2026 Inductees
Texas Saltwater Fishing Hall of FameCaptain Jody Bright
Jody Bright left Texas to “go fishing for a year” – about 47 years ago. However, he still credits Texans or Texas influence for almost everything he has ever done to this day.
In the 70’s Jody grew up in two of the finest environments in Texas, under the wings of great mentors. Jody fished bays and flats of Port O’Connor with Dad Cappy Joe, brother Randy and a huge extended family. He fished the Gulf billfish tournaments with Cap’n Bob Byrd and sons Tommy and Billy.
With his Mom he lived in Austin going to school, playing sports and hanging with his neighbor Carrol “Goober” Overton who owned a live music venue and hosted one of Willie’s 4th of July Picnics on his Liberty Hill Ranch.
Capt. Bobby Brown gave Jody his first fishing break about 1980. Bobby’s personal style reinforced to Bright that mentors would also be needed to become proficient at catching giant marlin. It was clearly not something one could teach themselves.
Captain James Roberts
At 14 years of age James Roberts could be seen hitch-hiking from Corpus Christi to Port Aransas with a surfboard, heavy fishing rod and a suitcase containing a 12/0 Penn Senator reel and shark fishing gear. He would surf during the day and shark fish from the Gulf piers at night. It was not unusual for him to sleep on the picnic tables on the deck at Fisherman’s Wharf and try to hitch rides decking on Charter boats.