group components known as strike teams. A single strike team consists of five marked patrol cars, each with one officer and a uniformed supervisor in an unmarked unit. For three days, March 15-17, DPS is deploying two strike teams, a total of 12 officers, to assist us in our efforts to reassure spring break visitors are safe. The hours of DPS operation will be 5 p.m.-5 a.m. DPS is also bringing a self-contained mobile command trailer that will be placed in a designated area at the SPI Post Office. The deployment of the DPS strike teams and the ability to utilize these resources during difficult times will provide us with a much needed criminal deterrent. They will be here, working with us, addressing our needs, during the hours identified as most serious.

The South Padre Island Police Department will also employ 10 jailers and 10 traffic management personnel to assist with those areas of operation. This year we have additional part-time officers on staff which reduces the number of temporary personnel needed from other agencies. The advantages with utilizing the city’s part-time police offices are they are already trained, in our uniform and ready to work.

What is the Beach Patrol?

The Fire Department operates Beach Patrol to monitor beach activities and to provide rescue services as needed on the City’s beaches. The long narrow beaches of SPI do not lend themselves to traditional stationary lifeguard stands; therefore a “mobile patrol” was developed in order to cover all of the City’s beach area. The Beach Patrol Members not only respond to calls for assistance and caution people on the beach about potentially hazardous actions, they also provide minor first aid for jelly fish stings, scrapes, and cuts, etc. The Beach Patrol members act as ambassadors for the City by providing information to our visitors on such far ranging topics as “what kind of fish is that”, to “where is a good place to watch the sunset”. The Beach Patrol is an essential part of making our visitors trip to the Beach an enjoyable and safe experience.

The Beach

The City of South Padre Island wants everyone who visits our beaches to have a safe and enjoyable experience and asks anyone coming to the beach to consider the following safety guidelines:

Learn to swim and never swim alone

Don’t rely on flotation devices, such as rafts or inner-tubes. Even US Coast Guard approved lifejackets are not a substitute for swimming ability

If caught in a rip current, swim sideways until free, don’t swim against the current’s pull

Do not swim while under the influence of illicit drugs or medications that may cause impairment or alcohol

If you are swimming and need assistance – yell and wave – don’t wait

Unless you are trained, do not attempt to assist a swimmer in distress – call 911

Follow regulations and Beach Patrol directions

Swim parallel to shore if you wish to swim long distances

Report hazardous conditions to Beach Patrol

Never turn your back to the ocean – you may be swept off your feet by waves that can come without warning

Jellyfish are common in Gulf waters and sometimes wash ashore. Jellyfish stings are rarely serious, but they may require first aid treatment. If you are stung by a jellyfish, wave down the nearest Beach Patrol for assistance.

Glass containers on the beach are prohibited and could cost you a $500 fine. We check, so do yourself a favor and don’t buy beverages in glass for consumption while at the beach.

Your Health

Stay hydrated – drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages (water is the best choice). The combination of the bright sunshine overhead and the reflection of the sun on the sand and water can cause severe damage to your skin.

For maximum effectiveness, use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and apply 30 to 60 minutes before your first exposure to the sun. This allows the sunscreen time to penetrate your skin. Always reapply sunscreen frequently during your visit to the beach. Perspiration reduces the effectiveness of sunscreen, and even waterproof products eventually are washed away by perspiration and swimming.

Enjoy your day at the beach, but remember to be a friend to your skin, too!

What if I need an Ambulance or Medical Care?

The Emergency Medical Service is operated by the South Padre Island Fire Department and our firefighters and Beach Patrol personnel are trained in first aid. If you are on the beach and need assistance, wave down the Beach Patrol. If it is an emergency or you do not see a Beach Patrol unit close by, call 911. Be prepared to give your location on the beach (the addresses are on the posts with the warning flags on them) and the nature of the emergency. We will send the closest unit to assist you.

The City will also have a first aid tent available at the Coca-Cola Beach area to treat minor medical issues that may arise.

The local medical facility and area hospitals include:

SPI Clinic (M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.), 3808 Padre Blvd, SPI, (956) 433-5607

Harlingen Medical Center, 501 South Expressway 77, Harlingen, (965) 365-1000

Valley Baptist Medical Center, 1040 Jefferson, Brownsville, (956) 698-5400

Valley Regional Medical Center, 100 Alton Gloor Blvd., Brownsville, (956) 350-7000

Our Environment

The most important message is that we are glad you are here but please be respectful of our delicate environment. Don’t Litter… did you know that the endangered Kemp Ridley Sea Turtles believe when they see a plastic bag in the water, they think it is a jellyfish which is one of their favorite food sources and they will consume these bags which may lead to their death. Please keep South Padre Island beautiful and have a great time!

Sincerely,

Robert N. Pinkerton, Jr.

Mayor

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By SCARLET COLLEY
Special to the Parade

Scarlet Colley

Lots of excitement around the beaches and bay this week as Mother Nature works her wonders.

First of all, the little globby orange things being found on the beach, when you find one, dig a little hole in the sand and fill it with salt water, or a cup of salt water or even in your cupped hands. Place the orange glob in the water and presto, watch it come to life as a gorgeous sargasso nudibranch.

Look it up, it’s a wonderful creature, but it doesn’t look like much out of water. But in water it’s awesome. I would not recommend playing with the sargasso seaweed right now to see what wonderful creatures come ashore with it, as it is filled with tentacles of the Portuguese men-of-war.

Currents and winds just right to concentrate huge amounts of wandering men-of-war have brought them to the shores of this part of the gulf. This is the end of their life cycle but their sting keeps on stinging even while they are dying beached.

Vast numbers of this stinging vagabond of the ocean slid into the bay with the incoming tides. I have been on the bay waters now for almost two decades, and it is a first for me to see so many enter the Laguna. Even the dolphins were agitated about the whole affair as they had to swim through them all. They stayed down under as long as they could, but you could see them thrash as the long tentacles would catch on their faces or backs.

They were not happy about this, and neither were the diving ducks and grebes or cormorants. It is definitely the year of the men-of-war. This is a good time to look for that gorgeous purple shell that feeds on the men-of-war. There should be lots of them from the size of pinheads to as big as a thumbnail. They are very fragile and delicate.

I have been watching the man o wars in the bay for a unique fish that lives in and around the long tentacles. The men-of-war are silver and metallic blue and are immune to the stings much like a clown fish to this anemone. There were so many men-of-war in the bay that I even worried about Rozzi, if he should fall in he would have surely been stung by some as he swam back to the boat. I wondered how dogs being walked on the beach avoid getting stung. It is a wallop of a sting.

And of course the best thing for us dolphin lovers this week is Mohawk, and her girl group is back from wherever they went for a few months. She looks wonderful and was so happy to see one of her best friends who did not leave with her, Dink. Wow, did they play with us, happy to see us too.

There are lots of good photos on my Facebook, Scarlet Colley, Dolphinwhisper, and to top it off a Glaucous Gull showed up.

Here is my photo of it.

It is a second winter bird, pink legs, pink bill with a black tip, larger than our wintering Herring Gull and hope it stays around for a while so everyone who needs that bird on their list can get it. It’s gorgeous. Gotta love it.

Call for your nature tour with Dolphinwhisper at (956) 299-1957 or visit spisealife.org. Lovin’ our nature niche.

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By JIM FOSTER
Special to the Parade

As February hits the mid-month mark it’s time for me to hit the road for my spring speaking engagements and to do some book signings across the Lone Star State.

My trip will begin with a speaking engagement for the Corpus Christi Kiwanis Club at their noon meeting, telling stories and showing some of my photography. I have spoken for this group in the past and have enjoyed meeting these coastal dwellers.

After Corpus I will be moving to Port Aransas and will be holding forth at the Port Aransas Whooping Crane Festival, from Feb. 23-26. Anyone who is interested in these large and very endangered birds should take some time and attend the festival. It will be time well spent.

These birds have taken a hit this year from the drought and the warmer than normal winter months. This trend has been the rule all across the country and especially along the whooping cranes southern migration route.

Following the festival, the drive will be to South Padre to speak at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center for a speaking engagement at the Convention Center before taking cameras out on the boardwalk for some much-hoped-for photo opportunities.

The next day I will be signing my new book at the Paragraphs Book Store on the Island and meeting more of my readers along with local and visiting birders.

This will be a laid back day for me in a very pleasant environment, where I will be autographing books, but will have lots of time to visit with people about not only birds but local issues like boat ramps, fishing, hunting, and of course photography.

It will be a great experience to spend as much time as I can at the Island birding center and maybe even leading a group of bird watchers/photographers on a trip around the board walk. In spite of having a bird catalog of over 39,000 images there are still species I don’t have, and hope to capture on this trip.

Texas Birding Trails covers birding locations however I will be visiting with everyone and hope to meet many of my fishing, camping, and hunting readers. I hope to see you all there.

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By DAVID WHITE
Special to the Parade

There’s something special about the wines from Oregon.

The state produces some of the finest Pinot Noir in world. Its Pinot Gris, which generally flies under the radar, is full of character and often offers a tremendous value. Oregon’s top sparkling wines are absolutely stunning. It’s a region well worth exploring.

The modern Oregon wine industry traces its roots to the late 1960s, when a number of young idealists moved to the state.

The trailblazer was David Lett, who purchased a hillside property in the Willamette Valley in 1965, shortly after finishing the winemaking program at the University of California, Davis. Lett’s professors urged him against moving so far north, believing it would be too cold and too wet for wine grapes. But other pioneers soon followed in Lett’s footsteps, and within just a few years, they proved the naysayers wrong.

One of those pioneers was another UC-Davis graduate, Dick Erath. But most of the others — vintners like Dick and Nancy Ponzi, Bill and Susan Blosser, and David and Ginny Adelsheim — had little experience farming and knew just the basics of winemaking. The Adelsheims, for example, didn’t even plan on making wine when they purchased a 19-acre parcel in the summer of 1971. They simply wanted to move to the country, where David would build furniture and Ginny would sculpt.

All had a passion for wine and being a part of something new and would soon dedicate all their time to Oregon’s burgeoning wine industry. Their efforts quickly paid off.

In 1979, one of Lett’s wines — his Eyrie Vineyards “Reserve” — shocked the world at the Wine Olympics in Paris, where it placed first among Pinot Noirs. Legendary French winemaker Robert Drouhin called for a rematch, and the very next year in Burgundy, Lett’s Pinot Noir would place second against an all-star lineup of Drouhin’s wines.

Fast-forward to today, and Oregon is regularly producing wines that can compete with the best in the world. And even though the industry has grown dramatically over the past 40 years — there are now nearly 400 wineries — Oregon’s winemakers still see themselves as part of something new, making wine together on the edge of viticulture.

Indeed, it’s a struggle to get Oregon’s winemakers to talk about their own wines. Every vintner I’ve met is more interested in promoting the industry as a whole than talking about himself.

While it’s difficult to generalize, Oregon Pinot Noirs are typically more feminine than their California counterparts — marked by aromas of wild raspberries and strawberries rather than candied cherries and blackberries. If California’s Pinot Noirs are bold and easy to enjoy, Oregon’s are delicate and demand contemplation.

While Oregon Pinot Noir tends to be pricey, there are a number of great examples for less than $25. The Willamette Valley bottling from Ponzi, Adelsheim, and Rex Hill are wonderfully balanced, with delicate aromas of red fruits, flowers, and slate.

Oregon winemakers love talking about Pinot Noir, but their Pinot Gris can be just as seductive. The best ones are marked by exotic tropical fruit and are simultaneously creamy and crisp. The Willamette Valley bottling from Adelsheim and Chehalem are incredibly vibrant and widely available for less than $20.

When it comes to sparkling wines, one could argue that America’s best examples come from Oregon — thanks entirely to the efforts of Rollin Soles of Argyle Winery.

Like so many other winemakers, Soles studied enology at UC-Davis. But when he finished his degree, he held off on launching his own project — instead gaining hands-on experience at wineries across the world. Once he moved to the Willamette Valley in the mid-1980s, Soles set out to make sparkling wines — believing that the climate was perfect for such an effort, as the grapes would retain high acidity while fully ripe.

History has proven Soles right — he consistently produces sparklers that are praised by critics and consumers alike. Argyle’s sparklers range in price from $25 to $60, and they can easily compete with French Champagnes that cost two to three times as much.

Editor’s Note: David White, a wine writer, is the founder and editor of Terroirist.com. His columns are housed at Wines.com, the fastest growing wine portal on the internet.

Continue reading »]]> By TONY CROUCH
Special to the Parade

AT Paddles sets the standards of excellence in design and engineering, craftsmanship, integrity, and performance in the paddle world. Using cutting edge materials, AT Paddles make balanced, flutter free and ergonomically superior paddles, which is why AT Paddles has been the industry benchmark for over a decade. Now, that all sounds like it came out of a AT Paddle brochure. Well, it did. Now let’s talk about what their paddles will do for you.

A lot of the time people tend to go as tight as possible when it comes to the purchase of a paddle. Why? I have no idea, but it is something that you see happen. It’s like buying an expensive race car and having a lawn mower engine in it. Will it run the same? No. Having a quality paddle means less stress on you, it also means less fatigue.

First you have to ask yourself what you want your paddle to do. Are you that fisherman who wants to get from point A to point B as fast as possible, well a well-balanced paddle will help with that. Are you a kayaker who mostly uses a high angle paddle stroke, or are you a kayaker who wants to tour longer distances but is in no hurry? Maybe a low angle paddle stroke is how you paddle. Are you that kayaker who mostly goes out on windy days, or that kayaker who only goes out on extremely calm days? Does 38 ounces sound like a light paddle, not when you can get one that weighs 24 ounces? Do you like a feathered paddle, or is a bent shaft on your next Christmas gift list to yourself?

The point is there is a difference. I have used paddles that, after an hour, I want to use it as a shovel better than as a paddle, but I’ve used paddles that after a day out on the water I almost took the darn thing to bed with me just because I didn’t want to lose it.

O.K., maybe not bed, that would be weird, but you get the point. Less stress on the joints and less fatigue, that will really help out at the end of a long day.

Now, there are so many different paddle companies out there, choosing the one that is right for you sounds like a real headache, not when you make the time to talk to someone knowledgeable in the field of paddles. Trust me, it’s time well-spent, and you will thank yourself in the end. Feel free to call me with any questions.

As always, stay safe, always wear your P.F.D., and test your whistle every now and then. See you out on the water. For questions or comments on our stories, or to just let us know of a specific item you would like to see us cover, please place your replies on our Facebook page, U.B. Captain, or email us at ubca...@yahoo.com.

Editor’s Note: Tony Crouch is a Certified Kayak Instructor and holds classes at U.B. Captain Kayaks, 5009 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island. For more information, call (956)-761-1669 or look for him on Facebook at U.B. Captain.

Continue reading »]]> By RENE TORRES
Special to the Parade

Rene Torres

In 1895, William G. Morgan, an instructor at the YMCA in Holyoke, Mass., created a game for his businessmen classes that demanded less physical contact than any other sport.

It was then that “Volley Ball” was born. On July 7, 1896 at Springfield College, the net game took its first bow and the rest is history.

Locally, volleyball was here soon after the year of its birth. There are several photos from the Robert Runyon collection of the game being played at Fort Brown during their field day celebrations.

By 1916-1917 and perhaps earlier, the boys and girls at Brownsville High School (BHS) were playing a high caliber game of volleyball. Although the game lived in the shadows of the core sports, the athletes that played the game were no strangers to their classmates – as most were all-around athletes. Standing on our side of the net stood a strong line-up in the likes of Joe Celaya, James Skelton, Carl Weller, Billie Mendenhall, Morris Clint, Henry Skelton, D.K. Clint, George McGonigle, Burnell Goodrich and J. Walton.

The boys started the season with a bang as they defeated San Benito and Wilson Track with relative easy on the home court. But things were not as rosy when the local boys next traveled to San Benito where they were embarrassed and badly beaten.

The team used the excuse that they had played a game of football the day before. But the school newspaper (El Palmetto) wrote the truth, “The matter is that they were just up in the air with some of the players failing to arrive and those who were there had left their wits at home.”

A holiday spectacular

One of the most high profile games of the season was played on a holiday, Liberty Day, which was named in honor of the Statue of Liberty. It was one of the best attended games as almost the whole school came to witness the revenge match against San Benito.

The activities had all the glamour and pageantry of a football game. There was plenty of cheering and yelling and music to go along with the game. The feature attraction, aside from the contest on the court, was Henry Skelton’s band – or better described as the “tin-can brigade.”

It was a 55-piece band that included such instruments as tin pans, buckets and, in fact, almost anything that would make a distracting noise – in rhythm of course.

As the teams were going through their warms-ups, the band rendered several selections and then favored the audience with one long composition after the game got started.

San Benito also brought a healthy number of supporters along with their band. The band included two pieces, the cornet and trombone and obviously our group was too much for them. They could not be heard and appeared like in the silent films of then, just going through the motions.

Game time

With no lack of support, the local boys could not loose, but they did as San Benito was no lollipop team. The visitors used the newly introduced skill of set and spike (introduced in 1916) to their advantage as they silenced the crowd taking the first game of the match 15 to 9.

But Brownsville came back in the second game with some spectacular plays to dominate their opponents 15-1. With the win, the final game was a thriller that provided plenty of exciting moments for the home crowd.

The last game had long periods where the ball was going back and forth across the net – naturally furnishing more excitement for the spectators. San Benito was putting on a show, as they demonstrated how they could go up in the air, but while they showed off we won the game 15-8, and the championship title of Cameron County.

Brownsville went on to compete for the district title against Raymondville and lost. They ran into something better than they were. The local boys won the first game and then got over confident and were swept in the last two.

Continue reading »]]> By HOLIDAY MATHIS
Special to the Parade

This week marks the beginning of the tense Uranus and Pluto square, which lines up in a peak position on June 24th of this year. Uranus in the warrior energy of Aries wants revolution, and Pluto in Capricorn, the sign of authority, is not likely to back down without a fight. This aspect begins to turn the tables between the “haves” and the “have nots.” Wealth comes from knowing your real resources and using them well.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You will have to tear down the old in order to rebuild. There’s an area of life that’s been begging for your attention — maybe an unorganized closet or a messy financial arrangement. Take out all the relevant facts and items, and lay them out. It will look worse before it looks better. Bit by bit, you’ll improve the situation.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). A certain amount of nervous energy gives you an edge if you direct it well. But being nervous too much of the time has the opposite result. Address your emotional state. Do what’s necessary to create a sense of safety in your world. This may mean pulling back from overly stressful situations for a while.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You know how you like to be treated, and that’s why you will be careful to give people a good degree of your attention. When you’re genuinely curious about someone, this is easy. It’s a bit trickier when your immediate interest level is low. But you have a knack for asking the questions that draw people out and you in.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Make more time for exercise. This week brings exciting challenges, and you’ll need to use your head. Did you know that increased muscle tone improves your ability to think? Getting stronger physically will help you stave off fatigue and tension that could interfere with a person’s ability to learn.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You will be dealing in the unfamiliar this week, and it’s the perfect opportunity to experiment with questions of identity. Ask yourself: “Whom are you portraying?” If the role you have chosen is not working, you can change your role in regard to the situation. People who don’t know you will be none the wiser.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It is too easy to live for others. You see a need and fill it. You follow a direction. You stand in a line. Don’t forget yourself. Make time for what you want to do. No one will organize around your secret wish, but your public request will be honored. Energize your spirit with an endeavor that is uniquely yours.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You may be feeling slightly out of step. If you have any time to yourself this week, strongly consider celebrating your uniqueness with a solo dance. This will put you back in touch with the rhythms of the universe. When you’re alone, turn up the music, and let it move through you, restoring your “groove.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Before something exists, it doesn’t. And when it doesn’t, it’s often unimaginable. Have faith that things you haven’t experienced and would never imagine can still happen. Faith will help you invigorate a dull scene, blast through the creeping malaise or turn a chore into a party.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Take measures to simplify your life. Cutting out the extraneous things you own and do will unclutter your environment and help you focus on what really matters to you. The reductions you make this week will go a long way toward creating a happier, healthier and more satisfied future.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Success depends largely on your expectations and attitude. Before you leave the house each day this week, preview the day’s events in your mind’s eye. See things going well. See yourself working happily and being excited about the results you get. This “preview of coming attractions” will strongly influence events.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You won’t take advice from just anyone. You will be in a flexible mood, though, and will feel willing to try the suggestions of people you trust. There are only a privileged few in the category. You don’t give your trust easily, and when you do give it, you don’t take it back easily, either.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Sometimes moving forward feels like coming home and moving backward feels unfamiliar, so it’s difficult to tell the difference between progression and regression. Don’t worry too much about it. Instead, just be mindful not to get too comfortable where you are, and welcome change in whatever form it shows up.

Continue reading »]]> By TONY CROUCH
Special to the Parade

Now I knew that would get your attention, the Hobie Pro Angler is one of the top angler kayaks out there, and yes, there is a catch.

The catch is you need to catch the largest Red, Trout, and Flounder at our next Kayak Fishing Tournament. That’s right. It’s that time of the year.

We were asked last year why we didn’t hold a kayak fishing tournament, well, last year we held our first tourney and gave away an Ocean Kayak Trident 11 as the top prize, as well as plenty of other prizes. But the fact that we took a chance to see just how much fun everyone would have at our tourney and it was well worth it, we had a blast last year. It seemed everyone had a blast as well. The weather wasn’t the best, but we had plenty of happy participants none the less. Well, this year we have decided to go all out and go crazy with our prizes. Top prize is, yes, a Hobie Pro Angler, but that’s not all, we are also going to give away a Wilderness Tarpon 120 and a Cobra Marauder as well. Besides all the other prizes, P.F.D’s, Stake Out Poles, Kayak Lights, etc, etc, etc.

Now, we are looking at our tournament date being on April 21, but like last year we are going to focus on everyone having a great time. For more information on our tourney, please visit our Facebook page or call (956)-761-1669. More information will be available in the weeks to come.

Now, last week I said I would post some dates for the upcoming demo days for our new selection of Wilderness Kayaks. Let me just say that if you’re reading this, then come on over. We are going to have demo days today, Friday, and Saturday. Just come on over and take a look, plus we will be having a huge sale to celebrate jumping on board with Wilderness Systems.

Hope to see you soon.

As Always, stay safe, always wear your P.F.D., and test your whistle every now and then. See you out on the water. For questions or comments on our stories, or to just let us know of a specific item you would like to see us cover, please place your replies on our face book page U.B. Captain, or email us at ubca...@yahoo.com.

Editor’s Note: Tony Crouch is a Certified Kayak Instructor and holds classes at U.B. Captain Kayaks, 5009 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX. For more information, call (956) 761-1669 or look for him on Facebook at U.B. Captain.

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By SCARLET COLLEY
Special to the Parade

Scarlet Colley

Dolphins are fishetarians. It is just another way to describe someone who only eats fish. After all, one who only eats veggies is called a vegetarian.

Teeth in the animal kingdom come in many shapes and sizes and are used differently. Bottlenose dolphin teeth are shaped just perfect to catch and eat fish. The teeth are shaped like an upside down pointed ice cream cone. Dolphin babies are born toothless and go through teething at about three to six months old. And with age, their teeth do wear down, that is when the younger dolphin will help feed the elderly in their family.

With such an array of fish varieties in a dolphin’s habitat, they do not go hungry. Of course, if they don’t catch a fish to eat, they can’t go to a fast food drive up to get a meal. They have to find fish to eat and every day and make sure there is enough fish for everyone in the family to thrive on.

So as our dolphins of the Laguna Madre make their rounds to find fish to eat, they have to first know what fish to eat and what fish not to eat. How do they learn this very important life saving knowledge?

From their elders who have learned from generations before them by trial and error.

Baby dolphins learn early not to play or eat hard head catfish, stingrays, scorpion fish, puffer fish and other fish that can cause them harm. They learn what fish to eat and not only to eat but the skill to catch them. Each fish behaves differently so the strategy to catching them is different as well, just like us using different rigs to target a certain variety of fish while fishing.

Our dolphins have many different types of fish to feed on. I am sure that sometimes they are in the mood for a nice redfish, or speckled trout. Mullet and menhaden are more of a staple food for them, ribbon fish are a favorite, sand trout and whiting are an easier fish for them to catch and sheepshead are the one fish I see them carrying around for a long time before they eat them.

A sheepshead is strong and tough so it takes longer to subdue them and tenderize them a little. Our dolphins also like to play with flounder or other little flat fish called wiffs. There is such a fish buffet in the bay for our dolphins to choose from and I am sure it takes the little dolphin years to perfect their fishing techniques that they learn from their elders. But so far they are healthy and happy and well fed, and we don’t want that to ever change.

It is our nature niche.

Come visit part of the dolphin’s world at the Sea Life Center at 110 N. Garcia in Port Isabel, or to take a tour with me call (956) 299-1957 or visit spisealife.org. One can also Facebook us at dolphinwhisper.

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By JIM FOSTER
Special to the Parade

Driving around one of the ranches in South Texas, two things were very obvious. First, South Texas needs more rain badly, and second, the Rio Grande sub-species of wild turkey are almost ready to begin their breeding season.

Many experienced hunters believe the wild turkey is one of the hardest of game to hunt one on one. Having eyesight that is 10 to 12 times better than ours, it’s hard to stalk an old gobbler. The turkey’s eyes are located on the sides of his head, which gives him the ability to see both in front and to the rear at almost the same time.

The wild turkey has excellent hearing and can pinpoint a sound and can tell within a few feet where the sound is located. The turkey’s hearing helps him keep tabs on other turkeys and also alerts him to danger.

Spring hunting with shotguns and calling the gobbler to within range is the most sporting, and watching a gobbler come to you is tons of fun.

Scouting the area you plan to hunt is essential. Find areas having the most turkey sign, or areas where birds have been spotted. If you can’t spend the time scouting before the season opens talk to other hunters or landowners. This will save you valuable hunting time on opening day.

Do some of your scouting late in the afternoon. Toms like to gobble on the roost in the evenings. If you can find a roost, try to start hunting several hundred yards away the next morning but stay clear of the roosting area.

A special note: It’s illegal and unethical to shoot turkeys on the roost. Not to mention the fact that if bothered, they might just move out of the area.

Any successful turkey hunter will tell you that using full camouflage is a must. This includes your face and hands. Many hunters like the camo head nets while others use camo face paint. Don’t forget to camouflage your shotgun.

Hunter’s Specialties Company makes a wide assortment of turkey hunting products, starting with the very basics to the very fancy. One item is a hunting vest that has pockets for everything you could want to carry into the field. It also had a snap-off cushion, camo of course to make your time sitting on the ground more comfortable. It has a large pouch in the back with room for a full-bodied turkey decoy.

A decoy is not required, but after more than 20 years of spring turkey hunting, I have found the decoy will help draw the gobbler’s attention away from you. This might give you the chance to get your shotgun up and ready if the big bird comes in too fast.

Editor’s Note: To see more of Jim’s writing and photography, visit fosteroutdoors.blogspot.com. If you have comments or news for Jim Foster, email him at jim...@gmail.com.