This is second-hand info so I can't confirm beyond that

But,

Got a call from a close friend on the island because he knows we eat at Pelican's about every 5 or 6 days. He related a story from a mutual friend that had $1,400 of bogus charges against his card. He called the cops and they immediately tied him to a string of (supposedly) about 20 or 30 other Dirty Al customers in July that had their info stolen.

According to him, it's a pretty big scam going on and may not even involve any Dirty Al employees, but rather some international internet scam being run out of either Africa or the Caribbean.

No!! You don't say. I can't believe Island waiters would be subverted into some kind of CC fraud deal, no way.

Of course, it is happening at the eateries owned by a man who would buy back unused bait for resale . Seriously though, Al is a really good guy and epitomizes the American dream, even if you can't speak English or Spanish for that matter.

Sad news on the CC stuff.

All in all though Dirty Al is pretty legit. I still remember buying bait at what is now Dirty Al's restraraunt during the summer with my cousin when I would be home from A&M. Place was tiny and he sold breakfast tacos as well. Thought to myself "who would want to eat here?" and it is amazing how that place and his brand have grown.

It is so funny, I think Al got the concession for the bait shack at Isla Blanca in either 88' or 89'. Bless his heart, he struggled and struggled. Right about that time the Sea Ranch got new ownership and got revamped and the county did all kinds of things for the Sea Ranch people and not thing for Al.

The Sea Ranch, before it burned, had opened the afternoon bar area known as "Dirty Dave's Deck" and for a couple of years they had some really good drink specials and some of the absolute worst live music I have ever heard, I mean it was terrible. Well Al would sit across that Marina and watch that head scratching production and I remember him going on and on about how he was going to be "Dirty Al" one day. I mean this is what I think he was saying, as understanding him is chore.

He then started having his wife make breakfast Taco's and about a year after that a BBQ pit at the bait shop followed and the rest is history. He has done very well for himself and I hope things continue well for him and his extended family. What is funny is that the county and the commissioners court from Cameron county always treated him so, so poorly and did all they could to make his life difficult. They treated him with contempt reserved for a bait selling fish monger in their eyes. Now he has done more than any of those dolts.

Supposedly there was a write up in PI\SPI press about several instances of this stuff at various eating places and some water sports places. Al`s was mentioned as was Parrot Eye`s. Who knows what all went on but apparently it was wide spread.