By Lone Star Outdoor News
On the anniversary of hurricane Harvey, the Port Bay Club held their annual fly fishing tournament August 25. This year the event was dedicated to long-time member the late Eric Nelson and renamed the Eric Nelson Memorial Fly Fishing Festival due to his impact on many of the members who he taught how to fly fish and tie flies. “Nelson took my daughter, Mimi, under his wing and showed her the art of fly tying. Their tradition was to tie a fly the night before the event and then catch a fish on that fly during the event. It happened more than once. It is a real honor to have this event named after my good friend” said David J. Sams, founder of Lone Star Outdoor News. The hurricane caused the venue of the captain’s meeting and the weigh-in to change, but the event had a beautiful sunny day of fishing. Five teams participated including: Team Harrison, Team McDade, La Ranas de la Moscks, El Nor Pol and Matagorda Mafia. The fishing took place from near the club and as far away as Port O’Connor. The competition was total inches of fish in the Redfish (3 fish), Trout (5 fish), and Wildcard categories. Team Matagorda Mafia consisting of Mimi Sams and David Sams guided by Captain Scott Sommerlatte swept the competition in all categories.
Mimi and David Sams, of Dallas, won the Eric Nelson Memorial Fly Fishing Festival at the Port Bay Club in Rockport Saturday with a total of 61 ½ “ of redfish 50 ¼’ of trout and 58 ½” of wildcard fish. The club continues its rebuilding process one year after Harvey.
Photo by Scott Sommerlatte
The anglers caught cruising reds on shrimp patterns and spoon flies in shallow water and reported the fish were very finicky and not easy to catch. Most of the reds ate after the noon hour as the near full moon was influencing the bite. The team caught most of their wild card fish ( drum, lady fish, and gar) in the deeper guts and the trout were all caught in the Intracoastal Waterway on small shrimp patterns.
Team El Nor Pol’s Bo Fennell, guided by Alan Skrobarcek, caught the biggest redfish of the day (22 1/2”) and was awarded a silver coin from the Mangrove Fly Fishing Company. Skrobarcek, took his angler to pods of tailing fish to catch their three reds and fished under the lights and in the deep of the bay for the trout.
Bo Fennell, of The Woodlands, shows off his silver coin from the Mangrove Fly Fishing Company. He won the prize for the largest single redfish during the Eric Nelson Memorial Fly Fishing Festival at the Port Bay Club in Rockport Saturday. Photo by David J. Sams
The Williams clan (La Ranas de la Moscks) won the spot calcutta with 5 redfish spots. Following the weigh-in, the margarita competition was won by Julie Skrobarcek followed by a close second, John Williams’ honey margarita. Miguel, Alan, and Julie made great surf and turf tacos and Scott Sommerlatte presented a photography slideshow after dinner. The Port Bay Club is 106 years old and is rebuilding after Harvey.
For membership inquires contact the club manager, Alan Skrobarcek 361-543-6747
Results:
Matagorda Mafia
Redfish: 61 1/2 “
Trout: 50 1/4”
Wildcard: 58 1/2″
El Nor Pol
Redfish: 60 3/4“
Trout: 47”
Wildcard: 0
La Ranas de la Moscks
Redfish: 30 “
Redfish Spots winner
