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Investing in the Next Generation: CCA Brush Country Chapter Helps Youth Explore Baffin Bay:
On April 25, 2026 nearly 70 participants and volunteers gathered along the shoreline of Baffin Bay at Kaufer-Huber Memorial Park in Riviera, Texas, for the third annual Exploring Baffin Bay – A Texas Brigades Experience event. For many young participants, the day marks their first opportunity to step into the water, cast a line, take a boat ride, and experience one of Texas’ most unique bay systems firsthand.
Hosted by the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s Bringing Baffin Back initiative in collaboration with Texas Brigades, the Experience introduces youth ages 9 to 17 to the Baffin Bay ecosystem through a free day of hands-on outdoor activities, conservation education, and direct guidance from scientists, anglers, and natural resource professionals.
Baffin Bay is known for its hypersaline waters, world-class fishing, and unique serpulid worm reefs, and is a place unlike any other on the Texas coast. The bay’s health is closely tied to that of the surrounding watershed and faces ongoing water quality challenges including nutrient and bacterial pollution. Helping young people understand and discover those ecosystem-scale connections is central to the Experience’s mission.
Throughout the day, participants explored the connections between fish habitat, water quality and watershed stewardship through immersive, hands-on activities.
A key supporter in making the annual Experience possible is the CCA Brush Country Chapter.
Thanks to CCA Brush Country’s support, participants had rods, reels and tackle in hand as they rotated through fishing activities along the shoreline. For many kids, this event is their first opportunity to learn proper fishing techniques and build confidence outdoors.
CCA Brush Country’s impact extended beyond the fishing pier. Each participant received a goodie bucket filled with fishing gear, towels, and fish identification booklets to continue learning long after the event ended. Participants and volunteers also received custom event t-shirts made possible through the chapter’s support.
In addition to fishing, participants joined researchers from the Harte Research Institute’s Center for Sportfish Science to conduct shallow-water seine net tows, collecting pipefish, juvenile fish, and jellyfish while learning how healthy habitats support thriving fisheries. Other activities introduced participants to birding, boating safety, water quality, bay-bottom ecology and watershed science.
After lunch, participants put stewardship into practice during a coastal cleanup challenge before shifting focus upstream. Through rainfall simulations, soil infiltration tests, and watershed model demonstrations, kids explored how land management practices influence runoff and water quality in Baffin Bay.
For CCA Brush Country, supporting Exploring Baffin Bay represents an investment in the future of Texas fisheries. By helping connect young people to the water through hands-on experiences, the chapter helps inspire the next generation of anglers, conservationists and advocates for Texas’ coastal resources.
Officers
President: Brenda Ballard
Treasurer: Brenda Ballard
Banquet
Check back for 2026 details and info
Kids’ Fishing Day
TBD – check back for details.
Baffin Bay Shoot-Out
TBD – check back for details.
