Fishing Update & Castaway Classic IV

**Fishing Report**

An abnormally warm Winter for the most part had fishing holding close with usual Fall trends through most of the duck season. This was a great advantage for guests opting in on Cast & Blast trips enjoying the best of the Texas Gulf Coast.

As duck season came to a close on January 30th we’ve been having some dips in temperatures to the low 30’s and below freezing. It seems like when Winter comes it comes in February these last couple of years. Those temperature drops sent fish heading for bayou’s and cuts making for some solid action.

**Castaway Classic Fishing Tournament IV**

On February 5th and 6th, we hosted our annual fishing tournament benefitting local youth. This was our 4th annual event hosting 21 teams from all over. The event was sponsored and supported by great folks including Dimension Energy Services, Seatow Texas Mid-Coast, Serve Outdoors, and The Mullet Invitational. Darrel Schact and Mike Voss with Serve Outdoors came through for us with a great prize donation including Rtic ice chests with Serve Outdoors Goodies and Gift Cards to Academy. Wendi and her team hosted the Capt’s Dinner with chopped brisket and pulled pork while Austen Rivera handled the rules and details of the event.

**Sponsors & Supporters**

Castaway Lodge Staff & Owners – We do the heavy lifting managing the non-profit and Wendi along with Misty Youngblood and Linda Mullins do a lot of the hosting and ground work going into an event. We call it “the ground game” and the girls do a great job circulating flyers and making the rounds stirring up interest and putting flyers in business from Port O’Connor to Victoria. That takes a lot of running and even with Social media, a good “ground game” is essential. Then there is all the work hosting and dressing up for an event. The Captain’s Dinner is our way of welcoming teams and thanking them for participating and the Wendi, Misty, and Linda do a great job.

**Dimension Energy Services** is a local contractor specializing in servicing area chemical and plastic plants. We’v e had a long standing relationship with Dimension Energy Services and their generosity and community service efforst, headed by The Guerra family, have helped us move the needle locally.

**Serve Outdoors** is a non-profit whose mission is built around wounded warriors and disabled Veteran’s holding various fund raisers; and hosting fishing and hunting trips with the focus on special needs and outdoor activities which can be out of reach of many Veteran’s financially.

**The Mullet Invitational** is another non-profit headed up by Mr. David Couch and their tournament also raises money for local youth and community improvement intitiaties. We have been proud to work in association giving back to the community and appreciate all their effort.

**Rapid Printing – Victoria**

The Housworth brothers at Rapid Printing have been a tremendous supporter with lots of help pulling together digital and print media helping us get the word out locally and online. They are fast with great “creative” folks on the back end making everything look amazing.

**SeaTow – Texas Mid-Coast**

We were recently blessed with the participation of an old friend that started a new SeaTow franchise here in Seadrift. Brennan and Jeff Larson have long been silent contributors to the charity making cash donations from time to time. Going into the Classic, they decided to really step up becoming a full sponsor. The Larson’s contribution to our efforts over time have always given us a boost into all of our events. Their encouragement and financial help was always a blessing.

**Tournament A Team – Rivera/Davenport**

**Austen Rivera** and **Jonathan Davenport** are two local Seadrifter’s that embody “giving back to the community”. Fishing tournaments require a great deal of hands on effort requiring carving time out of busy work and life schedules. Both have historically put forth great effort, on behalf of local youth and community improvement initiatives, hosting fishing tournaments including The Shrimpfest Fishing Tournament. Four years ago, when we started out youth focused fishing tournament, Austen and Jonathan teamed up with us to run logistics and data, weigh in management and have been doing an amazing job ever since. We’ve learned a lot about community involvement from the pair and Seadrift along with great Calhoun County is lucky to have them. Castaway Youth Charities certainly is thankful for their involvement.

**Fundraising** – On February 15th, we will be presenting the Calhoun County FFA Booster Club with a check in the amount of $5,000 in proceeds from our Fishing Tournament and Pumpkin Patch event in October. This will bring our total contribution to local youth of $15,000 for the fiscal year and we couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of the teams, participants, sponsors, supporters, and volunteers.

Thank you!

**Capt. Kris Kelley
Castaway Lodge
1-888-618-4868
www.seadriftbayfishing.com**