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Texas Tarpon
By Russell A. Graves
The sun was just peaking over the water when we launched from the boat ramp near Rockport. Beautiful and calm, the waters of Aransas Bay sit behind the expansive San Jose Island and are isolated from the enormous Gulf of Mexico by the protective barrier islands. To the west, the gulf’s water is decidedly briny with a salinity of about 36 parts per thousand. Further east, the Aransas River flows freshwater in Copano Bay, which then empties into Aransas Bay and creates a brackish estuary that is flush with fish and other wildlife species.
I live in the Panhandle, and before me is more water than I’ll ever see in a lifetime up there. As the boat eases through the water near San Jose Island, roseate spoonbills cruise over the water while crabs skitter from the sand. Although I am here to fish, I enjoy watching the bay’s wildlife almost as much as I do reeling in speckled trout.
The rich waters of the Texas bays fed by freshwater nutrients from inland Texas rivers mix with equally rich gulf water to create a natural nursery.
Numerous species of fish lay eggs where the fry will grow and return to the gulf. The rich and protective habitats of the estuaries protect and grow a number of fish species including the mystical Atlantic Tarpon.
The Tarpon
The tarpon is a member of the Megalops genus, which includes all of the tarpons of the world. The species that inhabits the waters off the Texas coast is the Atlantic tarpon that has a range from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to Africa and down the eastern coastal areas of North and South America.
The fish has even been documented as far north as Nova Scotia. While it lives most of its life in the open water, the tarpon is also found in rivers and estuaries that border open waters.
To read more pick up a copy of the March 2018 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Heather Lloyd
Vaccinations are a critical component of maintaining the health and well-being of horses, especially in environments where they are exposed to other animals, such as in the sport, show and performance arenas. Horses, like all animals, are susceptible to various infectious diseases that can spread quickly and cause serious harm.
A routine vaccination schedule helps prevent the spread of these diseases by preparing the horse’s immune system.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Having herds on a controlled breeding schedule means that we have a predictable calving schedule, and while it’s only over a couple of months, for us it does fall right after the start of the year. I lobby annually to call ours the “Winter calving season”, but I am outvoted and my husband still refers to it as Spring. Unlike producers in our Northern States, we don’t have to contend with brutally harsh winter weather, and on those rare times we do, thankfully it is not for extended periods. Regardless of whether you have a Spring or a Fall calving schedule, the health of a newborn calf begins with the mother’s health, and the mother’s health is largely dependent on the producer.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Join us for the Lone Star Open (LSO) Auctioneer Championship, set to take place on Sunday, February 2, alongside the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR).
This exciting event will feature a $20,000 prize for the grand champion auctioneer, as well as insightful presentations on the auction method of marketing and the dynamic auctioneering profession.
To read more, pick up a copy of the January edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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