It's being reported by CNN and AP that an exchange of gunfire between the Mexican navy and drug runners has taken place on Falcon Lake, leaving 13 dead, including one Marine and one female. Probably nothing to it, just like that Hartley business and similar rumors.

Not much detail available. The Sheriff says he has no info. Mexican sources indicate the firefight took place on or near an island on the Mexican side, near Old Guerrero. It is said that the island was being used to stage transport of narcotics to the Texas side of the lake.

Here's the article from the Houston Chronicle. No more detail than is above. I'm sure more will come out.

Falcon Shootout

Can't be? Every one say's it's safe, just like going down to the corner store.

Janet wouldn't lie would she?

I was down there Sunday and caught all the action out on the lake. We were watching what looked to be a black hawk helicopter roughly 2 1/2 miles from Tiger Island where we were fishing. He was in a hover over the lake very low kicking up a spray for :20-30 minutes before we heard gatling gun fire. I'm betting he fired over 20,000 rounds over the next :45 minutes. We heard other fire coming from what I thought might be a 50 cal. Than a couple of heart thumping explosions I have absolutely no idea as to what that was. We didn't know what had took place until the following day.

I was told by a TP&W warden yesterday the sheriff down there is saying that, according to his sources, a number of the outlaws had escaped in the type of boats used by commercial fishermen, most likely towards the Texas side of the lake. This is largely confirmed by the account in the SA Express News. The sheriff is supposed to be testifying before a congressional committee today.

So Sawyer- When you guys heard all that gun fire/ explosions did you leave? or get closer to the place where you launched? Kind of "risky business" staying on the water with massive gunfire that close..... IMHO Glad you guys are unharmed though...

You never know where those stray rounds are going to land, and 2 1/2 miles is still too close!

I was down there on Sat and Sunday. Fished in the Tigers for the first half of Sunday and then ran towards the Salanias near the dam when my fish cooled off. I came around that main lake point and found a tree I had been fishing the day before. As I stopped and stood up to get my rods I heard a whistle and then an explosion about a 120 yard from my boat that shot water about 40ft in the air. Dumbfounded for a second I looked around to see where it came from and about that time I heard the same whistle and then another explosion; but this time about 40 yards from the boat. It was close enough that I saw pieces of what ever artillery shell they were using land about 20 ft from my boat. I hopped behind the wheel and started the engine only to hear machine gun fire and then see the round hit in the water probably 30 yards to the left of my boat. I floored it and got the F out of there. Really didn't know at the time what was going on. Just kind of assumed that it was some military exhibition or practice, and I had kind of wandered in to the middle like some kind of streaker at a football game that gets sacked by security at the end. I got home and told my Dad and some friends but other wise kept it to myself. Dad called me the next day and said to check the news. I guess I got luck. I'm not much for all the people that say oooh stay away. Don't do there. I love to fish; it's what I do. That's where the fish are! I've served in the military and been in harms way when I didn't really want to be somewhere. At least if I go; I go doing what I love. Just be cautious. I still haven't seen or heard anything on the American side and the fishing is just as great in our country. Especially this time of year with all of the deep drops and ledges.

I should also add after I got out of there I pulled back to the American side and kept fishing for another 4 hours outside of the Tigers on a ledge. I saw 2 choppers flying above that cove for about 20 minutes and then they left. A couple more rounds were fired and they quickly came back. They were in and out and after a couple times of watching them that's what had me convinced I just got in the middle of some kind of target practice; I quickly forgot they were there and went back to catchin fish, but not much gets me stirred up. Just fishin

Certainly nothing to lose your head over.

Odd that none of our politicos are demanding that the Mexican authorities release more information about this incident. Almost like they didn't want to know about it.

Those Mexican Marines were probably working for the gulf cartel anyway and took out their rival zetas, so the Mexican authorities have little say in the matter anyway.

If you fish on that side then you are aware you are on your own, and if something happens, you can just about count on it that the body won't be returned unless it just happens to wash up on the American side after several weeks.

I was listening to a radio talk show a few days ago, where the topic of conversation was whether Rick Perry should not have gone to El Paso for a "photo op" with Obama on the tarmac. One caller said that Perry should have gone, taking Tiffany Hartley with him.

Situation is HOT over on the Mexican side right now. I wouldn't put it past those bastards to take out a boat if one ventures near there turf.