The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 22

Thursday 1963 ff News photo by Vince Stiglkh Jr. trait top contest winners 1 uSni r6SentS Glynda glesby (second from ri ht) and Charles Bailey with plaques South East Texas rt Fishin Association gafftopsail catHsh Ba" lev was VhP tiila nillT SETSFA treasurer. Oglesby won first and second place, while Banej as the third place winner. Sherr is SETSFA president. Blnehoiinet 'gathering' clarified AUSTIN This spring's profusion of bluebonnets and other wildflowers in many areas of the state has prompted numerous calls to state agencies about the legality of picking the flowers on public lands and state- owned highway rights-of- way.

Texas Parks and Department officials said said there is some justification for confusion since state law on the matter is subject to interpretation. Officials said it is unlawful to pick, dig up or otherwise damage any plant found in a state or national park. Although the bluebonnet has been designated by the Texas Legislature as the official state flower, the plant is not granted any more protection from picking under state law than anv other wildflower. A spokesman for the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation said state law declares it is a misdemeanor to "recklessly damage or destroy" wildflowers along state- owned road rights-of-wa y. However, he said although his department discourages the public from distrubing the flowers, law enforcement agencies' officials normally do not construe casual enjoyment of the plants, including picking, to be "reckless damage and destruction." State agency officials recommend that Texans and visitors enjoy this vear's unusually lush offerings of wildflowers without THURSDAY TIDES High 6:53 am 11.6 21 pan 1.2 ft al (1.0 THURSDAY MOON Rise at 9:31 pm.

set FRIDAY 3JOOS Rise at pn set at 3:23 an. The few boaters who manage to get out have been doing well on redfish in jetty waters. Otherwise jetty fishing hasn't been what it should be for this time of the year. Jerry Flanagan at Waddell's Bait Camp at the South Jetty places the blame on the weather. "Normally we have Spanish mackerel, pompano and jackfish in jetty waters this time of the year," he said.

"Usually the temperature of jetty waters is in the 70s. Not this year. The temperature is still down in the 60s. It's sure taking its time going up this year." Flanagan noted a change in the weather pattern. "Those so-called March winds have lasted through April for the last several Hoof Beat years," he noted.

"So far this has been another spr- ingwith a shortage of live bait shrimp. Bait shrimp usually are quite plentiful by the first of May, but it doesn't look that will happen this spring." Although the redfish action has been good around the ends of the jetties, Flanagan said the wind has been such that there have been very few boaters going out. There were some good speckled trout catches made Wednesday morning in the Spillway Canal at Bacliff, Harvey Browning of Texas City caught 15 that ranged from 2 to 9 pounds. Ed Wilcox of Dickinson caught seven from 2 to 9 pounds. The fish were caught on yellow and white Cherokee Twisters.

Both of the 9-pounders were weighed on scales at the Spill way Fishing Pier. Pier manager Dutch Shults said some specks to 6 and pounds were caught from the pier. He said a few flounders and small croakers and sand trout were also caught from the pier. Shults said that tarpon again moved into the canal Wednesday morning. "People at the canal said they saw about 25 or 30 tarpon," Shults commented.

"They said the fish appeared to be from two to four feet in length." A lot of drum were again caught from the Lighted Pier on the Texas City Dike. David Garza reported David Wilnowski caught 17 and Chico Billiard landed 13. Garza said the drum went to 41 pounds in size. He reported Larry Gonzales caught a 3- pound flounders. Good sand trout, whiting and gafftop catches were made in the afternoon from beachfront fishing piers.

Becky Smith at the Jamaica Beach Marina repoprted catching a 3- pound flounder and some small reds along the edge of the saltgrass marsh in Galveston Island State Park. The flounder was caught on a Kelley Wiggler, and the redfish were taken on live mud minnows. damaging or removing them, in order to allow more people the privilege. Another recent topic of curiosity has been the availability of seeds for growing bluebonnets and other wildflowers. Officials said no state agency distributes or sells seed's, but some may be available from commercial seed firms, feed stores and plant nurseries.

Shark fins wanted by Hawaii firm AUSTIN Wanted: shark fins for Chinese food delicacies. Texas saltwater fishermen who catch sharks may be interested to know that the fins of most shark species have market value. A Hawaii-based firm has notified the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that it will purchase dried shark fins, primarily for sale in foreign counties. The fins are used in preparing two Chinese delicacies: shark fin soup and stewed shark fin. Officials of Hawaii Shark Processors said they will purchase the two pectoral fins, dorsal fin and lower tail (caudal) fin from tiger, whitetip, hammerhead, brown, blacktip, great white and sand sharks.

Only the caudal fin is marketable from mako and blue sharks. For a price list and instructions for removing and drying the fins, contact Hawaii Shark Processors P.O. Box 4606. Kawaihae. Hawaii 96743.

The phone number for the concern is 808-882-7527. TV horse show series to be revived By NICKY DE LANGE TEXAS CITY Do you ever wish one of the television networks would create a program geared specifically for horse enthusiasts? Dp you harbor fond memories of a program The American Horse and Horseman? Take heart the series is being revived after a 10- year hiatus. According to co-producers Charles and Sally Lasater, the show is going to be syndicated this spring to over 100 television markets, thanks to the cooperative efforts of Third Coast Productions of Austin and Te- jano Productions of Houston. Dale Robertson, well- known actor and horseman, will again host the series. Each program will be brand-new, and will include both practical features on training and care as well as interviews with celebrities who are genuinely involved with horses.

Will we be seeing this series locally? I contacted Tejano Productions to find out and the answer was yes, the show will be seen here. What Tejano didn't know yet was which station it will be seen on. The American Horse and Horseman will be on one of the major network stations in the Galveston-Houston area, a spokesman for the show said, but it's "indefinite" which network that will be. If you would like to encourage ABC, CBS, or NBC to add this series to its roster, Tejano recommends contacting the local affiliates and telling them so. To prevent any procrastinating, I'll list the telephone numbers for these local stations (all are area code 713): KPRC (NBC), Channel 2 771-4631: KHOU (CBS), Channel 11526-1111; KTRK (ABC) Channel 13-666-0713.

For information on The American Horse and Horseman series, contact Tejano Productions, P.O. Box 8098, The Woodlands, 77387, or call them at (713) 367-3020. The producers would be delighted to receive suggestions from interested horsemen for future program topics, according to a Tejano representative I called. Galveston County can be very proud of its senior county 4-H horse judging team. The team recently won second place at the district judging contest, which qualifies it for state- level competition in June.

Members of the team are Kelly Manning, League City; Janet Kent, Friendswood; Sabrina Shannon and Vanessa Yeamans, Santa Fe. The senior team came in just 26 points behind the first place winners from Montgomery County. The junior team from Galveston County won third place in its division, while the sub-junior team took a fourth place ribbon. Congratulations to all the 4-Hers who did so well and who work very hard to become proficient horse judges. Reminder: Very shortly the Hoof Beat column will present a run-down on horse organizations in this area.

Any club interested in being listed should contact me in care of Hoof Beat, The Galveston Daily A'ews, P.O Box 628, Galveston 77553. I need to know who you are, when and where you meet, the purpose of your organization, its activities, and a person for prospective members to contact. SHOWWANDGODT Galrestoc County Trail RISe Association asaal hnnJiy In cosjancuon w.tb Couay Fair Rodeo RWen are isvKed to sign on Asm a after 3 c. cvere! jtt al KofcMdt Part, Tens City. TV ride leave at a.m.

Apnl a and (Wjli route at Pirt Arcadia On May I a oceniay circle nte froo Pitt al 9 LIB. Can traB doss Gene Civwss. 925-3518. (or laJornutioo April 9 1 open bone shew sponsored by Gakeston County Fair 4 Rodeo Associate Judge: F. Yules Trebles tor first tirocgi sUft places Part arena.

Arcadia Call Tira AJwareVr. show at JS-J4J1 r.uraben or April 30 and May 1 AQHA approved torn RocKsg Slabtes. Hi gbray 288 Fresno. Judges: Robert Conrad and' Roy Heffean performance, timed events, youth and amateur classes Call May Gsirefion County ami arjr.nl rodeo Seven events plus Roman rkisg specljcuiar. Books open May Iron pm, Sacti Fe TriBrtders Mtocutkn meets at Hie Guaranty Federal Bant buftSag.

Sanu Fe PI 6. commission to consider G-F rules changed Saturday Prop 0 changes in 1983-84 hunting nd fishing regulations will be considered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission when it meets at9 a.m. Saturday at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department headquarters here. Legislation adopted recently by the Texas Big jackfish Bill Cochrane and his daughter Candi pose with a 35-pound jackfish. Cochrane caught the big jackfish Sunday fishing near an oil platform about 10 miles offshore.

Legislature will give the Parks and Wildlife Department regulatory authority over fish and wildlife in all counties. The bill, however, will not become effective until the end of August. Officials said this means the proposed changes for 1963-84 still will be subject to approval or disapproval by county commissioners courts in some counties, and will have no effect in 13 nonregulatory or "general law" counties where game and fish laws are set by legislative act. Senate Bill 94 will give the department full authority to set hunting and fishing regulations for all species in all 154 counties for the 1984-85 seasons. Changes to be considered at the commissioners' meeting Saturday are those which were aired in public hearings In March across the state.

The commission will consider any additional testimony that may be brought up Saturday. The proposed changes include: Minimum size limits for ling (cobia) and Spanish mackerel. of differential protection for spiked bucks in certain counties. of standard-length deer seasons in certain counties. of several counties to those offering a spring turkey gobbler season.

of trotlines used in saltwater. The minimum size limits for ling and Spanish mackerel are the same as those adopted by the Gulf Marine Council for ling and Spanish mackerel caught from waters under federal jurisdiction. The federal regulation covers waters outside the 10-mile limit of the state. The state wants to adopt similar regulations in order to make the federal regulation more easily enforced. The redefinition of trotlines used in saltwater is to close loopholes in the existing regulations The Parks and WildiJfe Department headquarters building is located at 4200 Smith School Road in Austin.

Hunting leaflet revised AUSTIN' A leaflet listing public hunting lands in Texas has been revised and now is available free from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Entitled "Acres for the Asking." the leaflet includes names, addresses and telephone numbers of national forests, timber and paper company lands national wildlife refuges, national grasslands. National Park Service recreation areas, national parks and seashore areas, state forests and river authorities. Officials said not all the listed lands allow hunting but most offer some public access for activities such as hiking, camping, boating or fishing. obtain the leaflet write Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

-1200 Smith School Road Austin, Tx 78744. or phone toll-free 1-800-792-1112 Log tells story of Cozumel trip Bv VTfTf STPtVunucirr By NICK STEPCmNSKI HITCHCOCK Perhaps the easiest way to describe my plight last week would be a page in fishing log. Entry: A'o. 361. Date: 19 April 1983.

Location: Cozumel, Quintanna Roo, Mexico. Weather conditions: Clear and mild. Water condition: Clear 3-5 feet. Water Temp: 74 degrees. Wind :S.E.

10-15 knots. Species: sailfish. Availability: very- plentiful. Bait used: skirted ballyhoo. Summary remarks: "Don't drink the water." Although, I don't believe it was the water.

That's what everybody blames first Maybe it was the fresh fruit plate or those chicken en- chilades and green sauce I had for breakfast Tuesday morning. Whatever the cause, I wish I knew for sure because I'd give it plenty of room on any return trip. When Larry Sweeny and I arrived at Puerto de AJbrigo (the dock) Monday afternoon, several Galveston area captains and deckhands were already under the weather, and it's possible we contacted it from them. I've been plenty sick before, but I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. I kept my reputation in tact by not catching one sailfish while Larry caught about 11.

The truth is I spent all day Tuesday on the flying bridge burning up massive rolls of film, which was my primary' purpose for the trip. After Montezuma got me Tuesday night. I spent all day Wednesday laying on the couch in the ca'bin. too weak to fish. Once in a svhile I'd get up and snap a few pictures of fish and then lay back down or retreat to another often used room on the boat.

We were fishing on board the Bootlegger, normally out of the Galveston Yacht Basin, but now a spring resident of this beautiful island in the Gulf Stream. Owner Mike Sarasgusa had to leave Monday afternoon and we missed him in the airport. On the same flight we also missed Mike Butler, captain of .4 Rare Bird, who was returning to Galveston for We did get to see Tod Habib, Tommy Wicker and Keith Ardoin, all of Galveston and all in good health and good spirits. The sailfish were very plentiful and cooperative, and "we" caught and released over 30 in two days. I caught a wahoo Tuesday to keep it from being a complete skunk.

A school of 4 to 5 pound dolphin and several small blackfin and yellowfin tuna helped keep the action hyot. I love Cozumel and I can't wait to go back. I just don't know how I can smuggle enough cheeseburgers and American beer through Mexican customs to last a week. WE SELL HUNTING FISHING LICENSE EQUIPMENT HOURS: SAT. 731 5 GULF FR "WAY DICKINSON 'YOUR BA FISHING SPECIALISTS' FREE REEL OF YOUR CHOICE FOR LARGEST SPECKLED TROUT WEIGHED IN AT OUR STORE EVERY MONTH (U.r 9Mt Trout by alpha 7 FOOT POPPING ROD NO.

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