PORT ARTHUR — State Game Wardens are seeing a spate of mishaps on popular lakes this summer involving teen boat operators who have not taken mandatory boater education according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials.

While the new law became effective last year, Texas Parks and Wildlife law enforcement officials say many teens and their parents are still unaware of the required certification. A serious boating accident in Central Texas last weekend illustrates a tragic scenario game wardens are hoping can be avoided with proper education, according to TPWD reports.

The accident occurred on Inks Lake in Llano County on Saturday, July 21, and involved a collision between a pair of personal watercraft; one operated by a 14-year-old male and the other by a 16-year-old male with a 16-year-old female passenger. Witnesses responded to aid the injured and called 911. The 14-year-old was air-lifted to Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin.

According to TPWD, operators did not know each other and all were wearing required personal flotation devices, however, neither operator had taken the mandatory boater ed course. The parent/guardians were not aware of the age restriction and need of a boater education course or needing to accompany the operators.

The mandatory boater education law requires anyone born on or after Sept. 1, 1993 who operates a vessel with a motor of more than 15 horsepower or a wind-blown vessel measuring more than 14 feet in length take the course or be accompanied by someone 18 or older who meets the boater education requirements or is exempt by age.

Accompany means onboard the craft. While all boaters are encouraged to take boating safety education, those born before Sept. 1, 1993, are exempt from required certification.

Texas’ state-approved boater education courses are available as one-day classroom training or online. The classroom course takes about six hours to complete and the online course has a three hour time commitment. Costs start at $20 for both courses. Information about boater education, including schedules of upcoming classroom courses, is available at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/boater_education/.

Now onto the report…

North Sabine — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials report trout are fair to good in the middle of the lake over rafts of shad. Redfish are fair on jigs tipped with shrimp around marsh drains. Some birds have worked over trout.

South Sabine — Trout and reds are remain fair under schools of shad in the mid lake area. Very few reports of flounder.

Sabine Pass — Very few reports at jetties and offshore this week. There have been a few good reports of trout at the short rigs toward the Constance Beach area. Be very careful as thunderstorms are forming quickly.

Sabine River — Bass are slow to fair on Texas-rigged worms and on small topwaters. Crappie are fair on shiners and jigs fished in the bayous at night.

Lake Calcasieu (Big Lake) — Hackberry Rod and Gun reports when the weather allows the short rigs are producing fair to good numbers of trout. Reds are good on mullet fished along the rocks in the channel and tight to the shore in the West Cove area. Flounder are scattered.

Sam Rayburn — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials report largemouths are fair on minnows and watermelon Rat–L–Traps. White bass are good on minnows and Li'l Fishies. Crappie are fair on minnows over baited holes. Bream are good on nightcrawlers. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait, shrimp, and liver.

Toledo Bend — Holly Park Marina reports largemouths are fair on Carolina-rigged worms fished in deep water. White bass and stripers remain good on the main lake humps and ridges on the north end of the lake. Crappie are fair to good over baited holes and boat docks.  Catfish are fair around baited holes.

LAKE LEVELS

TOLEDO BEND: Normal Pool Level: 172.0 Current Pool Level: 169.34 Was 169.59

RAYBURN LAKE: Normal Pool Level: 164 Current Pool Level: 163.24 Was: 163.44

B.A. STEIN HAGEN: Normal Pool Level: 85 Current Pool Level: 82.77 Was: 82.52