A former employee’s account of his firing from Smitty’s Bait House in Galveston ignited a heated debate in a large Facebook fishing group. Shop management disputes his version of events, saying staffing changes—not a freezer mix-up—led to his dismissal.
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A conflict involving a former employee and the management of Smitty's Bait House has erupted on social media, eliciting strong responses from thousands of anglers across the Gulf Coast.
Jeremy Vaught, a prominent contributor to the public Facebook group Galveston Saltwater Fishing, informed members last week about his termination, attributing it to a misunderstanding during a recent cold snap. The organization boasts a membership of more than 171,000 individuals.
Vaught's post indicates that the incident occurred after temperatures fell below freezing along the coast. A supervisor directed an employee and a colleague to transfer the contents of the bait table into the freezer several days before the shop's closure. Instead, he reported, they chilled the table inside the store.
The inventory became spoiled due to the shop's closure and the bait that was left out. Days later, Vaught reported receiving a group text saying the shop was “just horrible.” He stated that his termination occurred shortly thereafter.
In the wake of recent developments, Vaught has encouraged patrons to continue supporting the store, saying, "Make sure to keep shopping there and take care of my man, Dan, the baitman."
Tonya Praker, who presents herself on social media as the vice president of Smitty’s and Bayou Bait & Tackle, has challenged that narrative. According to her, the termination was due to staffing requirements rather than being solely linked to the bait incident.
In a response to the thread, Praker expressed frustration, stating, “Yes, we were angry that you all cost us money by not doing what was asked.” She emphasized, “The bottom line is we didn’t need an employee who only worked two days a week!”
The exchange sparked more than 80 comments, with many expressing support for Vaught.
In a notable response, some users expressed their intention to seek alternatives for their business, while others expressed gratitude for previous service and offered potential job opportunities. A commenter humorously suggested transforming the episode into a reality show titled “Bait Wars.”
This week, employees at the shop opted not to provide detailed comments when approached, directing inquiries to management instead.
A Galveston police officer has alerted a reporter that additional visits to the property may lead to a trespassing charge.
Smitty’s, situated conveniently off Interstate 45 near the Harborside exit, has established itself as a favored stop for anglers en route to Galveston Bay and Gulf piers. In 2008, the late Capt. Joe Kent of The Galveston County Daily News called the shop a “landmark and institution.”
Currently, both parties express a desire to progress forward. The debate persists online, creating ongoing discussions within the region's close-knit fishing community.
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