2021 Inductees

Born July 1, 1933 His fishing career began at the age of 4 or 5 using his cane pole from the fishing pier with his father (Floyd Appling) and brother (Hefner Appling) at their bay house on Carancahua Bay.

At age 14 he had his first boat, an 18ft. Hilton, which he says is when he really developed a passion for fishing and being on the water.

In the mid 1950’s he and his brother bought a 21ft. Grady White which is where his offshore fishing career began. An office chair was mounted to the bow as a fighting chair, homemade bamboo outriggers tied on, and they were off to chase kingfish and sail fish.

In the early 1960’s he acquired his first true sportfish, a 31ft. Chrisavich (Rybovich knockoff). It was with this boat they began venturing farther offshore (relatively speaking) and began turning their attention to blue marlin.

The early days:

Randy was born in Houston, Texas in 1956 to Cappy Joe and Janice Bright and his love and passion for fishing and the great outdoors was developed at a very young age beginning with weekend trips to catch bass and perch. The offshore adventures began in the early 1960 when the family purchased a 33’ Chris Craft named the Lollipop.  The boat was kept in C shed in Bridge Harbor Marina, where a lifelong friendship was born between Capt. Bob Byrd Sr and Joe Bright that set the stage for bigger boats and bigger adventures in pursuit of billfish with their pack of boys (Randy and Jody Bright and Bobby, Tommy and Billy Byrd).  In about 1965 the family purchased a 36’ Enterprise convertible, named the Sea Horse and in 1966 the Bright crew left Bridge Harbor for a home on the bay front and a home port in Port O’Connor.  To this day, Randy refers to Port O’Connor as his “home port”.