Telling Our Stories: Fishing Heritage by Mike Cateora 3/31 6:30p
“FISHING HERITAGE” presented by Mike Cateora
The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present its “Telling Our Stories” Series of 2011 featuring Mike Cateora with the “Fishing Heritage” on Thursday, March 31, at 6:30 pm inside the Treasures of the Gulf Museum.
Mike Cateora is actively the Chairman of the Historic Preservation Board and Vice Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board. For roughly 84 years, Mr. Cateora’s family has been involved in the fishing industry, going back as far as 1927. A Port Isabel native, Mike went into the family business where he devoted 25 years into the shrimping and fishing industry. Today, Mike Cateora is part owner of Cuevas Bait and Shrimp Company with business partner Jose Cuevas.
For years Port Isabel has always drawn the attention of fisherman well beyond the 1400’s from the Native Americans who inhabited the land to the avid sports fisherman that frequent the island today. Fishing in many ways has sculpted this area into one both Port Isabel and South Padre Island have embraced. Native Americans would use Padre Island as an unofficial home away from home where fishing was the main objective as well as gathering oysters and other shell fish. During the 1950’s at the peak of the industry, Port Isabel was known as the “Shrimp Capital of the World”. Today with fewer shrimp boats still in active use due to the importation of shrimp, Port Isabel has had to evolve in many ways from a fishing community and turn to tourism as a way to stimulate economic growth, but we still cherish those memories of old. That large catch of shrimp and fish your father or uncle brought back, that story of how the largest fish you had ever hooked just somehow got away. This great fishing heritage of ours is what made Port Isabel and its people.
Please join us as we tell the history of Port Isabel’s great fishing heritage. All locals and visitors are welcome to attend this free presentation. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be available.
“Telling Our Stories” held by the Museums of Port Isabel is a free presentation open to the public. These presentations are set on the final Thursday of the month from January through September at 6:30 pm. Our thanks go out to the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, the Port Isabel Merchants Committee, the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation and the City of Port Isabel for their continued support.
This event is sponsored by: Coastal Mail and Southwind Inn Hotel.
The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundations goals are to help preserve and educate our local natural history through presentations and exhibits.
For more information on telling our stories or to help sponsor an event, contact Gabriel Godines at 956-943-7602 or visit www.portisabelmuseums.com you can also send an email to ggodines@copitx.com.
The Museums of Port Isabel and the City of Port Isabel
invite you to enjoy a day filled with live entertainment, vendors, food, family fun on the grounds of the Historic Port Isabel Lighthouse! Queen Isabella Market Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no admission charge to the event. Vendors offering collectibles, antiques, local art, jewelry and more will be lining the sidewalks around the lighthouse. A tent with tables and chairs near the live entertainment will offer the opportunity to sit down and relax while enjoying some tasty tamales, baked goods or other dishes local vendors and restaurants will be offering. Or just roll down the grassy hill of the lighthouse! Relax and let us entertain you during a family fun day in Port Isabel!
