2021 Inductees

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”. 

Poco Bueno 

In 1969 Joe Bright teamed with Walter Fondren, III and Bob Byrd to start the Poco Bueno Tournament. Randy is one of only 2 people, along with Capt. Kirk Elliott, to participate in every Poco from 1969 to its final event in 2018. A run of 50 years where he was a tournament winner twice, dock hand, deck hand, canal Olympics rope walk champion, head beer fetcher, dock master, tournament director for a few years in the 1980s and the emcee of the Calcutta for over 25 years. 

Tournaments and Fishing 

Beginning in the mid 1960’s Randy has been a regular at the Texas, Gulf Coast and International tournaments and has served in just about every position in tournament fishing: beer mate and sandwich maker, deck hand, gaff man, wire man, captain and angler. Tournaments include, Poco Bueno, The Lone Star Shootout, Port Aransas Deep Sea Roundup, Dean Hawn Memorial, Texas Legends, TIFT, Port Mansfield Tournament, Watermelon Open, August Billfish Classic, Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic, Texas Woman’s Angler Tournament, Bahama Billfish Series, Los Suenos Triple Crown, Bisbees Black and Blue. 

In the early days most of this tournament fishing was as mate for Walter Fondren on the Tsunami boats and more recently he had a very rewarding 14 years as a teammate on Mike Hopkin’s 50 Viking, “Pass It On” with Captains Richard Wieschwill and Wayne Timmermann. 

Professional and Fishing Industry 

1983 to 1989 – Hired as Assistant Director at GCCA and promoted to Executive Director in 1985 at the age of 29. Randy played a key role in GCCA’s expansion to become the leading national marine conservation organization of CCA. 

1989 to1991 – Founder and President of the Texas Saltwater Inc. Published a bi-monthly magazine and 2 how to books on fishing the Texas Coast. 

2003 – Joined with Capt. Jim Peachey to open a Texas office of Gulf Coast Hatteras and became a full time yacht broker. During their office time together Jim and Randy started the process of forming the Houston Big Game Fishing Club. 

2004 – A founder and founding President of the Houston Big Game Fishing Club. Service to the HBGFC continues to this day as he has been a board member and officer for 17 years. He now serves as Treasurer, Chairman of the Tournament Committee and Co-Chairman of the Lone Star Shootout. 

2005 to 2021 – Helped start the HBGFC’ Invitational Billfish Tournament which became the Lone Star Shootout in 2010. 

2006 – Worked with Larry Smith and Carmine Galati to bring Galati Yacht Sales to Texas. Randy served as Texas Sales Manager from 2008 to 2016 and has consistently been a top sales producer for Galati and the # 1 Viking Yachts salesman in Texas. 

2018 -Randy was a primary founder and initial Vice-President of the Texas Marine Industry Coalition (TMIC) which successfully lobbied for and passed the Texas Boat Sales Tax Cap in 2019. He currently serves as President of TMIC. 

2020 – A founder and Founding President of the Texas Triple Crown Billfish Series. 

In 2021 Randy proudly serves in the following positions: 

1. Husband of Kelly Bright, father of Joe Bright and grandfather to Sophie Jo and Owen Bright 

2. BOD and Treasurer of the Houston Big Game Fishing Club 

3. Chairman of HBGFC Tournament Committee 

4. Co-Chair The Lone Star Shootout Tournament 

5. President of the Texas Marine Industry Coalition (TMIC) 

6. Salesman, Top Producer for Galati Yacht Sales-Texas 

7. President of Texas Triple Crown Billfish Series