CCA Texas

"Oysters are a critical component of the natural landscape on our coastlines. They provide shoreline stabilization, they filter the water, they provide habitat for fishes, crabs, and shrimp...so, when we remove that to consume the oysters, we're taking that habitat out and it's important that we return that back into the bay systems so that it can recruit the next generation of oyster reefs." - Shane Bonnot, CCA Texas Advocacy Director

If you haven't seen it yet, Coastal Conservation Association National, Mossy Oak and AFTCO put together a short film highlighting the importance of our oyster reefs and efforts to restore them back to health.

WATCH NOW ➡️ https://www.mossyoak.com/oyster-project

Red in 📍 Redfish Bay, Texas

📸: April Gonzales Alvarado + Danno Wise

That red is (almost) as big as he is!

Shout out to Aransas Bay Chapter Members David and Tina Frick for getting their grandson Bayes out on the water at an early age and teaching him the value of conservation .

📸: Tina Frick

The late ‘70s and ‘80s helped define the future of Texas redfish populations, and now, Texas redfish are thriving!

Created by the award-winning team at Fin and Fur Films and presented by our GREAT friends at H-E-B, the film “Redfish Revival” captures this time with vivid characters, gripping historic scenes and even some classic redfish fishing.

WATCH: Redfish Revival 🔗➡️ https://ccatexas.org/watch-redfish-revival-a-film-presented-by-h-e-b/

🐟 HABITAT TODAY FOR FISH TOMORROW 🐟

Our GREAT friends at SpawGlass care deeply about the health and conservation of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them here in Texas and for that, we are grateful. Their generosity will support conservation and habitat efforts along our state's coast 👏

CCA Texas is committed to ensuring the health and conservation of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them here in Texas. Recently, our Executive Board demonstrated that commitment in a BIG WAY by 🦪 pledging $5 million for oyster reef restoration 🦪 across the Texas coast! This funding will be designated for future projects in areas that are off limits to commercial harvest. Up to this point, CCA Texas and the Building Conservation Trust, the Coastal Conservation Association National Habitat Program, have already spent nearly $2 million for oyster reef restoration and oyster reef research in Texas.

On , support efforts like this to conserve our state's coast by becoming a member or renewing/upgrading your membership with CCA Texas, getting involved with your local chapter, volunteering for projects, encouraging your friends and family to join us, and more! 🔗➡️ CCATexas.org

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and be thankful. We're thankful for our Texas coast and all the marine life that inhabits it. The seagrass, the oysters, the Texas Redfish, and everything in between, we're grateful for it all!

We hope you and your family have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

📸: Mac Elliott Media + CCA Texas STAR Tournament

A few thoughts on the schooling nature of fish from our Advocacy Director Shane Bonnot who has witnessed this behavior, specifically in a hatchery setting, over his many years of experience.

It can definitely be easy to forget when you're out on the water...

This past weekend, our CCA Texas STAR Tournament held its annual ceremony for the Youth Scholarship Award Winners from this year's tournament.

In total for 2023, $325,000 in scholarships were awarded to these AMAZING lil' anglers and overall, $8,100,000 in scholarships have been awarded since 1995!

Please join us in 👏 congratulating 👏 the winners and their families on this life-changing achievement!

🎣 BIG news for anglers in Southeast Texas 🎣 The reconstruction of the Sabine Pass Public Boat Ramp

The ramp was in dire need of repairs resulting from hurricane storm surges along with additional wear and tear. The project included: rebuilding the ramps, constructing a fish cleaning station with cover, a floating dock + walkway, and asphalt for the parking lot with landscape.

This boat ramp's proximity to the area's artificial reefs, including the Sabine HI-20 site (8.4nm from shore to site) which has been a big beneficiary of our CCA Texas Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow Initiative, will benefit local anglers.

A big THANK YOU to Texas Parks and Wildlife | Coastal Fisheries - Texas Parks and Wildlife, the local community, and industry partners like Cheniere Energy Inc. for your support of this important project!

📍 Sabine Pass, Texas

Y'all know...

After a long, long summer in the grueling heat, fall and winter fishing in the cooler weather feels incredible!

📍 Mesquite Bay, Texas

📸: John Blaha

📑 LOCAL CHAPTER UPDATE 📑

🎣 Poco Rojo Fishing Tournament
📍 Corpus Christi, Texas​

Congratulations to the Corpus Christi Chapter for hosting another AWESOME Poco Rojo Fishing Tournament for the kiddos! It's incredibly important to provide the next generation of anglers with these incredible experiences while teaching them the importance of conservation, respect for our marine resources, catch-and-release, and more.

We're immensely grateful for our wonderful friends at Flint Hills Resources as well as The Bait Bucket, REPCON, Roy's Bait & Tackle Outfitters, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, SPRO, Zman, Bubba, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Islander Anglers, and Islander CCA. 👏 THANK YOU 👏 for your support of our little anglers!

🐟 Conservation in Action 🐟 Aransas Bay Chapter

🦪 Anglers' Night Out: Live Panel Discussion with your Local Oyster Farmers
📍 Fulton, Texas​

We're very proud of our Aransas Bay Chapter for hosting this informative open panel discussion about Cultivated Oyster Mariculture. Everyone in attendance will greatly benefit from the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and ideas! The oyster is so much more than just a fishery; it is a crucial foundational component of our bays’ ecosystem – healthy oyster reefs mean a strong and sustainable coastline now and in the future!

THANK YOU to everyone who played a role in this great night: Texas Oyster Ranch, Blackjack Point Oyster Company, Big Tree Oyster Company, DJ’s Oyster Co., Lone Star Oyster Company, Palacios Marine Agriculture Research (PMAR), Sea Grant NOAA, Aransas County Coastal Marine Resources-Texas A&M Agrilife, Oyster Resource and Recovery Center, and Sink Your Shucks Oyster Recycling Program.

📸: John Blaha

🐟 Conservation in Action 🐟 Aransas Bay and Aggieland Chapters

🚮 Road to Bay Coastal Cleanup
📍 South Rockport, Texas​

The CCA Aransas Bay Chapter recently teamed up with Keep Aransas County Beautiful to host this annual cleanup where dedicated volunteers removed awful garbage from our beautiful coast.

A special 👏 THANK YOU 👏 to our Aggieland Chapter for coming down to help again this year. Good Bull Ags 👍

📸: John Blaha

🐟 FLY RED 🐟 A big shout out to our Aransas Bay Chapter Member Cierra Borak for this red she caught on fly that she later released on a beautiful day!

📸: Jen Blaha

"Although shore-bound anglers are inherently limited in ability to move, they can use their lack of mobility to their advantage by focusing acutely on the areas they can access."

📸 + Quote: Pat Murray

Y'all have heard them say, "Teamwork makes the dream work", right?

This is what they mean!

📸: Greg Weller

We all know that Texas is known as the 🐟 redfish state, but do you know how that happened?

Take a deeper dive by WATCHING Redfish Revival presented by our GREAT friends at H-E-B and produced by Fin and Fur Films ➡️ https://ccatexas.org/watch-redfish-revival-a-film-presented-by-h-e-b/

Our latest 💻 digital issue of CURRENTS is out!

We've got a ton of updates and features for y'all! You can read the issue here 🔗 ➡ https://ccatexas.org/currents-october-november-2023/

CURRENTS is published six times a year. If you're not a member of CCA Texas, join us TODAY to help ensure the health and conservation of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them 👉 JoinCCA.org/Membership

📝 ADVOCACY ALERT 📝

The public scoping meetings to gather input from stakeholders and constituents concerning Spotted Seatrout management options hosted by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries staff start TODAY and run through Thursday!

If you're able to do so, we encourage you to attend, view the fisheries data, and provide feedback to TPWD staff.

You can also read the full TPWD press release here 🔗 ➡️ https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20230920b

That feeling you get when you head out in the morning knowing you're in for a day fishing is the best!

📝 REMINDER: ADVOCACY ALERT 📝

As you may already know, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries staff will host several public scoping meetings on the coast to gather input from stakeholders and constituents concerning Spotted Seatrout management options. These meetings are quickly approaching and the public is encouraged to attend and provide comment. Angler participation in this scoping process is paramount as TPWD considers future management of Spotted Seatrout.

Please note that the meeting scheduled in Galveston has had a location change! It will now be in the L-131 room at the College of the Mainland (1200 N. Amburn Rd, Texas City, TX, 77591) from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 19.

You can also read the full TPWD press release (which includes the Galveston meeting update) here 🔗 ➡️ https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20230920b

🗣 Anglers in Kingsville, Alice, and the surrounding communities, the CCA Texas Brush Country Chapter of CCA Texas is hosting its Annual Chapter Banquet and would like you to attend!

Join the chapter for a night that will feature a fried fish dinner provided by Baffin Bay Seafood, drinks, auctions, raffles, rods, reels, art, trips all over the world, and more. Event details 👇

📅 Thursday, November 2, 2023
🕕 6PM
📍 Knights of Columbus Hall 2623 | 1600 N. 14th St. | Kingsville, TX 78363
🎟 Get your tables and tickets NOW ➡ https://ccatexas.org/events/2023-brush-country-banquet/

CCA Texas Assistant Director Drew Adams caught (and released) some gold at sunrise off the surf before cleaning up trash at the 2nd Annual CCA McFaddin Beach Clean Up.

Shout out to Aransas Bay Chapter volunteer Janelle Weller who is always ready to lend a helping hand...or net!

📸: Janelle Weller

🐟 Conservation in Action 🐟 Golden Triangle and Sabine-Neches Chapters

🌊 The Second Annual CCA McFaddin Beach Clean Up
🚮 1 mile of beach cleaned and cleared of trash

A huge 👏 THANK YOU 👏 to these amazing chapters, their committed partners, and especially all the dedicated volunteers who came out and truly made a difference!

The CCA McFaddin Beach Clean Up is graciously underwritten by Motiva Enterprises LLC Port Arthur, Turner Industries, 2S Companies, Bobcat of Beaumont, Del Papa Distributing, STS Industrial, and Daddios Burgers.

📸: Joe Winston

This year's 🏌️‍♂️ CCA Texas Fore the Fish Golf Tournament 🏌️‍♂️ was a HUGE success...and we were lucky to get it in before the rain hit!

A big THANK YOU to all of our incredible sponsors and golfers whose support and dedication to conservation made this event possible. As a result, we raised critical funds that will help ensure the health and conservation of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them here in Texas.

Looking forward to next year! ⛳

🗣 Anglers in Buda, Wimberley, Drippings Springs, Kyle, and the surrounding communities, the CCA Hays County Chapter of CCA Texas is hosting its Annual Chapter Banquet and would like you to attend!

Join the chapter for a night that will feature a great dinner, drinks, auctions, raffles, and more. Event details 👇

📅 Wednesday, November 1, 2023
🕕 6PM
📍 Dripping Springs Ranch (Big Room) | 1042 Event Center Dr. | Dripping Springs, TX 78620
🎟 Get your tables and tickets NOW ➡ https://ccatexas.org/events/2023-hays-county-banquet/

You can find your own little slice of Heaven out here on the Texas coast...

Weekend goals!

📍 Baffin Bay, Texas

CCA Texas is honored to announce H-E-B, a Texas icon since 1905, as a proud Partner in Conservation supporting our Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) Program! We greatly appreciate their commitment to ensuring the health and conservation of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them here in Texas.

Learn more here ➡️ https://ccatexas.org/heb-our-partner-in-conservation

A big shoutout to our GREAT friends at Shoppa's + John Deere for their support of our Golden Triangle's 43rd Annual Chapter Banquet as well as our Texas coast. We are immensely grateful for their commitment to ensuring the health and conservation of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them.

👏👏👏

🗣 Anglers in Giddings, Lexington, throughout Lee County and the surrounding communities, the Lee County Chapter of CCA Texas is hosting its 13th Annual Chapter Banquet and would like you to attend!

Join the chapter for a night that will feature a delicious ribeye steak dinner, drinks, auctions, raffles, and more. Event details 👇

📅 Thursday, October 12, 2023
🕠 5:30PM
📍 The Silos | 1031 County Road 223 | Giddings, TX 78942
🎟 Get your tables and tickets NOW ➡ https://ccatexas.org/event-directory/

Don't forget how fortunate we Texans are to have this...

📍 Galveston Bay, Texas

📸: Ross McFall

📝 ADVOCACY ALERT 📝

From Texas Parks and Wildlife 💬 "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is seeking public input on spotted seatrout harvest regulations, including bag and size limits along the entirety of the Texas coast."

💬 "Following the February 2021 freeze event, which impacted tens of thousands of spotted seatrout, emergency and temporary reduced harvest regulations were put into place in several bay systems with the goal of accelerating recovery of the popular game fish. The temporary regulations expired on Aug. 31, and former statewide bag and size limits were reinstated."

A list of the meetings you can attend from Oct. 17 - Oct. 19 are provided here 🔗 ➡️ https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20230920b

Shoutout to our GREAT friends at Sea Center Texas - Texas Parks and Wildlife who recently released 🐟 seatrout 🐟 out in Sabine and Palacios!

👏 Y'all keep up the awesome work! 👏

📸: Sea Center Texas - Texas Parks and Wildlife

There is always something new to explore...




📝 ADVOCACY ALERT 📝

💬 "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is seeking public comments on the draft 2024 Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan (Land and Water Plan)"

More from Texas Parks and Wildlife 💬 "The Land and Water Plan identifies goals, objectives, strategies, and measurable actions to be undertaken by TPWD over the next 10 years." 💬 "The following questionnaire will be open for public comments on the draft 2024 Land and Water Plan thru September 30."

Link to submit public comments 🔗 ➡️ https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=p_1keK1i7EeB7DIyZuOjXwcVSFwhtMJAgFFwDkXvx6RUNkI4VkdEMEs2R1dDTlI0UkNKNUIwWUlGUy4u

Management of our Texas wildlife, public lands, and water is critically important, so have your voice heard by submitting public comments today!

Creating memories that will last a lifetime!

📸: Ben Cravens

🎣 Tight lines this weekend y'all! 🎣

📸: Nicoleta Suttle