July/August 2013 | www.gulfcoastmariner.com

The Record Breaking

Dominates Swordfishing Worldwide Page 12

Celebrating Coastal Life

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“It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

July/August 2013

Charles Milby Publisher

Commodore (Director of Art) Brandon Rowan First Mate (Graphic Designer) Victoria Ugalde Sales Commodore (Director of Sales) Patty Kane Sales Crew (Advertising Executives) Shannon Alexander Patty Bederka Ashley Karlen Kathleen McNeil Debbie Salisbury Amber Sample Editorial Don Armstrong Rod Evans Terry Flynn Capt. Joe Kent Betha Merit Charles Milby Brandon Rowan Laura Snow Photography Charles Milby Brandon Rowan Brian Stewart Distribution Timothy Shinkle Company Admin. Assistant Lillian Harmon LF

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excessively, get water into your system and get in the shade. Your body is warning you to cool it! Safety first; make sure your vessel can pass the Coast Guard inspection: lights work, flares, first aid kit, water, flashlight, and well conditioned personal flotation devices or life jackets for everyone on board. I’ve never heard of a drowned victim with a life vest or flotation around the body. Finally, it is best not to drink at all on the water, but if you do, remember that the same rules apply on the road as they do on the bay. If stopped and you are over the limit at .08, you will be arrested. Law officers and Coast Guard personal patrol the water heavily during the summer holidays and can have you apprehended and taken to a local facility for a blood test. That $5 six-pack is not worth the consequences of a $5-10,000 DWI. Do not be a victim, enjoy the water safely while swimming, fishing, boating or just floating along in a tube.

Captain (Editor) Mary Alys Cherry

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irst of all, thank you for all the many accolades we have received regarding our first issue! Secondly, attention all Gulf Coast Mariners, the 2013 hurricane season has now officially arrived. Our mantra this month is “Be Prepared.” It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Make sure you check with all marinas on the proper procedures in securing your boat and protecting your property, as well as your neighbors before the big storm hits. Your boat must be tied off properly so it does not become a projectile and destroy other boats, docks, marinas, property, or cause death. Keep your eye on the weather and pick up one of the Bay Area Houston Magazine Hurricane Maps at Arlan’s Grocery Store or at your local marina to plot the storm. The dog days of summer are upon us and it means hotter temperatures and lots of potential for dehydration. Remember, water hydrates; alcohol, beer, soft drinks, tea, and coffee all dehydrate you. So drink more water and less of the others. If you feel faint, weak, dizzy or start sweating

Rear Admiral (President) Rick Clapp

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Be Prepared

Admiral (Publisher) Charles Milby

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[Letter from the Publisher]

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586 r.clapp@baygroupmedia.com For information on advertising: Phone: 281.474.5875 Fax: 281.474.1443 www.GulfCoastMariner.com

FEATURES

July/August 2013

8 | Offshore Report

Chasing down yellowfin tuna 120 miles out of Galveston with Bad Intentions.

10 | Port A Jetty Jumping

Beach camping, great fishing and inshore spearfishing off the rocks in Port Aransas. By Brandon Rowan

12 | Booby Trap Swords

Capt. Brett “Ahab” Holden and the crew of the Booby Trap smash the old swordfish record with a nearly 500lb “nickel” fish. By Rod Evans

17 | Advice from the Pros Trim your sails for maximum efficiency. By Terry Flynn

18 | The Good Life

Wahoo, marlin and the turquoise blue waters of the Bahamas. GCM interviews Olympic silver medalist and former America’s Cup skipper John Kolius.

19 | What’s in Your Bag?

Advice and ideas about what to take on the water from West Marine’s lead backup of clothing, shoes and accessories. By Laura Snow

14 | The Mosquito Fleet

Prepare your boat for bluewater adventures and avoid common mistakes made by newcomers to offshore fishing. By Capt. Joe Kent

20 | The Galley

Recipes, restaurants and the fun challenge of providing sustenance on the sea. By Betha Merit

17 | 2014 Chevy Silverado The new half-ton do-it-all truck makes its debut up and down the Texas coast. By Don Armstrong

ON THE COVER The Booby Trap crew, comprised of Brett Holden, Jeff Wilson, Matt Reed and Travis Joyce, along with guest anglers Brian Barclay and Danny Lenderman, with the new Texas state record swordfish.

Contents Letter from the Publisher Boatoberfest on Clear Lake Galveston Bay specks Texas Billfish Championship 2013 Texas Youth Race Week Windward Bound Sailing Camp Nautical Numbers Win a Jeanneau sail trip Seafood recipes Texas fishing guides Tide charts

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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BOATOBERFEST on Clear Lake October 24 – 27, 2013 Show at Endeavour Marina in Seabrook includes on water events and gourmet food trucks!

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here won’t be a better time to visit Clear Lake in Fall than at the first annual Boatoberfest, Oct. 24 – 27, a Houston Texans’ BYE week! A true four day Festival for the whole family, Boatoberfest on Clear Lake will include Tri-Hull Powerboat Racing on the lake, a boat sale with incredible end of season boat deals, a gourmet food truck rally, chili cook-off, and over 100 vendors with the latest in accessories, technologies, fishing and boating gear, products and services, gifts and apparel. Featuring boats, both in and out of the water, ranging in size from 15ft to 70ft, including sportfish, center consoles, cruisers, ski boats and bay boats, alongside sailboats from Jeanneau, Hunter and Beneteau to name a few. The NASA Parkway Gourmet Food Truck Rally takes off with mobile menus from some of Houston’s best food trucks alongside live bands and a craft beer garden. Come “Celebrate the Lake” - visit www.texasboatoberfest.com for further information or email info@ texascoastboatshow.com Sponsored by GEICO, MustangCat, Emerald and Diamond Beach Luxury Residences.

Fish Consumption Advisories for Galveston Bay Specks Changed

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he Texas Department of State Health Services has removed the consumption advisory for spotted seatrout from a portion of Galveston and Trinity Bays and all of East and West Bays. The area is south of a line from Red Bluff Point to Five-Mile Cut Marker to Houston Point. Laboratory testing of spotted seatrout from these areas indicated that concentrations of dioxins and PCBs have decreased to acceptable levels and no longer pose a significant health risk. However, consumption of spotted

seatrout from the Upper Galveston Bay continues to pose a health risk and the advisory remains in effect for this area. Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs exceed DSHS health guidelines. Regular or longterm consumption of spotted seatrout from these waters may result in adverse health effects. An advisory also remains in effect for blue crab from this area. Women of childbearing age and children under 12 years old should not consume spotted seatrout from Upper Galveston Bay. Women past childbearing age and adult men are advised to consume no more than one meal per month. Upper Galveston Bay includes the portion of the Galveston Bay estuary north of a line from Red Bluff Point to Five-Mile Cut Marker to Houston Point. An advisory for all species of catfish remains in effect for all of the Galveston Bay System. To view the map, advisories and other information about fish testing, go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/seafood

The Wednesday evening sail races come to a close as the sun sets on Clear Lake.

Texas Billfish Championship 2013

Billfish Calcutta 1st place Bandit (82 Viking) 2nd place What Knot 3rd place Bandit (54 Hatt)

$1500 Dorado pot 1st place Bandit 82 - 38# 2nd place Donaken - 29.9# 3rd place Bandit 82 - 29.2#

$3000 Tuna pot 1st place Allie Cat - 101.8# 2nd place Allie Cat - 90.2# 3rd place Bad Intentions - 86.7#

$500 Dorado pot 1st place Nemesis - 39.2# 2nd place Bandit 82 - 38# 3rd place Top Dollar - 37.1#

$1500 Tuna pot 1st place Allie Cat - 101.8# 2nd place Allie Cat - 90.2# 3rd place Bad Intentions - 86.7#

$3000 Wahoo pot 1st place Papotonic - 16.4# 2nd place Bad Intentions - 16.2#

$500 Tuna pot 1st place Allie Cat - 101.8# 2nd place Allie Cat - 90.2# 3rd place Bad Intentions - 86.7#

The victorious crew of the Bandit 82 with their big check and trophies at the June 29 weigh-in at Surfside Marina. They dominated the Dorado pots and took 1st place in the Billfish Calcutta.

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

July/August 2013

$3000 Dorado pot 1st place Bandit 82 - 38# 2nd place Bandit 82 - 29.2# 3rd place Reel Bounty - 22.1#

$1500 Wahoo Pot 1st place Heather Ann - 55.7# 2nd place Aspiration - 25.4# 3rd place Doc Holiday - 19.6# $500 Wahoo Pot 1st place Heather Ann - 55.7# 2nd place Naut Awful - 29.4# 3rd place Top Dollar - 29.2#

Texas Youth Race Week

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YRW started out as the Tri-Club Regatta in 1976. A week of racing would be held at three different venues around the bay with the Seabrook Sailing Club invited to participate. The Texas Corinthian, Houston, and Lakewood Yacht Clubs would each provide race committee and safety boats at their venues. In 1991, this regatta was renamed Texas Youth Race Week and the event was

designated as a Texas Sailing Association Circuit Regatta. In 1997, the three clubs were asked to host a pilot program for the US Sailing Junior Olympics. The clubs all liked the idea and the new USA Junior Olympic Regatta/ Texas Youth Race Week/ TSA Youth Circuit Regatta was born. The principle boats used by the junior sailors are Optimist/Laser and 420’s. In 2000 the USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival/ Texas Youth Race Week/ TSA Youth Circuit Regatta hosted the Optimist World and European Team Trials Qualifier. This year Texas Youth Race Week will celebrate 37 years of junior racing. In the beginning this special event was made possible by a few dedicated parents. The Gulf Coast Mariner would like to salute the parents, coaches and volunteers who give their time to make this event happen year after year. Here’s to us; who’s like us? Damn few.

NAUTICAL NUMBERS

5 Years Average lifespan of the fast growing dolphinfish, more commonly known as the mahi-mahi or dorado.

T YRW PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS Sandra Baldridge Leona Bernard Walter Bernard Dave Bricker Barbara Brownbeck Karen Buras Shannon Bush

Marjorie Crawford Ellen Donnelly Catherine Focke John Focke Paul Francis Ann Graham Brian Irvine

Rusty Johnston Harriet Leavell Roy Neuberry Larry Neuhaus John Nicholsen Neave Nunes Lee Parks

Sue Perdue Billy Richnow Dee Ann Rogers Tony Smythe Cheryl Thomas

205 Years Oldest known age of the rougheye rockfish, one of the longer lived species of marine fish.

4,384m Windward Bound Sailing Camp Woman Teaching Woman To Sail: No Yelling Allowed

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or 30 years, the women of Houston Yacht Club have been teaching women to sail. Each year, HYC’s Women Sailing Association (WSA) sponsors Windward Bound Camp. The campers learn

a range of sailing skills without the pressure that sometimes builds when fathers, brothers, husbands or boyfriends are on the boat. “No yelling” is the camp mantra. Getting more women on the water is what the program is all about. For more information about Windward Bound, WSA and HYC, please contact the HYC Membership Director at 281 474-1255 or membership@ houstonyachtclub.com To read the entire article by Ann Bordelon on the Windward Bound Camp go to our website. www.gulfcoastmariner.com

The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico is known as the Sigsbee Deep and is roughly 14,383ft below sea level.

57.79 million Population of the five Gulf of Mexico states in 2012. www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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Photography by Brandon Rowan The elegant main salon of the Viking.

Sharon did a great job reeling this yellowfin to the boat.

Bad Intentions Debbie Conway’s 64’ Viking sportfisher

A very cool window mural perfectly conveys the boat’s true intention.

Bad Intentions back home at the Galveston Yacht Basin.

June 14-15 2013 Bad Intentions left the Galveston Yacht Basin on the morning of Friday, June 14 for an overnighter in search of tuna and snapper. Capt. Darrell Weigelt brought the boat 120 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico to drift fish at the floaters. The bite was red hot from dusk to dawn. Ten yellowfin tuna to 50lbs were retained and caught using freelined chunks, Ahi diamond jigs and an odd fish on a popper. Fifteen large blackfin tuna were also put on ice. Countless smaller blackfin were also caught that night. The focus turned to red snapper the next afternoon. Fishing with cigar minnows and live finfish, the boat retained a full limit. The largest snapper was caught on a live pinfish. Bad Intentions returned home that evening with a happy crew and holds full of fish.

Have a good trip? Send us in your report and photos! art@baygroupmedia.com

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

July/August 2013

Mark and Capt. Darrell Weigelt present a hefty yellowfin caught by Bad Intentions’ owner Debbie Conway.

Ted with a nice red snapper.

Capt. Weigelt helps Ron celebrate this 50 pound yellowfin tuna.

Another one hits the deck! Colton Krenek’s tuna, expertly gaffed by Connor Weigelt.

Brandon Rowan’s large snapper fell victim to a live pinfish.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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ROCK HOPPING JETTY JUMPING &

The Port Aransas Jetties offer excellent opportunities for just about every type of fishing you can imagine. Story and Photos by Brandon Rowan

Summer brings about mixed emotions for me as a Texan.

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You never know what you’re going to pull up on the jetties. Doug Rowan caught this nice 17 inch pompano while freelining live shrimp off the rocks. This fish made for one hell of a dinner that night.

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine July/August 2013

cringe at the thought of sliding into the oppressive hotbox that my car becomes under a murderous July sun — the buckle of my seatbelt singeing my fingers as I rush to start the engine through fogged sunglasses. On the other hand, the fisherman in me welcomes the light summer winds that bring about ideal conditions for beachfront and jetty fishing, inshore spearfishing and offshore adventures. The fisherman in me always wins. In early June, I packed up all the necessary gear with my brother and two friends and we snaked our way along curvy U.S. Highway 59 from Houston down to Port Aransas. We opted for a weekday excursion to avoid the crowds that swarm the popular beaches of Mustang Island. Also, the line for the ferry on and off the island can take well over an hour during busy weekends. We coasted through neighboring Aransas Pass on Sunday evening and were granted an instant ferry ride to Port Aransas. It was the beginning of a great trip.

Setting Up Camp

We set up our temporary home at the I.B. Magee Beach Camp, which offers electrical hook ups, water and a really nice shower house all within a stone’s throw from the beach. Stronger than predicted winds that evening made lighting our dinner charcoal an ordeal and worried my fishing intentions for the next morning. A long drive made for a short lie in my cot before my eyes were pried open by the harsh tones of a 5:45 a.m. wake up alarm. Dawn had arrived. I got up, unzipped the flap of my tent, stood up and peered uncertainly into the light blue of the early morning. I was greeted by dead calm. Elated, I grabbed the bait livewell and made the short drive to Port A Outfitters on West Cotter Avenue to join the line of bleary eyed anglers waiting for live bait. Upon return to camp, I roused the guys and we began the familiar ritual of rigging up rods and slathering sunblock on sensitive areas. Although, if you are adverse to greasy sun lotion, then I recommend looking into protective clothing. Take a trip to your local Academy or West Marine and you can find plenty of options for water-wicking and sun resistant shirts, gloves and face masks.

Fishing the Rocks

My companions and I, armed with a quart of live shrimp, made the careful trek down the south jetty early that Monday morning. Non-slip shoes or tennis shoes with plenty of grip are a must for rock hopping. Golf cleats with metal spikes are even better if you can find them. But the Port Aransas south jetty is a relatively easy walk as far as jetties go. There are many stretches of flat, level rock and relatively few tricky boulder hopping areas. Be careful to avoid slick, algae covered areas on the flat stretches if you can. We settled for an inviting looking spot near the end of the jetty and eagerly tossed our lines into the calm waters, some of us freelining, the rest using popping corks. It wasn’t long before my bright yellow cork slipped below the surface and I pulled a

We had walked to the end of those rocks that morning with live shrimp and traded them in for a stringer of fresh fish—a deal I’ll take any day of the week. We celebrated the rest of the day with plenty of beach time, cold beer and pompano fish tacos served with grilled peppers and onions. I was able to clean the catch at the Horace Caldwell pier, which was a short way down the beach from camp. A small fee of two dollars buys you access to the pier and its cleaning table. Tuesday, we had intended to fish the north jetty but a long, hard Monday made for a late start the next morning. For $12, beach-goers and anglers alike can take the Jetty Boat at Fisherman’s Wharf across the channel to remote St. Jo Island where the north jetty begins. Although we weren’t too bummed about the extra sleep. The

THE ESSENTIAL

Trip Gear Sea Angler Inshore Fish Bag Walking a cooler out to the end of a long jetty is not only inconvenient but dangerous, as it obscures your vision and ruins your balance. I use this 36”x20” insulated cooler bag by Sea Angler for any time I’m on the rocks. It’s big enough for most fish and sits well on the shoulder. The bag is not water tight, so use frozen two-liter soda bottles full of water rather than ice to keep your catch cold.

Yo-Zuri 3DS Minnow The best fish of the trip were taken on live bait, but out of all the lures we threw on the rocks and on the beach, this was the only one that got bit. At $10.95 this is no doubt a very expensive lure but you can’t argue with results. A constant retrieve with the rod tip low yielded smacks and skipjack.

Tasty mangrove snapper are everywhere at the Port Aransas jetties. Some are too small to bother with but we were able to bag several in the 13-16 inch range. There is no minimum length or bag limit for these snapper in Texas state waters.

healthy 15 inch mangrove snapper up on the rocks. “This one is going on the stringer!” I exclaimed as I wrestled the hook from the toothy fish’s upper jaw. My comrades soon joined me in the catching as we found ourselves hooking into more snapper, spanish mackerel, redfish, pompano and a myriad of other species found along the rocks. My brother was the clear winner that day. He was able to land a fierce fighting 24 inch smack and a 17 inch pompano. You never know what you’re going to see on the rocks. It was midmorning when a six-foot manta ray absolutely exploded out of the water about 100 yards from where we were standing. We looked around at each other in complete bewilderment, wondering if that really just happened.

south jetty was good to us and we gladly resumed our location from the day before. The water really cleaned up on the channel side and I was able to get in the water to do some spearfishing. The visibility was a murky 8-10 feet but I still managed to shoot some sheepshead and snapper for supper. It sounds exciting but I would recommend locating and taking a freediving course before attempting any kind of breath hold spearfishing. It is a potentially dangerous activity to undertake. It was great to get in the water on Tuesday but the fishing wasn’t nearly as good as the day before, despite excellent conditions. The ocean giveth, the ocean taketh away. We drove off the island later that evening sunburned and sore, but with a cooler of fresh fish and a handful of stories. Another trade I’ll take any day of week.

Trilene 20lb Fluorocarbon This stuff is great for rigging up leaders to freeline or dangle shrimp below popping corks. It’s strong enough to land reds, ties knots well and stands up to the discerning eyes of mangrove snapper and speckled trout. I use #6 or #8 treble hooks for corks and small strong live bait hooks to freeline.

70cm Mako Predator Pro On the second day of our trip the water cleared up on the channel side of the jetty and I was able to do some freediving. Mako makes solid spearfishing products at an affordable price and their customer service is world class. The 60 and 70cm guns work well for low vis jetty jumping.

The Booby Trap Dominates Swordfishing on a Global Scale By Rod Evans

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he moment is as fresh in his mind as if it happened last week. Four-year old Brett Holden stands on the dock holding a gleaming kingfish that’s nearly as big as he is. Published in a local newspaper, the photo, submitted by his dad, Don, documented the beginning of a record setting angling career. While much has changed for Holden, now 45, one thing remains unchanged: his enthusiasm for sport fishing runs as deep as the blue waters where the billfish he chases roam. “I’ve always been fascinated by big fish,” Holden says. “My dad had a boat, so I’ve been fishing since I was

Capt. Ahab/Brett Holden

Capt. Jeff Wilson

born. He (Don) primarily targeted snapper, grouper, kingfish and ling, but he also targeted sharks, so I grew up shark fishing with him. We caught numerous sharks that were 800 to 1,200 pounds. He still makes a couple of trips per year with us.”

Where the Big Fish Live

As owner and captain of the sport fishing juggernaut Booby Trap, a 52-foot, twin-engine 2008 Viking Express based at Surfside Marina that’s capable of hitting 40 knots, Holden (aka “Captain Ahab”) and his crew of talented and intrepid anglers have emerged as the premier private sport fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico. The team has been

Capt. Travis Joyce

named the top private boat in the Houston Big Game Fishing Club for five straight years mainly on the strength of its ability to reel in an astounding number of elusive, majestic swordfish. And while catching a swordfish is major accomplishment for any angler, bringing one of the bottom-dwelling monsters to the surface during the daytime, a feat the Booby Trap crew has perfected, is even more impressive. In June, the Booby Trap crew, comprised of Jeff Wilson, Matt Reed and Travis Joyce, along with guest anglers Brian Barclay and Danny Lenderman, made sport fishing headlines when on its third trip of the season, Barclay hooked a mammoth swordfish that weighed in excess of 500 pounds, crushing the old Gulf of Mexico swordfish record of 341 pounds. The fish was placed in 1,000 pounds of ice and was weighed the next day. By that time, Holden says the fish weighed about 493 pounds, was 108 inches long and had a girth of 60 inches.

“In late June, the prolific boat, owned by Holden since 2008, set a world record when the crew caught 30 swordfish in a single trip.” 12

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine July/August 2013

Capt. Matt Reed

“This fish came to the surface and we could see it was hooked pretty deep. It then went back under for three hours. At first, I thought it was a 300 pounder, but the closer it got to the boat I said, ‘It’s a nickel!’ It probably would have been around 550 pounds, but we didn’t weigh it for 27 hours, and by then it had lost an inch in length and four inches in girth,” Holden said. After snagging the massive swordfish, the Booby Trap tracked west in search of blue marlin and caught six wahoo and two blue marlin before calling it a day.

Setting World Records

Catching large numbers of huge fish is nothing new for Holden and the Booby Trap. In 2012, the Booby Trap caught 172 swordfish in 41 days of fishing and Holden says the crew has caught over 800 swordfish and 1,000 billfish in the Gulf of Mexico to date. Over its last 45 trips, the crew has caught 218 swordfish and released approximately 20 state record class swords. In 2009, the boat recorded the first “Super Grand Slam”— catching all four of the billfish species, which includes swordfish, blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish, in one day— in the Gulf of Mexico and repeated the feat in 2012. In late June, the prolific boat, owned by Holden since 2008, set a world record when the crew caught 30 swordfish in a single trip, breaking the old record of 21. Of the 30 fish caught, Holden says 23 were estimated to weigh in excess of 200 pounds and five were estimated to weigh at least 300 pounds. As is the custom for the Booby Trap, which releases 95 percent of the fish caught,

26 swordfish were released. The catch and release practice is in keeping with Holden’s overriding belief in preserving the natural resources of the ocean. He says fish badly damaged from the battle to bring them to the boat are usually kept. “We try to release every fish we can,” Holden says. “We don’t keep fish because of size, we keep them because of the condition that they come to the boat in. Swordfish are good eating fish and we don’t feel bad about putting them in the boat. We just have respect for one of the most incredible fish in the ocean.” For Holden, the owner of Holden Roofing and a Houston native who lives in Richmond, his rise to the top of the sport fishing game was not an overnight journey. In the 1980s, he began getting hired by boats to assist those crews in finding big fish before he bought his first boat and began entering tournaments. “Between 1984 and 2000, I won or placed in 50 tournaments and bought bigger boats from the tournament money. In 1986, I was able to afford a boat that could travel out that far (at least 100 miles offshore) and from ’86 through 2008 I mainly targeted blue marlin,” he said. While focusing on catching blue marlin by day, Holden dabbled in catching swordfish at night, as catching

the elusive fish that lives in over 1,700 feet of water during the daytime was extremely rare. For over a century, swordfish were caught primarily at night when they ventured up to about 300 feet from the surface to feed. While fishing at night, Holden says a good trip might yield two to four swordfish. “There was no daytime fishery (for swordfish) here (in the gulf). A group in Florida started catching them during the day, so I knew it could happen here. “For years we were told that the gulf had been fished out and the swordfish were not there, but I didn’t believe that. We went out numerous times and never caught one, but on the first trip that we did catch swordfish, we caught five.” Using squid bait provided by sponsor Bait Masters, along with their recommended rod, the “Get Tight Sucka” series, 80 class reels and up to 6,000 feet of 80-pound, high visibility orange line with strobe lights affixed to the leader, and utilizing sophisticated radar and sonar equipment to see where the fish are living, the Booby Trap has re-written the rules for swordfishing in the gulf. “The techniques we’re using are different from anybody I’ve ever seen and we’re able to produce double digit swordfish on just about every trip,” Holden says. For the past three years, Holden and company have hosted the Texas Swordfish Seminar at Surfiside Marina, where they reveal their techniques to eager anglers. The seminar benefits the non-profit Everyday Heroes organization, which provides transportation to veterans to and from their doctor’s appointments. Holden says they expected 50 people the first year of the seminar and more than 500 showed up. Over 2,500 people attended the 2013 seminar held in March. To date, the event has raised over $500,000 for the charity. Holden says he’s considering starting a fishing charter company in the future, but for the time being, he’s content to keep setting the bar for daytime swordfishing and billfishing in general in the gulf and doing his part to help Everyday Heroes.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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COMMON MISTAKES

Made by Newcomers to Offshore Fishing

Don’t let this one get away.

By Capt. Joe Kent

July and August are the top months for offshore fishing off of the Texas Coast and each year when calm conditions set in during the Dog Days of Summer the urge hits to try offshore fishing.

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ith the numerous days with high pressure settling in resulting in light winds and low probabilities of severe weather, small boaters give-in to the urge to venture beyond the jetties. This time of year varieties of pelagic fish are roaming the waters of the Gulf of Mexico within easy reach of the “Mosquito Fleet” of smaller sea-worthy boats. If you are one of the many newcomers to offshore fishing in this manner, let’s discuss some of the most common mistakes made by those new to the scene.

discussion, we will divide this topic into two segments, the boat and the fishing and address some of the key mistakes.

“Carry at least 30% more fuel than you estimate you will use.”

Preparing Your Boat

While this might not be one of the common mistakes, the Cardinal Rule for all captains is to check the weather forecast before departing and to keep monitoring it. A book easily could be written on all of this; however, for purposes of our

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine July/August 2013

Fuel: Fuel use for an offshore trip is going to be much greater than for most bay and other inshore trips. Carry at least 30% more fuel than you estimate you will use. Float Plan: Before leaving dock have a float plan, meaning a compass course from the jetties, an estimate of how far you will travel, the estimated time of return to dock and leave it with someone who will be the first to realize you are late returning. Most of all stick with your plan.

Communication: Carry your cell phone fully charged with the number of the marina or bait camp you departed from, the coast guard and sheriff’s offices. If possible have a VHF or Citizens Band Radio with you. Navigation equipment: A good quality compass is a must. A GPS system, either hand held or permanently mounted, is close behind in the pecking order. Shade: Shade is important on the open water. The length of the trips is usually much longer which means longer exposure to the overhead sun. Any shade will be welcomed after a few hours of the sun beating down upon you. Extra provisions: Take along much more water than you estimate you will drink. If mechanical problems crop up, it likely will take a good length of time before help arrives. Often disabled boats float overnight before being located and towed to shore. For the same reason, a more complete first aid kit is needed. Flares: Flares are not required for many inshore boats; however, for running offshore they not only are necessary, but required by the regulations. Life jackets: Life jackets called PFD’s (personal flotation devices) are required. While lesser grade PFD’s are allowed by law, offshore boats should carry type I PFD’s. They are the best and keep an

“Heavier tackle is needed for bottom fishing for reef fish such as snapper, grouper, triggerfish and others.”

unconscious person’s head above water. Along with the life jackets should be some light rope to use in the event the boat capsizes and several people are afloat in PFD’s. Tying each together with several feet of rope will prevent the group from separating. One of the rules in rescue is “bigger is better” meaning a cluster of life jackets are easier to spot than just one.

Fishing Offshore (equipment and techniques)

The biggest mistakes made by newcomers offshore are in the size of equipment, the lack of proper accessories and poor knowledge of Federal Fishing Regulations. Too light and too heavy describe most of the problems with rod and reels. The equipment should be designed for the type of fish you are after. Medium weight tackle is normally plenty for the pelagic fish, which are king mackerel, ling, Dorado, shark, barracuda and others. Heavier tackle is needed for bottom fishing for reef fish such as snapper, grouper, triggerfish and others. Normally when fishing bottom, it is necessary to bring the fish to surface quickly and heavier tackle is required. For surface fish, the drag on your reel is a key element to a successful landing. Twenty- pound test line and a little heavier are all that is normally needed for runs up to 40 miles out. Wire and coated wire leaders are necessary for the pelagic fish while heavy monofilament is suitable for bottom rigs. Circle hooks are required

while fishing for reef fish. A gaff and club are vital equipment. Most pelagic fish are gaffed and then clubbed (hit hard on the head) before bringing them into the boat. Landing nets are fine for smaller fish; however, for the really large ones, a gaff is required. Recently added to the list of required items in a boat fishing offshore are venting and hook-releasing devices. Larger hooks and weights are required offshore. Trout tackle (except for possibly the rod and reel with heavier line) will not be enough. The preference of size of hook varies among fisherman however for the conventional J-hooks, the size is usually within the 5/0 to 8/0 range for drifting and trolling and circle hooks in the 6/0 to 12/0 range for reef and bottom fishing.

The size of weights are determined by the strength of the current. The idea is to use the smallest weight necessary to get the bait to the bottom quickly. A ¾ ounce weight might work one day while the next it could take six ounces or greater. All of this will develop with experience. Techniques differ from inshore fishing when fishing for pelagic fish. Drifting baits along the surface or just below and trolling both artificials and natural baits are the two main techniques for the pelagics. Watch the setting on your drag, as most newcomers set it too strong and the sudden strike is more than the line strength can handle. The Federal Fishing Rules are more complex and confusing than state rules. Know the bag and size limits for the fish you are after and also if the season is open or closed. If you catch a fish you cannot identify or you are not familiar with the rules governing it, best to release it. Have fun on your first voyage offshore and be safe.

Quick Guide to Gulf of Mexico Federal Water Regulations Species Minimum Season Bag Limit Size Snappers (reef fish) Red

16” total length

Closed for 2013

2 per person

Vermilion

10” total length

Year round

20 per person

Lane

8” total length

Year round

within the 20-reef combined total

Gray/Mangrove

12” total length

Year round

10 per person

Mutton

16” total length

Year round

Yellowtail

12” total length

Year round

within the 10-snapper combined total. Includes all snappers except red, vermilion, and lane

Cubera

12” total length

Year round

Queen

None

Year round

Silk None Year round Reef Fish Gray Triggerfish

14” fork length

Closed 6/1 - 7/31

2 per person

Greater Amberjack

30” fork length

Closed 6/1 - 7/31

1 per person

Cobia (ling)

33” fork length

Year round

2 per person

King Mackerel

24” fork length

Year round

2 per person

within the 20-reef combined total

Pelagics

Wahoo None Year round None Dorado None Year round None

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

15

All ABOARD FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A SUMMER SAIL

Y

our local Jeanneau dealer, Texas Coast Yachts, is sponsoring a contest to give away a three-hour cruise aboard one of their luxurious sailboats. The Jeanneau brand is know for its sleek lines, performance and spacious interiors. The lucky winner gets the cruise for up to four people. Children must be 12 years or older and accompanied by two adults. A member of the Texas Coast Yachts team will take you on your sail around Clear Lake and Galveston Bay. Boarding will take place at the Texas Coast Yachts’ sales office, located at Watergate Yachting Center, 1500 Marina Bay Drive, Suite 122 A, Clear

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine July/August 2013

Lake Shores, Texas 77565. Register to win by emailing your name, address, phone number and email address to pattyhayes.kane@ gmail.com. Contestants are limited to one email entry. The drawing will be Wednesday, July 31.. Winner will be notified by email on Thursday, Aug. 1. The cruise must be booked and take place in August 2013. See the Texas Coast Yachts ad in this issue and go to www.GulfCoastMariner.com for more information. Don’t miss out on the chance to win this fantastic sailing experience aboard one of the finest yachts made. Enter today and good luck!

2014 Chevrolet

SILVERADO All-new shining spur for Gulf Coast fishermen By Don Armstrong

T

he long awaited half-ton do-all from Chevrolet made its American press debut at a much ballyhooed event late last year. Now, just a few months later, the 2014 Silverado is making its public debut in showrooms up and down the Texas Coast and to the cheers of excited anglers everywhere. “Excited,” you say, “over a truck?” Yes and here’s why: The 2014 model is all-new from the ground up. Chevrolet says it’s the best pick-up on the planet. Ford and Ram may have an issue with that claim, but it certainly is worth debating. Underpinning the new Silverado is a revised front and rear suspension, wider wheels and new four-wheel disc brakes that improve brake feel and potentially double rotor life. Electric power steering is now part of the Silverado DNA, too. At first glance, the exterior of the new Chevy looks almost identical to the outgoing model, but placed side-by-side you’ll notice sweeping changes or, shall we say, evolutionary design advancements. In other words, take the 2013, emphasize the squared wheel openings, fender flares, bulging hood and twinport grille, then crank up the volume. It’s bigger, badder and more in-your-face than ever before. Rear doors on crew cabs are larger too and double cab models are now hinged at the front.

The last generation’s interior was outdated and more in need of a makeover than a 50-year old news anchor. It appears Chevrolet felt the same way. The new dash is more upright and includes a revised center stack. Controls are functional, logically placed and easy to operate, even with work gloves on. The new Chevrolet My Link provides easy-to-use connectivity for the job site or fishing expeditions, with natural voice recognition and enough ports and power outlets to support multiple devices. Three all-new engines are offered in the 1500 including a 285 HP 4.3-liter V-6, a 5.3-liter V-8 rated at 355-HP and a 6.2-liter V-8 that has yet to be given a HP rating. No fewer than 7 different Silverado 1500 models are available including the all-new High Country later this fall. Now here’s another shocker: base prices for the regular cab, double cab and crew cab carry over from the 2013 model. Of course, we’ve only highlighted some of most prominent new features of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. More details can be found by putting on your waders and heading to www. Chevrolet.com. Entry level pricing begins at $23,590.

ADVICE FROM THE PROS

Head Sail Trim Tips By Terry Flynn

H

ead Sails come in many shapes and sizes, from overlapping genoas to smaller efficient 100% jibs. Though headsails differ, some basic principles will help you understand how to trim your sails for maximum efficiency.

Headsail: Primary Controls

Halyard Tension. The key to proper tension is looking at the luff. You want to apply enough to keep the horizontal wrinkles from appearing but not enough to have a ridge behind the headstay. The halyard should be adjusted as the wind speeds go up and down. More for heavier wind and less for lighter winds. Try adjusting it while watching the sail. You should be able to see the draft move forward with more halyard tension. Lead Car Position. This is one of the most important settings on the boat. This controls the depth of the genoa or

jib from top to bottom. If the lead is too far forward, the top is closed up and the foot too round. If the lead is too far aft, the foot gets round and the leach opens up and depowers the top making the sail less powerful. A good rule of thumb is, when trimming the sail with the correct lead position, the foot of the jib will touch the upper shroud at the same time as the sail touches the spreader. When looking at the sail, it should look like the middle of the sail is parallel to the upper shroud. You will also notice that, when the lead is correct, most of the telltales

will be break evenly from top to bottom Genoa Jib Sheet. Now that you have the proper lead placement you need to know how much you can trim the sail. This is usually judged by how close to the spreader you can get or how far inside the side of the boat you can go. Today’s race boats are designed to carry the genoas almost touching the spreaders. Cruising boats should keep the sail from 5” to 10” away from the spreaders. Trimming it in too far will just stall the boat out and slow the boat down. Back Stay. For most boats this is a fixed turnbuckle. If you have a purchase system or hydraulic adjuster, you have an advantage. Like the halyard tension, this will be adjusted as the wind goes up and down. Ideally, on the average cruising boat, you will see 6” to 12” of sag from top to bottom. As you add backstay tension your genoa will get flatter so there will be less heeling. In the lighter winds, the more sag will make the genoa fuller with more power.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

17

The Good Life with

O

John Kolius

lympic Silver medalist and former America’s Cup skipper John Kolius and his wife Joanne are living the good life on their 45ft Viking Express in Florida. The following interview has been shortened for our print copy. For the full interview, please go to www.gulfcoastmariner.com GCM: Why did you leave Texas? JK: We can’t really say which came first, deciding to cruise the Bahamas or wanting to fish more. All we know is that we both love the ocean and we both enjoy the feeling of being offshore.

is nothing more exciting than a BIG fish behind the boat. The marlins, both blue and white, arrive in the Bahamas sometime in late April and when they do, we have a great time.

“The marlins, both blue and white, arrive in the Bahamas sometime in late April and when they do, we have a great time.”

GCM: What type of boat do you own? JK: We have a 2006 45ft Viking Express Sportfish. The engines are 900 Common Rail Mans. She cruises comfortably at 24 knots. We have three AC units, two refrigerators, two freezers and two live bait wells. GCM: What kind of fish do you like to fish for? JK: Really big fish. There

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine July/August 2013

The Kolius clan with a sweet trio of Wahoo.

GCM: Who does most of the cooking on board? JK: It’s about even. We have a small outdoor grill that travels with us and I usually do the grilling. Joanne prepares most of the sashimi along with any pan cooking that requires the stove.

middle so that it opens up like a hot dog bun. Inside the loin use a mixture of paste wasabi and cream cheese. Close the loin. Wrap the loin in uncooked bacon. Place on the grill and cook until the bacon is done. Cut into medallions and serve with some rice.

GCM: Do you have any special recipes you can share with us? JK: Sure! We eat fish a lot and we keep our recipes pretty simple. Bacon wrapped Wahoo: Take a loin and slice it open down the

GCM: Do you have any special places you like to go? JK: We like to go to Hawk’s Nest on Cat Island. It just has a special charm we like. It’s a small hurricane hole with a good marina and the fishing is good.

What’s in Your Bag? Beach bag, duffle bag, tote bag, ditty bag, shopping bag, tool bag, rigging bag or bag of ideas—whatever your bag, you’ll find some good ideas here.

Columbia’s Omni Freeze Zero This is the go-to technology in clothes this year! When you sweat, or dampen with water, little blue circles on the inside of the fabric swell, lowering the temperature of the fabric and increasing air flow to cool you. As long as you sweat, you’re cool. The soft, lightweight, breathable fabrics block 98-99% of all damaging sun rays. It’s antimicrobial, too, so your sweat won’t stink. They’ve made this stuff into t-shirts, fishing shirts, hats, caps, visors, neck gaiters, bandanas, sleeves, even shoes. What we’ve heard: “This stuff is awesome!” “I’m gonna retire all of my cotton clothes.” “Hey, I’m making ice cubes in here!” In men’s and women’s styles, they’re available at West Marine. TIP: When packing, save time and reduce wrinkles by stacking. Stack shirts -- long sleeves first, then short sleeves, then sleeveless. Fold this whole stack as if you’re folding one item. It’s much faster, and there are no hard creases. Takes up less space, too. For pants and shorts, do the same thing -- pants first, then shorts. Again, fold as one. I fold customers’ purchases this way, and every one has said they’re going to pack this way.

What bag does multiple duty . . . For laundry bag, provisions (groceries) bag, wet gear (like snorkeling gear) bag, beach toys bag? A mesh bag. Made from quickdrying, mold and mildew resistant mesh, a mesh bag will quickly become one of the most versatile items on your boat. And things like beach toys or snorkeling gear can be rinsed of sand with a good dunk or two in the water.

TIP: No matter what kind of bag you’re packing, on the water or off, there’s one thing you might not have thought of, but can be a lifesaver. (Well, maybe not life, but sure to be a great thing to have.) Especially this time of year, who on your boat isn’t wearing either prescription eye glasses, sun glasses, or both. Losing that little screw that hinges your glasses can ruin your outing. Go to your local drug store and get an eyeglass repair kit. It will contain a little bitty screwdriver and some little bitty screws to make a fast repair. Lousy (not to mention unsafe for your eyes) time averted!

Sunglasses

Your eyes, of course, are important. Most sunglasses these days are polarized and provide UVA/UBV protection. These qualities are a must! What’s the difference between the top-of-the-line brands and the less expensive? The high end glasses have the finest optic clarity, as well as quality frames, that have manufacturers’ warranties for defects. And if you break them, these brands will repair them for a reasonable fee. But, at least at West Marine, nearly all of the sunglasses, expensive or more affordable, provide these protections.

Protect the Kisser

There are so many lip balms on the market, and I (as well as you, I’m sure) have “tried ‘em all.” Introducing Eco-Lips. I know, it’s just a lip balm, but this one’s the best. In addition to an SPF 30, the ingredients

of this one are all organic. It’s cost is no more than most of them out there. And I find it lasts longer than any others I’ve tried.

Liquid Gaff

Okay, this may not be for the avid fishermen amongst us who are well equipped, but maybe they’ll at least find it interesting. And if you find yourself in a situation like mine, delivering a sailboat to St. Thomas and craving some fresh fish for supper, read on. (By the way, the prudent skipper here didn’t allow any alcohol consumption for the entire trip. However, some of the stuff was on board to celebrate a successful arrival.) All we had was some fishing line (I can’t tell you what strength) and some hooks. We made a lure out of crumpled aluminum foil, tied the line to a stanchion, and tossed it out. And we caught one! Wearing gloves, we pulled that fish -- a mahi mahi -- in, hand over hand. Now what?! The boys reached for a winch handle to beat it to death, but then I pulled out the Liquid Gaff. While the mahi thrashed in the cockpit, we simply poured a couple of ounces of alcohol (any kind) in its gill; two small flops, and the job was done. We enjoyed a great supper! If you’re still with me, please note: This method is the most humane way to do in a fish. It’s immediate. It’s very clean -- no blood until you’re ready for it. No chance of harming you or your boat trying to club a fish to death. After the fish is done, you’ll enjoy your own Liquid Gaff. It’s a beautiful thing! Laura Snow’s primary job is lead backup of Soft Goods (clothing, shoes and accessories) at West Marine’s Flagship Store in Kemah. Her second job is pattern-maker for woodwork and helper for her husband (Tom Snow)’s business, Snow Yacht Service. They are also parents to six rescued fourlegged and furry children.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

19

Smoked Amberjack Dip

Your Kitchen on the Water

Ingredients 3 cups smoked amberjack (or similar whitefish) 3/4 cup mayo 1/4 cup diced red onion 1/4 cup diced celery 2 tbps chopped cilantro 1/2 tsp granulated garlic Tabasco to taste

Directions Mix the mayo, hot sauce and garlic in a bowl. Mix the onion, cilantro, celery and fish in a separate bowl. Fold the mixed mayo into the fish. Crack pepper and sea salt to taste. Serve with crackers.

Pan Seared Snapper

Ingredients 2 small snapper fillets 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp ginger paste 1 tsp Grey Poupon

1 tsp honey 2 tbsp rice vinegar 1 lemon

Directions Lightly pat sea salt and pepper on the fillets. In a dish combine the olive oil, ginger, honey, mustard and vinegar. Squeeze lemon into the dish and mix vigorously. Coat fish with the marinade. Heat skillet to medium and add fish once hot. Cook 3 minutes a side and pour the remaining marinade atop the fish as it finishes cooking. Serve with rice or veggies.

Key Lime Pie

Directions Graham Cracker Crust 2 cups Graham Crackers 1.5 cup Sugar 1/3 cup Melted Butter Bake Crust 10 - 15 minutes Pie Filling 1.5 cups of Lime Juice (Approx 12 limes) 4 cans Sweetened Condensed Milk 8 Egg Yolks 5 Drops Green Food Coloring Pour filling into crust. Bake for 30 Minutes.

By Betha Merit

F

ood and water. We can’t live without either. But what about food on the water? Well that’s a subject requiring a 300-page book. It encompasses kitchen equipment and appliances, storage space, available food and ingredients, menus, power and water supplies, seating, and anything else that connects the dots in this pared down list. The Galley will be a muse to discover options that address both the fun and challenge of providing sustenance on the sea. Whether planning pre-made power foods to keep your crew fueled for a one-day regatta or scheduling a three-week menu for a leisurely cruise through Caribbean islands, your unique trip, unique craft, and unique preferences will come into play. Future columns will feature menus and tips from Bay Area boat and ship owners to world-renowned chefs who prepare victuals for the rich and famous on board vessels for a month at a time. We will address topics from dishware to weighted glassware, to propane vs. kerosene, to frozen supplies vs. fresh catch. Sending us any tips from your own experience will also be appreciated. To start, we thought of all the day trip sailors and crews and the abundance of fabulous restaurants in the Galveston Bay area. And we came up with three variations for essentially doing take-out by boat. This is especially helpful in choppy seas when preparing food in the galley can be a bit challenging. First, you can call your favorite restaurant or cafe while you are on land and pick your meal up before you head out to your vessel at the marina. Many restaurants and marinas provide picnic box meals tailored to your tastes when ordered ahead; just ask. Pack up your own beverages in a cooler to be transferred into an onboard refrigerator, or just kept in the ice chest. You can go as simple or fancy as you like in food and service

choice. Paper goods are easy, corelle dishes with bandanas for napkins are a step up. Wine, beer, water, coke; for beverages, it’s a personal preference. The next two ideas involve two wellknown restaurants in San Leon on the Bay Area coast. Both Bubba’s Shrimp Palace and Topwater Grill have boat docking where you can either stop for take-out or dock and dine. Calling ahead is a good idea for these hot spots, especially if you want to have food delivered to your boat. Matt Smith, a manager at Bubba’s says, “Look for the big pink building as you sail by San Leon, and pull right on up.” Bubba’s is famous for fried, fresh catch shrimp, right from the gulf. The other menu options are also fresh, and their battering is delicate and just right. www.bubbasshrimppalace. com. They can handle large groups if you plan to go in with a fleet of your friends. We had twelve in our group. Topwater Grill is another San Leon option. They can do the same thing with take-out service to your boat or you can dock and dine. And if you catch any fish on your tour around the bay, they have a fun option for you. “You hook it/We cook it, is a service we offer for customers that bring their own fresh catch,” says Katelyn Reid, hostess at Topwater Grill. The fish must be cleaned and filleted by you, and they charge a preparation fee for each person eating, beginning at $5.99 for fried, $7.99 for grilled, and $3.99 for individual toppings. Monday night is their fresh raw oyster special at $3.00 a dozen. www.topwatergrill.com. So, we begin our Galley column with the easiest way to eat from a boat and provide some local color and seafood unique to Bay Area Houston. More tips and specifics will be provided in the future, along with recipes and options that will make your food on the water experience more flavorful, healthful, and efficient in both planning, preparation, and production. Bon Voyage. Or is that Bon Appetit?

For Advertising Rates and Info: 281-474-5785 | r.clapp@baygroupmedia.com www.GulfCoastMariner.com

21

Texas Saltwater Fishing Guides Upper Coast

Middle Coast

2 Fish’Aholics Charters Capt. Ron Woods 409-698-7124

All-Star Guide Service Capt. Marvin Landers 361-729-5180

www.galvestonfishingwithcaptainron.com

A-1 Angling Adventures Capt. Mike Rachal 936-788-3562

www.A-1AnglingAdventures.com

Adventure Fishing Charters Capt. Joel Taylor 281-332-5822 www.SharkFishingTexas.com

Bay Fishing Adventures Capt. Chris Howard 281-793-0267 www.bayfishingadventures.com

Captain Mike’s Guide Service Capt. Mike Eden 713-264-2322 www.GalvestonFishingWithCaptainMike.com

www.all-starfishing.com

Big M’s Fishing Charters Capt. Marvin Engel 361-668-0104

MS Guide Service Capt. Marvin Strakos 361 983-2003 www.msguideservice.com

Rip Tide Charters Capt. Terry Haun www.CaptainTerry.com

Bob’s Bay Fishing Capt. Robert Sirvello 956-943-1010

www.gulfoffshorefishing.com

Galveston Adventures Guide Service Capt. Mike Hillman 409-316-1458 www.GalvestonTxFishing.com

Galveston Fishing Guides Capt. Mike Williams www.GalvestonFishingGuides.com

Green Water Guide Service Capt. Robert Liebert 281-799-5728

www.GreenWaterGuideService.com

Hillman Guide Service Capt. Steve Hillman 409-256-7937

www.hillmanguideservice.com

Lambert’s Inshore Guide Service Capt. Craig Lambert 832-338-4570 www.galvestoninshorefishing.com

Sea 3 Charters Capt. Joe Kent 713-594-5537

sea3charters@comcast.net

Silver King Adventures Capt. James Plaag 409-935-7242 www.silverkingadventures.com

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Wed 7/17 10:34 AM 09:26 PM

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Thu 8/1 09:46 AM 10:40 PM

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Sat 8/17 10:21 AM 11:01 PM

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Tue 7/2 11:15 AM 10:27 PM

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Thu 7/18 10:32 AM 10:17 PM

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Fri 8/2 10:30 AM 11:29 PM

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Sun 8/18 10:55 AM 11:58 PM

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0.9 H -0.3 L

Fri 7/19 11:01 AM 11:11 PM

Sat 8/3 11:18 AM

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Mon 8/19 10:53 AM

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Sat 8/4 12:14 AM 12:02 PM

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Mon 8/5 12:54 AM 12:30 PM

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Tue 8/20 12:50 AM 10:21 AM 01:47 PM 04:19 PM

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Tue 8/6 01:29 AM 12:16 PM

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Wed 8/21 01:38 AM 09:57 AM 02:17 PM 06:33 PM

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Wed 8/7 01:59 AM 11:39 AM

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Thu 8/22 02:23 AM 09:40 AM 02:59 PM 08:28 PM

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Fri 8/23 03:04 AM 09:24 AM 03:43 PM 10:22 PM

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Sat 8/24 03:41 AM 09:07 AM 04:28 PM

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Fishin’ Tales Guide Service Capt. Mike Bohac 281-413-3893 www.fishintalesguideservice.com

Fishing with the Pettys Capt. Fred & Janie Petty 956-943-2747

janie@fishingwithpettys.com

Gone with the Fish Capt. Rhett Price 361-727-0223

AUGUST

Mon 7/1 12:14 PM 09:48 PM

Thu 7/4 10:41 AM 11:47 PM

www.fishsabine.com

Fishin Addiction Charters Capt. Dan Green 832.640.1133

JULY

www.SaltwaterFishingGuides.com/bigmcharters

Lower Coast

www.coastaloutfittersguideservice.com

EAGLE POINT, TX NOAA Station Id: 8771013

Wed 7/3 10:09 AM 11:07 PM

Captain Randy’s Guide Service Capt. Randy Foreman 409-719-6067 Coastal Outfitters Guide Service Capt. Steve Davis 409-460-1220

Galveston Bay Tides

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Sat 7/20 11:47 AM

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Fri 7/5 11:31 AM

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Sun 7/21 12:06 AM 12:40 PM

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Mon 7/22 12:59 AM 01:27 PM

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Tue 7/23 01:50 AM 12:52 PM

Mon 7/8 01:44 AM 01:51 PM

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Wed 7/24 02:38 AM 12:06 PM

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Thu 8/8 02:26 AM 11:06 AM 03:54 PM 06:21 PM

Tue 7/9 02:17 AM 02:04 PM

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Wed 7/10 02:47 AM 01:48 PM

Thu 7/25 03:22 AM 11:42 AM 04:54 PM 08:18 PM

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Fri 8/9 02:50 AM 10:37 AM 04:15 PM 08:24 PM

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Fri 7/26 04:02 AM 11:24 AM 05:41 PM 10:59 PM

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Sat 8/10 03:12 AM 10:12 AM 04:44 PM 10:35 PM

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Sun 8/11 03:27 AM 09:48 AM 05:21 PM

Sun 8/25 12:32 AM 04:07 AM 08:44 AM 05:15 PM

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Mon 8/26 08:09 AM 06:05 PM

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Mon 8/12 09:26 AM 06:05 PM

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Tue 8/27 07:32 AM 07:02 PM

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Tue 8/13 09:07 AM 06:57 PM

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Wed 8/28 07:42 AM 08:04 PM

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Sun 7/7 01:07 AM 01:15 PM

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www.fishwithrhett.com

Thu 7/11 03:14 AM 01:15 PM

Island Outfitters Capt. Skipper Ray 956-433-9935

Fri 7/12 03:39 AM 12:43 PM

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Sat 7/13 04:00 AM 12:14 PM 07:47 PM 10:21 PM

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Sun 7/28 02:17 AM 04:42 AM 10:48 AM 07:17 PM

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Sun 7/14 04:12 AM 11:48 AM 07:36 PM

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Mon 7/29 10:18 AM 08:06 PM

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Wed 8/14 08:59 AM 07:55 PM

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Thu 8/29 08:16 AM 09:08 PM

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www.SaltwaterFishingGuides.com

Mon 7/15 11:22 AM 08:02 PM

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Tue 7/30 09:33 AM 08:57 PM

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Thu 8/15 09:12 AM 08:57 PM

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Fri 8/30 08:56 AM 10:10 PM

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South Texas Charters Capt. Todd Casey 956-943-4868

Tue 7/16 10:57 AM 08:40 PM

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Wed 7/31 09:17 AM 09:49 PM

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Fri 8/16 09:43 AM 10:00 PM

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Sat 8/31 09:32 AM 11:04 PM

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www.skipper-ray.com

M&M Charters of South Texas Capt. Mike Mahl 956-943-5539 www.fishpadrebays.com

“Reel” McCoy Guide Service Capt. Kevin McCoy 1-888-948-7688 www.reelmccoyguideservice.com

Shallow Water Guide Service Capt. Larry Robinson 361-549-4389

www.spifishing.com

Weldon Charter Service Capt. Richard Weldon 956-748-0022 www.WeldonCharters.com

Captains, don’t see your name? Email art@baygroupmedia.com about listings.

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Sat 7/27 04:35 AM 11:08 AM 06:29 PM

0.4 L 0.7 H 0.3 L

NOAA GULF COAST TIDAL PREDICTIONS www.tidesandcurrents. noaa.gov/tide_ predictions.shtml?gid=225

NOAA GULF COAST MARINE FORECAST www.nws.noaa.gov/ om/marine/zone/ gulf/gulfmz.htm