JUG-ly These gallon plastic jugs were seen washing up against the north jetty recently. MaryAnn Heimann at Offshore Adventures said the weather has been keeping many anglers indoors. But, on those snapshot perfect days, those who have made their way to the water have caught some really nice hauls.

Redfish numbers have started to slow, but flounder catches have kicked in. Also caught from the bay, channel and piers have been drum, sheepshead, whiting and some trout.

Offshore trips have returned with nice hauls of tuna, amberjack and large grouper from long-range trips, and vermilion snapper, kingfish, shark from shorter trips.

Kristin Swan at Deep Sea Headquarters reported eighthour trips have returned to the dock with vermilion snapper, kingfish and shark, while longer-range tuna trips have brought back yellowfin and blackfin tuna, amberjack and large grouper. Bay anglers have caught nice numbers of redfish, drum and some trout, as well as flounder at night. She said anglers have reported sheepshead have been caught from the piers.

Green tide Wide-bladed turtle grass lies on the beach after washing up from the Gulf of Mexico. Scott Garrison at Fisherman’s Wharf said vermilion and lane snapper, kingfish and shark have been hooked offshore this week. Redfish, drum, speckled trout and flounder have been hitting the dock from bay trips.

Gary Carter at Dolphin Dock said vermilion snapper, kingfish, Atlantic sharpnose shark and a couple grouper have made their way back on 8 to 12 hour boats. Bay fishing has produced sheepshead, whiting and a few redfish.

Heimann at Offshore Adventures reported catches of nice flounder and redfish.

Blue tide COURTESY PHOTOS BY TONY AMOS A massive armada of Portuguese men of war covers the beach. Art Singleton from Woody’s Sports Center said anglers dropping their hooks in the bay have been pulling in some really nice catches of flounder, along with drum and some redfish.

There was no report from the Horace Caldwell Pier at press time. means “Keep tin tightly closed in a cool dry place”?); one liter of Leche Homogeneizada Larga Duracion (milk that lasts a long time) from Spain; a 500 gram tin of Petteroes Blanding Sigarettsnitt Ekstra Lett (Norwegian tobacco)anda5gallon!(empty) pail of Wei Chun Soy Sauce.

Comparing that to this year, while the weed and men of war remain the same, the garbage on the beach has changed. Thanks to the international marine pollution regulation MARPOL Annex V, the foreign litter emanating from ships at sea is rarely found now but our obsession with drinking water from plastic bottles that are discarded after one use produces the majority of the marine debris these days. This was the scene at the north jetty last Friday, an obscene ballet I called the “Galloping Gallon Jugs.”

Santa Claus showed me this charming picture one of the children (Kylie) gave him while visiting at the Civic Center on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Santa said that the joy shown by the little girl in this picture should be something we can all delight in. “Let’s all be this happy during the Christmas holiday,” he said with a few hoho hos of his own.

Tony Amos is a research fellow at The University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas and director of the ARK – Animal Rehabilitation Keep.