Capt. Gary Cooper helps a customer, 5-year-old Garrett Scholl of Houston, show off his first redfish during an outing near Port Aransas in 2015. A longtime Port Aransas fishing guide, Cooper was killed in a collision between two boats on Saturday, Sept. 10. Cooper had a list of regular customers ‘as long as your arm,’ a waterfront figure said. Courtesy photo
Capt. Gary Cooper is being remembered as a veteran Port Aransas fishing guide who was adored by visiting customers and locals alike.
“He was a damn good fisherman, and people really enjoyed fishing with him,” said Capt. Alex Porter, a longtime Port Aransas fishing guide who had known Cooper for many years and was a close friend.
“There never was a bad thing ever said about Coop.”
Cooper, 69, was killed when his boat and another one collided in the ship channel outside Dennis Dreyer Municipal Harbor in Port Aransas on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 10. (A story about the incident is on this page.)
Cooper lived on North Padre Island but previously had lived in Port Aransas for many years.
He operated out of the original Woody’s Sports Center docks and later out of the rebuilt Woody’s a short distance away, Porter said.
After Woody’s closed in December last year and the property was sold to make way for construction of condominiums, Cooper began operating out of the Island Moorings Marina, Porter said.
Cooper had been on the waterfront for decades and was one of the most experienced fishing guides in Port Aransas.
“It’s a great loss,” said Glenn Martin, who owned Woody’s. “He was one of my favorites. He was on the top of the list at Woody’s. Just a great guy. … Kids loved to fish with him. He had a list of regulars as long as your arm.”
Some out-of-town customers would go fishing with Cooper six or eight times a year, timing their vacations specifically to coincide with dates that the guide was available, Martin said.
Ruth Maspero of Port Aransas said Cooper’s ability to find fish was only part of his charm.
“His fishing prowess was legendary, but his story telling had everyone reeling,” said Maspero, who said she had known Cooper since the late 1970s and fished with him quite a few times.
Reese Greene called Cooper’s death “a heartfelt loss for this community and especially for his fishing family.”
“Coop had an engaging smile and an easygoing style,” said Greene, former longtime owner of Bill Busters fishing charter business in Port Aransas. “His professionalism was utmost. His customers never had to worry if he would show up for their fishing trip. Upkeep of his tackle, rods, reels and boat was a priority for Coop, and a reason his fishing calendar was full.”
Cooper’s son, Justin Cooper, knew his father was well-liked, but he still was surprised by the sheer number of people who have contacted the family to offer their condolences.
“I’m shocked by how many people knew him,” said Justin, a Cypress resident. “I knew he was a Port Aransas resident and was loved, but getting all these texts and emails and Facebook messages … this is kind of amazing.”
Port Aransas Guide Rene Lopez said Cooper was well-respected throughout the local fishing community.
“He’s one of the last of what I guess you’d call legends in Port Aransas,” Lopez said.
No services had been announced as of Monday, Sept. 12, the deadline for this edition of the South Jetty. (Keep watching the South Jetty’s website, Facebook page and print edition for updates.)
Dan Parker can be reached at dan@portasouthjetty.com.
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