Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

January/February 2019 | GulfCoastMariner.com

TOP FIVE WINTER FISHING DESTINATIONS COASTAL ARTIST Anastasia Musick WINTER PATTERNS OF SHALLOW REDFISH

Fishing the Lower Laguna Madre with Mark Nichols of D.O.A. Lures

[Letter from Gulf Coast Mariner]

Admiral (President) Rick Clapp Rear Admiral (Editor) Mary Alys Cherry Captain (Creative Director/Partner) Brandon Rowan Commodore (Graphic Designer/Partner) Kelly Groce Sales Crew (Advertising Executives)

I

S I M P L E

s there anything better than being on the water with good people? That has to be my favorite thing about fishing... the bonds made while doing so.

The experience of getting that fish that’s been on your bucket list or finally getting that big trout you’ve been dreaming of is in itself a great feeling, but when you do this alongside a friend it makes it all that much better.

As my buddy Capt. Bob Drisgill says, “It’s a beautiful thing.”

I hope you enjoy the story I wrote about a recent trip to South Padre I attended with D.O.A. Lures. I went into this trip not knowing a single person and never fishing the area before. There were folks from all over the state and even the country there, and we all had one thing in common – fishing.

We ended up catching a lot of trout and redfish and had a ball while doing so.

4

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

January/February 2019

A C T S

While the fishing was great, the friendships I made are the real highlight of this trip.

It wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t approach Mark Nichols, the owner of D.O.A. Lures, in a tackle shop parking lot in Port Aransas.

Next thing you know, I’m in South Texas fishing the Lower Laguna Madre with him and his crew.

With that being said, be nice to one another on and off the water, shake hands, and engage in some small talk this upcoming year.

You never know what experiences or adventures these simple acts may lead you to. So sit back, relax and enjoy this issue of Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine.

Tight lines!

Judy Gaines Dana McDonald Amber Sample Matthew Sweatt Robyn Weigelt Editorial Rick Clapp Capt. David Dillman Kelly Groce Capt. Joe Kent Betha Merit Brandon Rowan Capt. Steve Soule Photography Pepper Ailor Kelly Groce Betha Merit Sergio Pucci Brandon Rowan Danno Wise Distribution Shinkle Distribution Co. Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586

For information on advertising: Phone: 281.474.5875 art@baygroupmedia.com www.GulfCoastMariner.com

Kelly Groce Partner/Graphic Designer

Galveston Bay Sunset. Photo by Kelly Groce

| January/February 2019 8|Snapshots

24|Coastal Artist Anastasia Musick

Your fishing and water recreation photos. Submit photos for next issue to art@baygroupmedia.com

Kazakhstan native and marine artist Anastasia Musick breathes life into the revered inshore and offshore fish species that we all love.

Interview by Kelly Groce

10|Gear Fishing gear and apparel from Shimano, RTIC, D.O.A. Lures, Laguna Madre Clothing Co. and more.

13|Top Five Winter Fishing Destinations Five of the hottest billfish and sportfishing locations this side of the globe.

16|Redfish Winter Patterns Breaking down the behavior of redfish and how to deal with the conditions and challenges of winter.

By Capt. Steve Soule

28|Judy Olsen’s Boat Decor LLC Fully customize your boat this winter with the best materials in the industry.

By Xander Thomas

30|Healthy Instant One Pot Meals After the Holidays After the holidays it’s nice to have some lower calorie meals to help us get back in shape.

By Betha Merit King

18|Fishing the Lower Laguna Madre with D.O.A. Lures Catching trout and redfish galore on the flats in South Padre Island with the D.O.A. Lures crew.

By Kelly Groce

22|What Happened to the 2018 Flounder Run? Is it a sign of dwindling stocks or did something else interfere with last year’s flounder run?

By Capt. Joe Kent

23|New Year, New Beginnings Good trout fishing with continue this winter in these locations.

By Capt. David Dillman

Contents Letter from GCM _____________________p.

4 PanAmerican Roosterfish Tournament _____________________p.

6 Lure Focus: D.O.A. Lures PT-7 _____________________p.

6 2019 Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule _____________________p.

7

ON THE COVER Mark Nichols, owner of D.O.A. Lures, admires a healthy redfish caught on a PT-7.

Photography

by Danno Wise, dannowise@ gmail.com, @dannowise

Nautical Numbers _____________________p.

7 Name That Fish _____________________p.

7 Winter Inshore Fishing Lure Selection/Color _____________________p.

17 Recipes _____________________p. 30 Boats For Sale _____________________p.

32 Galveston Bay Tides _____________________p.

34

GulfCoastMariner.com

5

Canada Takes Gold in Inaugural PanAmerican Roosterfish Tournament

W

ith all the excitement of a World Cup soccer match, 37 anglers from Canada, the United States, Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica descended on the Golfo Dulce for the first PanAmerican Roosterfish Tournament. The event was hosted by the PanAmerican Delegation, USA Angling, and FECOP, the Costa Rican representative in the PanAmerican Delegation. The inaugural event was held at Crocodile Bay Resort in Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica.

The format was Olympic style and the delegation’s purpose is to organize tournaments through-out the Americas.

The organization hopes to add sport fishing to the PanAmerican Games, combine with European events and eventually be added as an eligible sport

DOA LURES

PT-7

The USA and Costa Rica Lady Angler Teams share a moment during the recent event.

Photo: Todd Staley

in the international Olympics.

Contestants who arrived early to pre-fish experienced great action. Jtodd Tucker, a professional bass fisherman from Georgia, took a rooster estimated

SPECIFICATIONS WEIGHT: 5/8 oz.

LENGTH: 3 inches TYPE: Weedless Topwater TACKLE: M to MH

The PT-7 from DOA Lures casts like a bullet and excels in situations where traditional topwaters fail. Sea grass and heavy vegetation are no match for this weedless wonder. The insane side-to-side action of this soft plastic minesweeper detonates explosive strikes like no other topwater on the market today. Snook, redfish, seatrout and even largemouth bass find its simply irresistible. Comes pre-rigged with a single premium 7/0 EWG hook and internal rattle.

6

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

at more than 50 pounds the day before.

The bite was slightly off, at least by Costa Rican standards, once the actual competition started, however. With the catch and release format, each fish scored one point for every inch of length measured from the tip of the head to the fork of the tail. This method was chosen because it is less stressful than weighing the fish and allowed for quicker releases back into the water.

The Canadian team took a commanding lead early in the two-day event with a total of 147.5 points. Team Mexico was second with 81 points. Day Two saw Mexico win the daily with 201 points, followed by Team USA with 178 points. But Team Canada’s second day tally of 125 points was enough to earn the Gold Medal with an overall total of 272.5 points. Mexico won the Silver Medal with 199 points, just edging out Team USA (198 points) which settled for Bronze.

Two all-female teams (Costa Rica and USA) competed in this first-ever roosterfish event. Neither finished in the top standings, yet both showed their male counterparts they are quite capable of competing on this level. The tournament also allowed all the teams to share conservation ideas that will benefit the fisheries in their respective nations.

“We were just a group of friends who thought it would be fun to enter a tournament,” explained Canadian angler Mike Haunton. “And we won! We have already joined the Costa Rican sport fishing and conservation group as well as the Canadian organization and haven’t even left Costa Rica yet.”

PanAmerican tournaments will be held in Canada, Mexico, Panama and again in Costa Rica in 2019. The September Costa Rican event will target tarpon.

For more information, contact: www. fishcostarica.org or info@fecop.org

January/February 2019

COLOR: 454 Glowdini (Available in 11 other colors)

www.doalures.com

NAUTICAL NUMBERS 2019 Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule Total

Try a different trout this year.

Every winter, the TPWD stocks thousands of hatchery raised rainbow trout in Texas lakes and community ponds. The daily bag is 5 fish, no minimum length.

Location

City

Dates

American Legion Park Pond

Missouri City

1,800

Jan. 4 & 31, Feb. 21

Bane Park Lake

Houston

1,071

Jan. 18

Beaver Pond

Cypress

400

Jan. 14

Burke-Crenshaw Lake

Pasadena

2,400

Jan. 11 & 25, Feb. 8 & 22, Mar. 8

Burroughs Park

Conroe

1,431

Jan. 18

Carl Barton Jr. Park Pond

Conroe

2,400

Feb. 7

Centennial Park Pond

Pearland

1,150

Jan. 23

Dennis Johnston Park

Spring

1,428

Jan. 18

Dow Park Pool

Deer Park

500

Jan. 27

Eldridge Park Pond

Sugar Land

750

Jan. 23

Hart Pundt Lake

Spring

1,428

Jan. 18

Herman Brown Park Pond

Houston

500

Jan. 23

Herman Little Pond

Spring

2,296

Jan. 11 & 25, Feb. 8 & 22, Mar. 8

Kickerillo-Mischer

Houston

1,071

Jan. 18

Lake Friendswood

Friendswood

857

Feb. 8

Mary Jo Peckham Park

Houston

3,160

Jan. 11 & 25, Feb. 8 & 22, Mar. 8

Missouri City C.P.L.

Missouri City

1,896

Jan. 11 & 25, Feb. 8 & 22, Mar. 8

Seabourne Creek Park

Rosenberg

1,100

Feb. 17

Tom Bass I

Houston

1,000

Jan. 17

Name that fish B. Striped Bass C. Common Snook D. Tarpon

The Texas state record for a permit fish is 14.75 inches. Permit are not commonly caught in Texas waters, but are more prevelant in areas like the Florida Keys and Belize.

Permit are considered a prize catch since they have eyes of a hawk and an incredible sense of smell and hearing.

4 Dog snapper can commonly be caught in the Gulf of Mexico and serve as a great meal. They are called dog snapper because of their 4 uncommonly large canine teeth that can be seen even when their mouth is closed.

30 ANSWER: C. The Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) is a highly prized gamefish found in tropical waters. Although more common in South Texas, snook are showing up more frequently on the mid and upper coasts. When cooking snook, the skin must be removed, as it imparts a soapy taste to the fish.

A. Permit

14.75

Red grouper can be found from North Carolina to Brazil. They may change from female to male at around 7 years old and can live up to 30 years. The red grouper population is decreasing and are now considered near threatened.

GulfCoastMariner.com

7

GOT GREAT PICS TO SHARE? SEND TO: art@baygroupmedia.com

Eight-year-old Luke Contreras with a big smile to go along with his big 42� redfish caught in Galveston.

Charlie Smith caught this tripletail 30 miles out of Freeport.

This good trout got fooled by a Super Spook Jr. after she was seen chasing big mullet. Photo

by Brandon Rowan.

8

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

January/February 2019

Cindy Nguyen admires a pretty speckled trout.

Josette Guerra and Cindy Bonilla doubled up on some Lower Laguna Madre redfish.

Photo by Danno Wise

Max Conner with a nice stringer of West Bay trout.

POC reds caught with Capt.

Steven Reed.

A monster 63 lb. dorado caught at the Tropic Star Lodge in Panama.

GulfCoastMariner.com

9

10

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

GulfCoastMariner.com

11

Photos: Tropic Star Lodge

WINTER FISHING

Flee the freeze!

Spend your winter at one of the five hottest fishing grounds this side of the globe.

PANAMA The Tropic Star Lodge in PiĂąas Bay has been producing world-class inshore and offshore fishing since 1963. Nestled 150 miles southeast of Panama City, this remote destination offers access to the abundant fishing grounds of the Pacific and splendor of the pristine Darien Jungle.

Expect hot action on some of the most soughtafter pelagic fish during January and February.

Black and blue marlin fishing will be excellent, as are the prospects for hooking into large pacific sailfish, big cow yellowfin tuna and bull dorado.

Despite its far-removed location, the Tropic Star Lodge has accommodations and amenities to please the most persnickety of travelers.

Visit TropicStar.com for more information.

GulfCoastMariner.com

13

MEXICO CABO SAN LUCAS is host to a strong striped marlin bite during the winter months. The action on these acrobatic fighters continues through spring and into early summer. This popular Baja destination has no shortage of accommodations and fishing charters. We recommend RedRum Sportfishing (redrumcabo.com) and Chupacabra Sportfishing (chupacabrasportfishing.com)

FLORIDA SOUTH FLORIDA’S peak Atlantic sailfish season begins in January and sets off a flurry of fishing activity in Fort Lauderdale, the Florida Keys and as far north as Fort Pierce. The prospect of a multi-fish day is good, as large schools of these spirited fish move up and down the coast all winter long. Trolled lures are effective but live bait fished under a kite is the most popular method.

14

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

©Los Sueños Resort and Marina • Photographer: Sergio Pucci.

Photographer: Pepper Ailor

COSTA RICA

THE Los Sueños RESORT AND MARINA is a 1,100-acre master planned destination resort, offering all the services and amenities of a small city. Calm waters and short distances to one of the healthiest billfisheries in the world make it a highly popular sportfishing destination. The main attraction during winter is unrivaled action on big pacific sailfish, but yellowfin tuna and dorado make appearances as well. Visit LosSuenos.com for info on charters and lodging.

GUATEMALA SAILFISH OASIS in Guatemala, “The Sailfish Capital of the World,” is home to one of the largest breeding grounds for Pacific sailfish. Guatemala holds both the conventional and fly fishing records for most sailfish released in one day. The Sailfish Oasis lodge is situated in a secure, tree-lined, residential development, on the edge of a canal that overlooks the mangroves. Their fleet of sportfishing yachts can accommodate the needs of every angler. Visit SailFishOasis.com for more information.

GulfCoastMariner.com

15

skies or cloudy skies. With these two basic conditions, there are other trends that tend to coincide with them.

Bright & Blue

Sunny skies are typically the trend after the passage of a front, and with the bright skies an initial strong wind flow and tide movement.

Sunny skies are great for the sight fisher, allowing the angler to see and target the fish. Aided by the clearer waters of winter, fish can be much more easily spotted in the shallows with bright overhead skies. This is not always an indicator of our ability to catch them, but the ability to see them is the first step when sight casting.

A Stealthy Approach

By Capt. Steve Soule

I

t’ s col d, da mp and dreary: the kind of weather that makes it hard to find motivation to get up and going. We are deep into daylight savings time, with short days and not nearly enough sunlight to fuel

16

my tank, but somehow there is still some motivation to be found for winter fishing.

The bright sunny days are often few and far between.

Cloudy skies and damp conditions seems to dominate our weather patterns between December and February.

Where is the “upside” to this?

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

Well, fortunately for all of us fish heads, they still have to eat.

By no means does this cover the entire weather pattern spectrum of winter, but for the shallow water enthusiast, we can start with two basic condition sets that we must learn to contend with: sunny

Light wind, sunny skies and clear water will require a very stealthy approach from the angler as these conditions make fish much more vulnerable and aware of potential threats to their safety. Stop well short of the areas you intend to fish or believe are holding fish and work slowly and methodically until you locate them. Loud

“One of the greatest parts of winter fishing is that when you find one fish, you have likely found an area holding many fish.” insulation from cooling water.

This is also where you are likely to find some added structure like oyster reefs.

Look for areas with dense dark mud as it will not only hold many small food sources, but will maintain a slight advantage in warmth as well.

SUNNY VS CLOUDY DAYS

There will be other notable differences in these two primary patterns. Periods of sunny skies, light wind and clear water will dictate the

noises, boat wakes and other pressure waves that we create can alert fish to our presence.

Keep in mind that when you get a bite its definitely time to slow down and work the area more thoroughly. One of the greatest parts of winter fishing is that when you find one fish, you have likely found an area holding many fish.

Dark & Stormy

So, if sunny skies and light wind make for great sight fishing, but likely only happen once every 3-5 days, what do you do when the clouds and cooler temperatures roll back in? You must learn where the fish move as the temperatures and tides drop. It may require a fair amount of knowledge of the area you’re fishing, but falling temperatures and falling tides actually generate a fairly predictable pattern from fish.

It is important to understand about how changing temperatures effect fish movement. As a general rule, during the cooler months, if the air is warming and the water is cold, fish will move shallow as soon as the air temperature exceeds

Buggs lure. When the clouds roll in, it’s tough to find me not fishing a top water like a Super Spook or Spook Jr., or a She Dog or She Pup. I like natural colors like white, bone and chrome for clear water.

Use darker colors for dirtier water or cloudy conditions.

When it’s time to drop below the surface, the Catch 2000 or Corky series are hard to beat. Pink, Texas chicken and chartreuse/gold are my go-to colors. Some interesting fun can also be found with shallow running twitch or crank baits. Again, all I can say is hang on! The strikes can take your breath away.

Putting it all together

the water temperature.

Much the same, when the air temperatures drop below the water temperature during cooling periods, fish will tend to move towards deeper water. Knowing this basic principle will help guide you during the winter months.

Cloudy skies have settled in, seeing the fish is virtually out of the question.

Temperatures are cooler and the tides are low; where have the fish moved? Here is when you need to understand the structures in the area. Contour depth changes, reefs, and bay floor make up all play a big role in where fish will move during these conditions.

Typically, open water adjacent to the shallow marsh is the first depth contour change that will allow slight

use of smaller lures and flies, stealthy approaches and much more subtle presentations to catch fish.

When the skies are cloudy and wind has returned, and especially when temperatures are falling, it often pays off greatly to increase the size of your presentation. This is when mullet imitations can bring huge catches, not just in numbers, but often in the size of the fish. Topwater “dog walking” lures and slow sinking, suspending finesse lures and twitch baits can provide rod jerking strikes that you won’t soon forget.

For winter sight fishing my go-to lures would be a dark colored small swim or paddle tail soft plastic rigged on 1/16th to 1/4 ounce screw lock jig heads or a hand-tied

There is so much more to winter fishing than I can possibly cover here, but understanding the basic temperature change and fish movement will get you started. Digging deeper, you will start to notice that barometric pressure also plays a huge role, and understanding tides and structures are like the interlocking pieces of the puzzle.

Don’t let winter fishing intimidate you! It’s like any other time of year and just requires a different knowledge base to create success. As an added bonus, fishing during the clear water and low tide periods during winter may also provide you with the best education you will get all year.

Take this opportunity to learn more about bay floor structures, such as shallow areas, reefs, guts and deeper channel flows. This will help your overall understanding of where and how fish move around the bays.

GulfCoastMariner.com

17

18

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

GulfCoastMariner.com

19

20

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

GulfCoastMariner.com

21

What Happened To The 2018 Flounder Run?

By Capt. Joe Kent

A

nglers all around the Galveston Bay Complex are scratching their heads in disbelief of the fact that we did not appear to have a genuine flounder run during November. Almost all of the experienced flounder fishermen are asking why the flat fish never made a concentrated run like they are supposed to during late autumn.

Was it a sign that the flounder stocks are dwindling or was it something else that interfered with the 2018 fall flounder run?

To begin with, let’s take a look at what traditionally takes place with flounder and their annual run to the Gulf of Mexico to spawn, especially in years past.

At some point after mid-September, flounder sense winter is not far away and start thinking about their move to

22

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

the Gulf. Two key factors contribute to this insight, those being shorter periods of sunlight or shorter days and the water temperatures cooling from the summertime readings.

When this first occurs Galveston Bay flounder begin to move, first out of the shallower back bays and lakes and then to the larger bays, especially East and West Bays. From there they will head to the pathways to the Gulf, which include the Galveston Ship Channel, Bolivar Roads, Cold Pass, Rollover Pass and San Luis Pass.

In most years, November is when the migration reaches its peak, with flounder lining the shorelines of Pelican Island, all along upper Bolivar Peninsula and around all of the passes into the Gulf.

At that time it was “easy pickins” on flounder, as they were so concentrated that anglers could load large ice chests with the flat fish.

Several years ago, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department set a special bag limit of two flounder per person per day for November and later extended it to mid-December. Also flounder gigging was prohibited during November.

For at least three years now the annual run has fallen short of its expectations and this year it was hardly noticed,

as few flounder were caught from the traditional hot spots.

The first thought is that the stocks have declined to the point that they are in trouble. All indications are that this is not the problem. All during the year, flounder were being taken in typical numbers and experienced flounder anglers reported the back bays and marshes being full of the flatfish.

What about our warmer than usual winters? That has to be a big factor and from here I would like to pass on some comments from a few of the flounder pros.

One angler sent a note to the Reel Report in the Galveston County Daily News saying: “Here is my reason for the poor flounder run. Try to forget what you think you know about flounder running in the fall. The flounder are not leaving the bays, they are entering the bays. They have to wait till the water temperature in the bay drops down enough to run off the scavenger fish that would eat all the eggs they are leaving in their spawn.”

Another reader sent in this note: “Has anyone wondered if the lack of flounder can be tied to the dredging of the Galveston Ship Channel! The hopper dredge has been working 24/7 for several weeks now and rumors are they are scooping up barrels of flounder.

Something seems off when dredging to deepen the channel is planned when a bottom fish has its migration.”

This note came from a biologist at a popular aquarium: “Most everyone is complaining about the poor flounder run this year. All sorts of reasons are cited; however, one thing that seems to be missed is that all flounder do not leave the bays during winter. One of the driving factors is food supply. If the small fish and crustaceans are around, flounder are slow to leave and will tend to hang around as long as food is plentiful.”

Another reader said: “We may be missing the flounder run, as the warmer weather could be causing a delay in the migration to sometime in mid to late December. If so, this would be at a time when not much fishing is taking place and possibly a major run would go unnoticed.”

Whatever your theory, the warmer winters over the past few years have to be a major factor. Hopefully the stocks of flounder will continue to be in good shape during 2019 and beyond.

New Year New Beginnings

By Capt. David C. Dillman galvestonbaycharterfishing.com 832-228-8012

A

s we usher in 2019, I always reflect on the past year. I think of the trials and tribulations that I faced in 2018, but it was also a very rewarding year. I now set my sights forward and fully embrace the challenges and rewards of this coming year.

My January starts at the 2019 Houston Boat, Sport and Travel Show. This event takes place at the NRG Center, Jan. 4-13.

If you are in the market for a new boat or RV, you should attend this event. For those looking to re-power, come check out the latest technology in outboards. I will be at the Eagle Point Fishing Camp booth, numbers 612-613 throughout the show. Stop by, and I will be there to answer all questions about boating, boat storage, and of course fishing! The rest of my January will be filled with a much needed vacation to the blue waters of the Caribbean.

The beginning of the year, is also the time to get your boat seaworthy for this coming year. If your boat needs to go to a shop for service, this is the time. Do an inventory of what is stored in your boat. It is amazing how much “stuff” one can accumulate in your boat‘s storage hatches. Discard all non-serviceable items and check your PFDs for any defects.

On the fishing scene, look for continued good action on speckled trout

Drew Bailey, Juan Cruz and Mike Johnson after a solid day trout fishing with Capt. Dillman.

along with scattered redfish. The usual winter locations, Clear Lake, Kemah/ Seabrook flats, and the northern areas of Galveston Bay should hold fish. West Galveston Bay is also well known for its winter fishing.

Speaking of trout, one should keep abreast of the TPWD proposal of decreasing the trout daily bag limit. They should release their recommendation sometime in January. Hopefully, the Houston/Galveston area can make it through this winter without a major freeze event. If so, this spring we should see some really great fishing according to the fall gill net surveys from the TPWD. I hope everyone had a great holiday season this past year. I look forward to seeing you at The Houston Boat Show.

GulfCoastMariner.com

23

Interview by Kelly Groce Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from and when did you start painting?

Originally I am from Kazakhstan but I have lived all over Europe and Asia (11 countries to be exact) before I was even 17! Shortly after I came along, my family endured many hardships from the changing times, causing us to constantly move.

Like many young kids, I was fond of drawing, painting and anything artistic, but I tended to dedicate all of

24

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

my time to this interest over anything else. Certainly it was a good focus, as no matter where we lived or what the language, I had to start learning that particular year(s), I had consistency and stability in my artwork. I think was more beneficial to me than anything.

When I was around 11 years old, I was starting to paint and draw animals and floral art at a very rapid rate. My mother would place the finished works in shops wherever we were living at the time. By the time I was 15, I was being contacted for commissioned pieces of a very wide array of subjects, including freshwater fish, birds, and a lot of floral works. (continued on page 27) Left: “Ambush Queens” Right: “Dancing in the Moonlight” Bottom: “The Prospectors Bill”

GulfCoastMariner.com

25

26

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

How did you get into painting wildlife?

I have from the very beginning painted a host of subjects without boundary, but I would say that the time period I started focusing mostly on marine and wildlife was 2-3 years ago. My first saltwater piece was around that time as well.

“The very first redfish I caught had a little over 13 spots and I think that’s when I fell in love with fishing.”

Aside from art, what else are you passionate about?

Well to be completely honest, I don’t really have much time to do much else! I paint 8-12 hours a day, 7 days a week, and when I am caught up I try to go fishing or enjoy my time on the water. I take what I do incredibly seriously and try to give every ounce of

energy I have to becoming better. After all, I have a lot of folks who have invested in me by owning originals.

I would be doing them a disservice if I did not increase their piece’s value over time.

I do love to fish but unless it’s a subject I am completely new to, it really does not make the artworks any better to continually see the same species—at least for me it doesn’t, but what does improve the paintings is pure repetition. This is the only requirement needed to have the knowledge or capability to paint or draw anything with success.

What is your favorite fish to catch?

Redfish and Mahi.

Favorite location to fish or travel?

When time allows, I like to take either my paddle boat or kayak to a tiny little area in Charlotte Harbor that always is harboring at least a few hungry reds!

Top Right: Artist Anastasia Musick holding the original of her work “El Mariachi.”

Top Left: “Dorado on the Fly” captures the acrobatic capabilities of predator and prey.

Bottom Left: A beautiful display of tailing redfish in “Nine Lives.”

Within the last two years my vacationing has been sort of limited, but I have really enjoyed the various beaches I’ve visited in Texas and of course the boardwalk in San Antonio was a fun time.

Favorite fishing moment?

The very first redfish I caught had a little over 13 spots and I think that’s when I fell in love with fishing and wanted to dedicate that as my predominate focus.

How can our readers purchase and enjoy your art?

I have hundreds of pieces that I do reproductions of in small numbers, apparel and a host of other things available. Easiest way to

contact me is either to go to Facebook and search me out: Anastasia Musick. Also feel free to contact me on my business page: Musick Art Corporation. You can also find my website at www.

AnastasiaMusick.com Are there any foundations or organizations you are involved with that you would like to tell our readers about?

I work with CCA Texas, Florida and several kidney research foundations. In 2019 I was selected to be the Texas CCA STAR Platinum Print Artist and would like to continue working with them and others.

GulfCoastMariner.com

27

Judy Olsen’s Boat Décor LLC covers all your boat’s needs Fully customize your boat this winter before hitting the water again

By Xander Thomas

T

he Clear Lake Area is one of the largest boating centers in the U.S. With the number of crafts that take to our waters most of the year, given our lengthy warm season, someone must tackle the task of helping maintain these boats. Judy Olsen’s Boat Décor LLC is exactly the kind of place that can help these captains-at-their-own-leisure with all things canvas and upholstery for their boats.

“This line of work is definitely challenging but it is very rewarding to see the final product and that my customer is happy.” Olsen said, “We take pride in our work and provide excellent customer service.”

28

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

Before

Judy has been in business for eight years, but she has been working with her mother as a seamstress since she was 15, and using a sewing machine since she was five-years-old. She has experience with all different sorts of items and even used to make wedding dresses.

“I could not make any money making the dresses, I had maybe two orders” she said, “They were both very happy, but you cannot compete with China.”

After

Olsen’s current location opened in the summer of 2018. She moved to this specific building because before her, it was another canvas shop and was already set up in a good way for her business.

That made it easier to open shop right away, as there were already cutting tables and other items set up usefully for sewing. But getting her business set up in the exact spot that she wanted proved to be no easy task.

“As soon as I found out that they moved, I immediately called to get this spot, and was told that it had already been leased,” she said.

Business continued and Olsen secured a different location. Days later, she got a call that the deal on her preferred location had fallen through!

Luckily enough, she was let out of her lease without a fee, and was able to move into the space that was already partially set up for her work.

She starting selling out of what used to be called “Sundowner Canvas” and that has helped her business.

“Sometimes people call the owners of Sundowner, and they say go to Judy, she does good work, she will take care of you,” Olsen said.

Before attaining a place to open business, Judy worked out of her own house, but that was not ideal.

“There was stuff everywhere. I only really had the master bedroom and kitchen for myself.”

She had a four-bedroom home at the time. She was even having to cut materials out on the driveway.

Olsen does mostly work for boats, but she will make custom canvas pieces and even re-upholster regular furniture, if that is what the customer wants. She makes her own custom pattern for every item she does.

Boat Décor LLC crafts screens, furniture upholstery, custom covers for any part of the boat imaginable and

“We take pride in our work and provide excellent customer service.” bedding, such as sheets, pillows and even high-quality mattresses. They use top of the line marine products such as sunbrella, stamoid, strataglass, tenara thread, dot stainless steel snaps, and more.

A full list of the services Judy Olsen offers can be found at www.

BoatDecorLLC.com. Call 281-928-8548 to chat about your boat or visit her at 900 Anders Lane Suite 11 in Kemah.

GulfCoastMariner.com

29

By Betha Merit King

HEALTHY INSTANT ONE POT MEALS AFTER THE HOLIDAYS

A

fter the holidays it’s nice to have some lower calorie meals to help us get back in shape and shave off some pounds.

Luckily for me, I have a birthday in December, too. Knowing my happy exploration into one pot meals, I was gifted with the latest and greatest kitchen helper: an Instant Pot. The Instant Pot cooks meals in less

time by utilizing pressure cooker technology. Doing research, it is obvious there is a long future of fabulous discoveries to be made.

For this article, we’ll touch on two pasta dishes, that are vegetarian. For meat lovers, you can serve baked fish or chicken breasts or lean pork tenderloin, cooked separately. There are a thousand more recipes that include meat, desserts, sauces, dips, and side dishes. The possibilities appear endless.

Veggie Walnut Pesto Pasta

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

• • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • •

4 cups water 8 ounces whole-wheat rotini pasta 1/2 cup lentils 1 8-10 ounce jar of prepared Walnut Pesto 1/2 cup baby arugula chopped 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1 zucchini, chopped 1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed 1/4 or more grated Parmesan cheese Freshly ground black pepper.

Pour 4 cups water into Instant Pot, add the pasta and lentils, stir well to submerge for even cooking. Secure the lid and move the steam release valve to Sealing. Select Pressure Cook to cook at high pressure for 4 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then move the steam release valve to Venting to release any residual pressure.

When the floating valve drops, remove the lid and press Cancel to stop the cooking cycle. Use oven mitts to remove the pot and drain the pasta and lentils in a fine-mesh sieve. Rinse with cold water. Dry the pot and clean anything off the sides and bottom, and return it to the Instant Pot. Press Sauté and add olive oil to pot. Once the oil is hot, add tomatoes, zucchini, and artichoke hearts. Stir until softened (5 min.).

Add the drained pasta and lentils chopped arugula and pesto sauce, tossing well to coat. Stir in Parmesan and pepper to taste.

30

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

1 pound whole-wheat or regular macaroni 4 cups water 2 Tablespoons soy sauce 1-2 Tablespoons spicy brown mustard 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 pound fresh or frozen cauliflower florets 4-8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese parsley and pepper for garnish.

Pour pasta into the Instant Pot and add 4 cups water, soy sauce, mustard and salt. Stir well to combine, then add cauliflower on top without stirring so the cauliflower layers completely cover the pasta. Secure the lid and move the steam release valve to Sealing. Select Pressure Cook to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.

When cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure naturally release 10 minutes, then move the steam release valve to Venting to release residual pressure.

When floating valve drops, remove the lid and stir the pasta well, breaking up any pasta that has stuck together or to bottom (which is normal). Use your spoon to mash any intact cauliflower florets against the side of pot to help them dissolve into the pasta sauce. They will be hidden as part of the sauce.

Add the Cheddar and Parmesan and stir well. Adjust seasonings as needed.

GulfCoastMariner.com

31

[ B O A T S

F O R

SA L E ]

1998 Robin Smith 65 Convertible

2005 Hatteras 54 Hatteras

$900,000 Cory W. Webster 281-636-2228 www.galatiyachts.com

$699,000 Larry Smith 850-259-8989 www.galatiyachts.com

2007 DH 55’ Custom Catamaran $800,000 An extraordinarily beautiful, fast passage making, stateof-the-art catamaran commissioned and developed by an around-the-world sailor; fully equipped and ready to go!!

281-334-6500 www.LittleYachtSales.com

2017 Boston Whaler 350 Outrage $475,000 Jordan Butler 409-939-5524 www.galatiyachts.com

1999 Hertiage East 36 Trawler $165,000

Single Diesel Economy w/Bow & Stern Thruster Maneuverability, 8 KW Generator, (2) Cruiseair Reverse Cycle A/C & Heat Units w/Digital Controls, Beautiful Teak Interior, Apartment-Size Refrigerator/Freezer, Queen-Size Centerline “Walk-Around” Aft Master Berth

281-334-6500 • www.littleyachtsales.com

32

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2018

2000 38’ Carver 380 Santego Bow & Stern Thrusters, Nice Accommodations.

Asking $69,900 Bring offers!

281-535-2628(BOAT) www.tsfyachts.com

2004 Cruisers 340 Express $164,000 David Hunt 713-819-7426 www.galatiyachts.com

$95,500 Low, Low Hours on this Fantastic Example of the popular Cruisers Yacht 340 Express. Powered by Twin 8.1L Volvo Penta Engines, only 265 hours!!!

281-334-2863 www.LittleYachtSales.com

2002 46’ Sea Ray Sundancer

2000 35’ Carver 350 Mariner

2003 Carver 444 Cockpit Motor Yacht

$179,900 Cummins Diesels, Low Hours, Bow Thruster, Excellent Condition 281-535-2628(BOAT) www.tsfyachts.com

$69,900 Low Hours, Nicely Equipped, Excellent Condition 281-535-2628(BOAT) www.tsfyachts.com

1985 Hatteras 42 Motor yacht

2011 28’ Albemarle 280XF

$79,999

Cruisair Air Conditioning/Heat, Onan 8kw Generator, Twin Caterpillar Diesel Engines, Electric Windlass, Bimini Top & Strataglass Enclosures, Garmin GPS Touchscreen (2013), Raymarine R20 Radar, Simrad/Robertson Autopilot, (2) VHF Radios

281-334-6500 • www.littleyachtsales.com

$129,000 Yanamar 260hp Diesels, 210 hours, Generator, A/C & Myco Trailer 281-535-2628(BOAT) www.tsfyachts.com GulfCoastMariner.com

33

Galveston Bay Tides EAGLE POINT, TX NOAA Station Id: 8771013

JANUARY Tue 1/1

FEBRUARY Fri 2/1

Thu 1/17

Fri 2/15

12:40 AM

0.41 H

09:39 AM

-0.78 L

10:59 AM

-0.76 L

09:07 AM

-0.67 L

10:04 AM

-0.59 L

09:29 PM

0.53 H

10:40 PM

0.55 H

09:10 PM

0.76 H

11:39 PM

0.48 H Sat 2/2

Fri 1/18 Wed 1/2 10:38 AM

-0.72 L

10:08 PM

0.56 H

-0.92 L

11:46 AM

-0.74 L

10:08 AM

-0.75 L

10:34 PM

0.63 H

11:56 PM

0.54 H

10:14 PM

0.81 H

Sun 2/3

Sat 1/19 Thu 1/3 11:15 AM

-0.79 L

10:57 PM

0.60 H

11:16 AM

-1.03 L

11:51 PM

0.69 H

11:53 AM

12:30 PM

Sun 2/17 -0.72 L

12:09 PM

-1.08 L

0.80 H

01:13 AM

0.53 H

Mon 2/18

01:11 PM

-0.67 L

12:04 PM

Tue 2/5

Mon 1/21 12:02 AM

0.61 H

12:33 PM

-0.81 L

-0.76 L

01:07 AM

0.61 H

01:13 PM

-0.78 L

0.70 H

02:16 AM

0.50 H

01:44 AM

0.74 H

01:02 PM

-1.07 L

01:46 PM

-0.61 L

12:57 PM

-0.67 L

Wed 2/6

02:02 AM

0.59 H

01:53 PM

-0.75 L

0.67 H

03:08 AM

0.45 H

04:08 AM

0.65 H

01:54 PM

-0.99 L

02:17 PM

-0.53 L

01:46 PM

-0.51 L

10:42 PM

0.47 H

Thu 2/7

03:08 AM

0.56 H

04:01 AM

0.38 H

Thu 2/21

02:43 PM

-0.84 L

02:44 PM

-0.42 L

01:37 AM

0.43 L

06:10 AM

0.54 H

02:33 PM

-0.28 L

10:07 PM

0.38 H

Fri 2/8

Thu 1/24 Tue 1/8 02:43 AM

0.56 H

02:31 PM

-0.70 L

01:40 AM

0.40 H

12:45 AM

0.28 H

03:30 PM

-0.63 L

03:05 AM

0.28 L

05:29 AM

0.28 H

Fri 2/22

03:09 PM

-0.28 L

02:44 AM

0.24 L

11:33 PM

0.22 H

08:13 AM

0.45 H

03:17 PM

-0.03 L

09:40 PM

0.35 H

Fri 1/25 Wed 1/9

Wed 2/20

02:14 AM

Wed 1/23 Mon 1/7

Tue 2/19

01:07 AM

Tue 1/22 Sun 1/6

12:30 AM

0.27 H

03:11 AM

0.52 H

04:12 PM

-0.38 L

03:06 PM

-0.63 L

11:57 PM

0.19 H

Sat 2/9 04:11 AM

0.15 L

07:46 AM

0.18 H

Sat 2/23

03:19 AM

0.44 H

06:18 AM

-0.07 L

03:32 PM

-0.13 L

03:43 AM

0.04 L

03:38 PM

-0.54 L

11:08 AM

0.03 H

10:44 PM

0.20 H

10:29 AM

0.41 H

04:47 PM

-0.12 L

03:58 PM

0.22 L

11:29 PM

0.19 H

09:11 PM

0.40 H

Thu 1/10

Sat 1/26

Fri 1/11 02:53 AM

0.34 H

04:08 PM

-0.42 L

Sat 1/12 02:01 AM

0.25 H

04:34 PM

-0.27 L

Sun 1/13 01:11 AM

0.18 H

04:53 PM

-0.11 L

Mon 1/14

Sun 2/10 04:52 AM

0.01 L

10:34 AM

0.14 H

Sun 2/24

07:02 AM

-0.30 L

03:48 PM

0.04 L

04:39 AM

-0.13 L

10:59 PM

0.24 H

10:00 PM

0.22 H

01:22 PM

0.47 H

04:31 PM

0.44 L

08:29 PM

0.49 H

Sun 1/27

Mon 2/11

Mon 1/28 07:48 AM

-0.49 L

05:33 AM

-0.13 L

10:09 PM

0.33 H

09:12 PM

0.29 H

Tue 2/12

Tue 1/29 08:34 AM

-0.63 L

06:18 AM

-0.28 L

08:32 PM

0.44 H

08:11 PM

0.41 H

12:26 AM

0.15 H

08:15 AM

-0.22 L

Wed 1/30

11:40 PM

0.18 H

09:22 AM

-0.71 L

07:09 AM

-0.43 L

08:51 PM

0.51 H

07:45 PM

0.55 H

Wed 2/13

Tue 1/15 Thu 2/14

08:29 AM

-0.41 L

Thu 1/31

10:39 PM

0.27 H

10:10 AM

-0.75 L

08:07 AM

-0.56 L

09:38 PM

0.54 H

08:17 PM

0.67 H

Wed 1/16

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2019

-0.79 L

11:32 PM

-0.81 L

Sat 1/5

34

11:08 AM

Mon 2/4 Sun 1/20

Fri 1/4

Sat 2/16

10:26 AM

08:59 AM

-0.60 L

08:58 PM

0.41 H

Mon 2/25 05:36 AM

-0.26 L

06:42 PM

0.61 H

Tue 2/26 06:35 AM

-0.33 L

06:32 PM

0.72 H

Wed 2/27 07:37 AM

-0.36 L

07:14 PM

0.79 H

Thu 2/28 08:42 AM

-0.36 L

08:03 PM

0.81 H