Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine Jan/Feb 2017

SAILING FOR A GOOD CAUSE | GALVESTON BAY’S NEW WEBCAMS | LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHY | RECIPES FOR A HEALTHY NEW YEAR

January/February 2017 | gulfcoastmariner.com

DESTINATION

SURF Dream waves and vibes in El Salvador

Quantum Sails’ Loft Service Manager Alan Woodyard

GOING SKINNY Small skiffs for Texas marshes and backwaters

Recipes: What to do with WAHOO Oyster Gardening in Bayou Vista

out in the cold Galveston guides share tips on finding winter redfish and trout

A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed watercraft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas. A regatta often includes social and promotional activities, which surround the racing event, and, except in the case of boat type or class championships, is usually named for the town or venue where the event takes place.

The local regatta for The Bay Area of Houston is called The Harvest Moon Regatta. Their philanthropic initiative is The Bay Access Foundation in cooperation with Lakewood Yacht Club. Its purpose is to promote youth sailing in the Galveston Bay Area for youth aged seven to eighteen. Those who participate are exposed to basic sailing skills, water safety, seamanship, best practices, and team building exercises.

Although regattas are typically amateur competitions, they are usually formally structured events, with comprehensive rules describing the schedule and procedures of the event. Regattas may be organized as championships for a particular area or type of boat, but are often held just for the joy of competition, camaraderie, and general promotion of the sport.

That’s what happened for John Scherer when he decided to enter the Harvest Moon Regatta in October of 2016 with his new Lagoon 42, the Chaton Noir. John hadn’t run the Harvest Moon Regatta before. His entry the previous year didn’t count because the race was cancelled. In 2016, however, he couldn’t have been happier because he won his division with the beauty.

At first, Scherer had been a bit skeptical of the Lagoon 42 because of the jib and boom. But after taking it for a sail with Jonathon Davis of The Yacht Sales Company, he had a complete change of heart. “I was so impressed with the knowledge, experience, and overall genuine interest that Jonathon had with me, I knew it was the right fit,” states Scherer. He says that doing “half boats” is well-known, but going on a “cat” was always his dream and it didn’t disappoint. “My friends know that I enjoy teasing them about their tippy half boats and enjoy sailing with them, but my dream was always to win the Harvest Moon Regatta on my whole boat (one with two hulls),” laughs Scherer.

Jonathon Davis of The Yacht Sales Company wasn’t just a sponsor of the Harvest Moon Regatta, he was also thrilled to be part of John Scherer’s team on the Chaton Noir. “The team that was put together for the race was great, and the experience could not have been better for me. I was glad to see John win and I loved seeing how the Lagoon 42 responded under these racing conditions,” says Davis.

Scherer proudly stated that he gives The Yacht Sales Company and his team as many stars as you can get for the attention to detail, responsiveness, and overall care everyone took to make the win happen. “The Harvest Moon Regatta met my expectations, but the Lagoon 42 exceeded my expectations by handling magnificently as she slid and felt strong underneath us on the water! I will definitely do it again and look forward to sailing under more leisurely circumstances,” John excitedly commented. He was also delighted to not only be racing, but to be sailing for a good cause.

John Scherer’s vessel, the Lagoon 42, won in Division C against eight other boats in the Harvest Moon Regatta, 2016.

GulfCoastMariner.com

3

GulfCoastMariner.com

5

[Letter from the Publisher] Admiral (Publisher) Charles Milby Vice Admiral (President) Rick Clapp Rear Admiral (Editor) Mary Alys Cherry Captain (Creative Director) Brandon Rowan Commodore (Graphic Designer) Kelly Groce

F

olks are always making New Year resolutions for 2017.

Here’s a little tip that will make the task of staying with it and not giving up a little easier when the going gets tough.

A great way to learn a new skill is to start out learning the ending first.

Why, you may ask? It has something to do with building confidence

any flying lessons but I will bet the instructor spends more time on landing the airplane than he does on taking off.

When you memorize something, do the last line first. As you learn it, you’ll always end strong.

People who write for a living will use this little trick when they can’t get started on the story; they concentrate on the ending and get that down on paper, and everything

“I have never taken any flying lessons but I will bet the instructor spends more time on landing the airplane than he does on taking off.” and establishing this feeling of “I can do this if I stick with it.” Some musicians start learning a new piece of music at the end and work their way to the beginning. You keep building on what you learn; you keep adding a little more and a little more until you get it.

Teaching someone to sail is the same way. A good teacher will teach the new student the art of landing the boat at the dock first. Everything after that is easy. I have never taken

else will build toward that.

Here we are ending a year and beginning another. I’m looking forward to this coming year.

Learning new skills is hard, that’s what makes it special. Work on some adjustments if you need to and then get back in the race, that’s how it works.

Have a great year and be sure to read the Gulf Coast Mariner when you can.

See you on the bay!

Charles Milby, Publisher

6

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

January/February 2017

Sales Commodore (Director of Sales) Patty Kane Sales Crew (Advertising Executives) Judy Gaines Debbie Salisbury Editorial Capt. David Dillman Kelly Groce Patty Kane Capt. Joe Kent Betha Merit Charles Milby Brandon Rowan Capt. Steve Soule Janice Van Dyke Walden Photography Kelly Groce Betha Merit Charles Milby Distribution Timothy Shinkle Company 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

| January/February 2017 8|Snapshots

YOUR fishing and water recreation photos.

Submit photos for next issue to art@baygroupmedia.com

12|Going Skinny

Four small skiffs for ultra shallow water and fishing Texas marshes and backwaters.

16|Deep or Shallow?

Offatts Bayou, West Bay, Chocolate Bay and Green’s Lake; all winter destinations for finding trout and redfish.

By Capt. Joe Kent

17|Winter Fishing: What To Do?

Fishing between the fronts will be your key to success.

By Capt. David Dillman

18|Out In The Cold

26|Oyster Gardening

Residents hang bags from their docks to spawn these much needed bi-valves.

By Janice Van Dyke Walden

28|The Galley: Healthy New Year

Add to your diet, rather than take away in 2017. Two recipes that include cancer fighting brassica vegetables.

By Betha Merit

29|What To Do With Wahoo?

Two recipes from those who are no stranger to wahoo; Jasen Gast of REHAB Fishing Team and Debbie Conway of Bad Intentions Charters.

30|Rights of Gulf Oystermen

An update on the fight for the rights of Gulf Oystermen.

By Patty Kane

Quantum Sails’ Loft Service Manager Alan Woodyard has sailed across the globe. Now he uses his expertise to provide solutions to his clients’ canvas and sail problems.

Interview by Charles Milby

24|Surfing El Salvador

Dream waves and scenery at the K59 Surf Resort in El Salvador are only a three hour plane ride from Houston.

By Kelly Groce

Sailing for a good cause ________________p.

2 Publisher’s Letter ________________p. 6 Kemah yacht brokerage adds new broker ________________p.

11

Successful fishing depends on your understanding of baitfish behavior, the effects of tide and temperature and which birds to watch in the winter.

By Capt. Steve Soule

20|Alan Woodyard

Contents

ON THE COVER Flyfishing for redfish on a Versatile, built by Sabine Skiffs.

2017 rainbow trout stocking schedule ________________p.

11 Dickinson Bayou water concerns ________________p.

31 Boats for sale ________________p.

32 Tide tables ________________p.

34 Galveston Bay Webcams ________________p.

34 GulfCoastMariner.com

7

Send your photos to art@baygroupmedia.com

Carson Crain does a little Waszp foiling at the Houston Yacht Club.

Jarrod Lipsey with some cold weather flounder, caught with fishing guide, Brandon Kilgore (832-692-3367)

Another beautiful Galveston sunrise. Photo by Dan Williams.

Steve Whitworth with a 40� bull red.

Eight-yearold Aden Viet Johnson with a huge stingray.

Max Conner with a big West Bay trout.

Calvin Haynes with a chunky 20� flounder.

10

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

Kemah Yacht Brokerage adds new Broker

P

aul Stehfest, Owner of HSH Yacht Sales, is pleased to announce his decision to join the team at Little Yacht Sales (LYS) effective January 1, 2017. Paul commented, “Joining LYS was a natural fit because the company has the most senior staff of yacht brokers in the Southwest.

The brokers there have a combined experience of over 175 years exclusively in yacht sales. I am excited about joining this prestigious team.”

Little Yacht Sales was founded in 2010

by Veteran Yacht Broker, Kent Little, who has over 34 years of experience in Professional Yacht Sales. Within 2 years, LYS was the leading yacht brokerage in Texas, selling both power and sail boats.

LYS has 4 brokers located at Waterford Harbor Marina, Pier 6/7 in Kemah, Texas. LYS is also a dealer for new

Marlow Hunter and Catalina Yachts. Rounding out the team, LYS has a broker in Port Aransas, Texas and another in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and is a Licensed Florida Brokerage. Additionally, Little Yacht Sales has a sister brokerage company, Texas Power Yachts (TPY), which has 3 brokers and is located at South Shore Harbor Marina, pier 13, in League City, Texas.

Kent Little, Owner of LYS & TPY, commented, “We are excited to add Paul Stehfest to our team. With his easy-going attitude and his dedication to professionalism and integrity, he is a natural fit for our LYS office.”

Paul Stehfest would like to invite all his past clients to contact him on his cell, 903-401-9049, or his new email, Paul@ LIttleYachtSales.com.

2017 Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule Location American Legion Park Pond

City

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.

Total

Dates

Missouri City

1,400

Jan. 6, Feb. 3

Bane Park Lake

Houston

1,200

Jan. 13

Burke-Crenshaw Lake

Pasadena

1,000

Jan. 12

Conroe

1,200

Jan. 13

Burroughs Park Carl Barton Jr. Park Pond Centennial Park Lake Dennis Johnston Park

Conroe

2,640

Friendswood

750

Feb. 1

Spring

1,200

Jan. 13

Deer Park

500

Jan. 29

Eisenhower Park Pond

Houston

5,200

Jan. 5

Sugar Land

750

Jan. 25

Herman Brown Park Pond

Houston

750

Jan. 25

LNVA Barrier Pond

Beaumont

3,846

Jan. 11

Mary Jo Peckham Park

Houston

3,160

Meyer Park Pond

Houston

1,200

Missouri City C.P.L.

Missouri City

2,896

Pundt Park Seabourne Creek Park

Spring

1,100

160 feet On average, flying fish can glide up to 160 feet, but have been known to glide as far as 660 feet and can reach heights up to 19 feet.

360 degrees While squid are color blind, they do have excellent eyesight. Squid have the ability to see in a range of 360 degrees.

Jan. 4 & 18, Feb. 17

Dow Park Pool Eldridge Park Pond

NAUTICAL NUMBERS

Multiple Dates Jan. 13 Multiple Dates Jan. 13

Rosenberg

1,135

Feb. 19

Tom Bass I

Houston

1,950

Jan. 31

Tom Bass III

Houston

4,000

Jan. 9

78 pounds The largest black drum on record weighed 146 pounds, but the Texas black drum record taken by a sport angler is 78 pounds.

View the full schedule at www.tpwd.texas.gov/troutstocking GulfCoastMariner.com

11

GOING SKINNY FOUR SMALL SKIFFS FOR FISHING IN TEXAS MARSHES AND BACKWATERS

EAST CAPE CAIMEN A little skiff with attitude. This boat is the perfect blend of beauty and function.

It can comfortably cross open bays and pole after tailing reds.

It is one of the most versatile boats in East Cape’s lineup. The Caimen is synonymous with simplicity.

SPECS •

Length: 17’ 10”

•

Beam: 61.5”

•

Draft: 4”- 7” (Fully Rigged w/Two Anglers & Gear )

•

Recommended HP: 25-70

407.658.7933 www.eastcapeskiffs.com

12

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

HELL’S BAY

PROFESSIONAL 321.383.8223 www.hellsbayboatworks.com

SPECS •

Length: 17’ 8”

•

Beam: 70”

•

Weight: 550 lbs

•

Draft: 4.5” (with engine/fuel)

•

Recommended HP: 60 - 90

The Hell’s Bay Professional is a very versatile boat for fishing a wide variety of conditions. This skiff is the perfect blend of shallow water draft, dry comfortable ride and stability. The length to width ratio of the Professional allows for easy poling, responsive turning, and has the ability to handle a variety of water conditions. If stalking the shallow flats or fishing the backcountry is what you are after, then the Professional should be your skiff of choice.

GulfCoastMariner.com

13

SABINE SKIFFS VERSATILE

14

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

SPECS • • •

Length: 17’ 6” Beam: 78” Recommended HP: 30 - 50

281-380-7304 sales@ultralightboatworks.com www.sabineskiffs.com

When Brian S. Little designed his first aluminum poling skiff he had one main design feature he wanted to accomplish; NO hull slap.

Hull slap is created by waves hitting the boat at a less than desirable angle. The Versatile is designed and built to counteract the waves that cause fish spooking hull slap.

The Versatile is also designed to pole straight and allows the guide to spin the boat easily when needed. This shallow draft skiff, with a zero dead rise hull, offers a deck layout with storage for six 9’ 6” fly rods and walk-around gunnels you can actually walk around.

SHALLOW SPORT 15 CLASSIC

SPECS • • • •

Length: 15’ Beam: 86” Dry Weight 650 lbs Draft (rest): 6”

POWER • • • •

Draft (on plane): 3” Fuel Capacity: 20 Gal. Recommended HP: 90 Max Capacity: 3

956-233-9489 | www.shallowsportboats.com

YAMAHA F70LA F90LA EVINRUDE E75DSL E90DSL

GulfCoastMariner.com

15

Deep Or Shallow?

Finding trout and redfish when the water goes cold

By Capt. Joe Kent

T

here has always

been a rule of thumb for seasonal fishing.

You should fish deep in mid-summer and winter, and fish shallow in the fall and spring. While I certainly do not disagree with that, there have been some modifications to that rule for winter fishing around the Galveston Bay Complex.

Several decades ago,

Bay

“Slow sinking lures retrieved at a slow pace produce the fish.�

compared to other bays such as upper Galveston or East Bays. West Bay is well-known for its cold weather fishing and in fact, tends to turn off during the warmer months.

This small bay system that spans between the Galveston Causeway and San Luis Pass is one of the top spots to catch trophy trout during the winter and early spring. Reds also are plentiful that time of year and when looking at the average depth it is surprising

ate 45 Interst 61st

Tiki Island

Street

olate Choc

anglers could pretty much rely upon the scenario that if you want to catch fish during the winter, fish in deeper waters. One reason is that the winters were colder and more prolonged than they are today.

Still, fish tend to follow that pattern around the Galveston Bay Complex except in at least one area and that is West Galveston Bay. West Bay, as we call it, is a relatively shallow bay with few deep holes when

Moody Gardens 16

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

WINTER FISHING

WHAT TO DO?

By Capt. David C Dillman Spec-tacular Trout Adventures 409-632-0924

that it is so productive during the cold months.

Harry Landers, a retired and once popular fishing guide out of Jamaica Beach, told me that West Bay was a well-kept secret for winter fishing. He felt the same way about Chocolate Bay, a shallow bay system that adjoins Lower West Bay to the north.

Landers caught many trophy-sized trout during his hey-day and placed many happy guests into trout that would go to the taxidermist rather than the kitchen.

Landers knew West Bay and Chocolate Bay like the back of his hand and shared a few of his secrets, many of which are common knowledge among fishing guides today.

While Offatts Bayou and its famous Blue Hole caught the attention of anglers during the winter, Landers was out fishing the shallower waters of West Bay. Wade fishing, he felt, was the most productive way of fishing the shallow waters.

No doubt when freezes took place, Offatts was the place to fish. Once the water started warming, trout would venture out of the deep water looking for bait.

Mud bottoms during the afternoon tide, either incoming or outgoing, hold the warmest water

and attract the small finfish and crustaceans. In turn, predator fish such as specks and reds will be nearby looking for a winter’s meal.

Shell bottoms also are popular especially in deeper waters.

During periods of afternoon incoming tides, large sow trout can be found roaming the shorelines, especially grassy areas for bait.

Wade fishing is much preferred for trying to entice an older and wiser fish to bite, as boats make noise and noise easily spooks trout.

Another of the popular choices is narrow channels for reds. While West Bay has a limited number of those channels, offshoots from the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) are plentiful. Carancahua and Green’s Lakes, along with several man-made canals just north of the ICW, offer excellent action on reds during outgoing winter tides.

Winter fishing styles apply to all of the areas mentioned and probably the biggest of the techniques is a very slow retrieve of the lure. Slow sinking lures retrieved at a slow pace produce the fish.

While there will be some good fishing in deeper waters this winter, try shallow and go for the glory that is a trophy trout.

W

inter is finally here.

November of 2016 was very mild, with only a few cool mornings followed by record high temperatures. December arrived and in the first week we experienced record rainfall in some areas and our first real cold front. January and February are typically cold and wet months along the Upper Coast of Texas. This is a great time to enjoy some indoor activities or things that you might have neglected. Fishing still can be good, but you just have to pick the right days according to the weather.

“Fishing between the fronts will be the key to your success.”

January begins with the Houston Boat Show, held at Reliant Center Jan. 6 - 15, the show hosts the newest boats, motors and campers for the coming year. There are numerous vendor booths, with a large section dedicated to the sportsman/fisherman.

I will be at the Eagle Point Fishing Camp booth the first few days of the show. Stop by and we can visit about fishing, Galveston Bay, etc.

Yes, fishing can be good during this time of year.

Fishing between the fronts will be the key to your success.

The upper reaches of the bay system, namely Burnett, Scott and San Jacinto Bays, draw most of the attention this time of year. The bays offer shelter from the North winds and as

Windy Marshall with a cold weather trout.

long as the water stays salty, redfish and speckled trout can be caught. Sylvan Beach and Bayland Park offer the closest launches to reach these areas.

Other fishing grounds to consider are the NW/W shorelines of Galveston Bay. Sylvan Beach down to Eagle Point offers protection from a NW-W wind. The area is littered with structure like old pier pilings and numerous deep water shell reefs. The traditional winter time hotspot known as Galveston’s West Bay, will also see its fair share of action. Live bait supplies can be scarce this time of year.

While most people will be throwing artificial lures, bait fisherman can check with Eagle Point at 281 339-1131 for live shrimp.

Last but not least, these months are perfect to have your maintenance completed on your rods, reels, and tackle.

Also, schedule any service for your boat and motor now.

Don’t wait for spring to get them in the shop. I will be in Costa Rica the middle of January catching sailfish! My boat goes to the shop soon after my return.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday break!

Tight Lines to all!

GulfCoastMariner.com

17

Capt. Steve Soule with a 37-inch winter marsh red caught on a MirrOlure She Pup.

By Capt. Steve Soule www.theshallowist.com

W

inter weather has arrived on the upper texas coast and so comes the arrival of some very different fishing.

Colder air, colder water, reduced number of prey species and a different range of comfort zones dictate the location and feeding patterns

18

of redfish and trout during the cooler months.

Finding patterns that hold through winter will increase your fishing percentages, and of the long list of factors involved, I’ve consistently found a few that truly make a difference.

Winter Food Sources First and foremost, in finding predatory fish in cold water is understanding the primary food sources

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

that they feed upon. Most of the shrimp have either left the bays or will spend the majority of the winter buried in the mud. Crabs similarly disappear from the shallows, moving to deeper waters and also burying themselves in the mud. Many of the small species of bait fish will remain, though they won’t stay in water as shallow as they do in warmer months.

There are numerous species of marine worms and other

small creatures that remain in the bay, though we rarely see them other than when found inside the bellies of the fish we catch. So, the primary food sources for predatory fish are the remaining small baitfish, such as mullet, mud minnows and others that hang around the shallows.

Finding fish during winter is isn’t always easy, but understanding the food sources makes a huge difference. Mullet or other bait

fish species that frequently swim at or near the surface and jump, are easy targets and help anglers in locating fish. This isn’t uncommon during warming trends. When water temperatures are colder or trending down, baitfish tend to stay closer to the bay bottom and move towards deeper, warmer water, making them much more difficult to locate. Much like every other season, native guides and even seasonal natives can shed some light on the location of the food sources and of course, the predators are usually close by. What I mean by native guides is birds.

Winter Bird Signs The birds that are good indicators are much different during winter than summer or fall. The gulls and terns that were such great indicators of migrating shrimp over the past few months are typically not the birds to follow or watch for during the cooler months. My focus changes to some larger birds and some that only arrive after significant cooling. Both species of pelicans, brown and white, are voracious fish eaters and will often gang up when they locate large schools of mullet or other baitfish. And if you find large

“The extreme low tides of winter tend to concentrate fish into very specific areas.” concentrations of bait in winter, odds are good that you will find predators as well.

My favorite migratory bird to watch during winter is the Loon. This bird at a distance may look like the common cormorant, but when you get a little closer, its not hard to tell that they are much larger and have a large white patch on their chest. They also make a very distinct crying sound.

They are incredibly adept diving birds that can swim fast and stay under water for several minutes. Finding more than one in an area diving is a great indication of schools of baitfish and predators.

I’m always on alert for shore birds such as egrets, herons, and ibis, though you won’t typically see them along the banks feeding unless we have a good warming trend going.

Temperature and Tide Factors Most fish and marine animals spend their lives following just a few things; food, comfort and safety from predators. Temperature plays a huge role in the location and

movement of both bait and predatory fish during winter.

Temperature effects the food species and their movements, which in turn effects the movements of their predators.

Much like us, if it’s cold, they seek warmth, which is why they inhabit certain areas during cooler weather, yet their range can spread widely when water warms. A great basic rule to understand is that if water temperatures are falling, fish will tend to mover to deeper water and as water temperatures warm, they will return to shallows.

Adding to that, this is driven by air temperature which takes time to impact the water. If temperatures are relatively stable, or the changes in temperature are not dramatic, the fish won’t feel the need to move as much as they will during more notable changes in temperature. There is an added important note, and one that we can feel and use to our advantage. As the air temperatures increase above the water temperatures, shallow water will warm fastest. As soon as this process

begins, baitfish will begin to move to shallow, muddy and darker bottom areas.

Another important pattern to remember is that tides will still move fish, and can also adjust the temperature of the water in specific areas. If the air is notably warmer than the water, outgoing tides will carry warmer water out to deeper areas. In colder conditions, the opposite is often the case; incoming tides can wash more stable water temperatures into the shallows.

During the passage of winter fronts, especially those that have north or northwest winds, tides will fall sharply.

The extreme low tides of winter tend to concentrate fish into very specific areas. In the marshes, the fish will fall into deeper creeks and bayous. In open water, guts, channels and soft mud near the edges of shallows will be the places to look.

Once you’ve found the fish, keep in mind that they are primarily feeding on other small fish, so use lures that imitate mullet or other bait species. Note the temperatures and the direction they are trending, either up or down. Knowing this will help determine the speed of retrieves when fishing.

Like any other time when fishing, it may take some experimenting to determine exactly where the fish are and what type of presentation will work best. The good news is that once you find fish in the winter, they are typically concentrated in good numbers. Also noteworthy, if you find bigger fish, you often won’t find the smaller fish mixed in, and vice versa.

Braving the elements in winter is often rewarded with spectacular catches. Dress appropriately, take your safety and that of any passengers seriously. Dress in layers that can be removed or added as temperatures change, and get out and catch a few fish.

GulfCoastMariner.com

19

Alan

Woodyard Delivering exceptional sail care services and custom canvas products

Quantum Sails’ Loft Service Manager Alan Woodyard has sailed across the globe. Now he uses his expertise to provide solutions to his clients’ canvas and sail problems.

Where were you born and what are some of your best childhood memories?

I was born in Havre de Grace, Md. Some of my favorite memories are from spending time in Ocean City, as well as trips to visit family in Ohio and Illinois.

What are some of the duties that you perform in your current job?

As loft service manager and ambassador for new canvas fabrication, I provide evaluations, recommendations and maintenance for sails and canvas products. I help with sail removals, installations and onboard sail assessments as well as sail repairs. I also build custom canvas items from scratch, starting with the design phase through production and installation.

20

How long have you been working for Quantum Sails?

I started with Quantum Sails in Annapolis and worked there for two years before I began work at the Seabrook Loft, where I’ve been for eight months. In between stints with Quantum, I founded and operated my own canvas shop in Annapolis.

I loved working with Quantum, so it was an easy decision to join them when

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

the opportunity arose. I also am proud of the training I received through Hood Canvas Training School in Merrimac, MA. I’ve also been an active leader and participant in the local marine trade associations.

How did you get into the industry?

I got interested in sailing while in college and decided to take an Outward Bound

sailing course out of Hurricane Island in Maine.

After that I was hooked and eventually found my way to the Professional Mariner Training Program at the Chapman School of Seamanship, where I knew that I had found my passion.

I excelled and finished at the top of my class.

After seamanship school, I planned to look for a gig as a crew member on a sailboat,

S ERV IC ES IN C L U D E Multipoint Inspections

Sail Mildew Removal/Prevention

Sail Repairs

Same Day/Overnight Repair

Annual Sail/Canvas Maintenance

Precision Sail Recuts

281-474-4168 | www.quantumsails.com

Sail Removal & Installation

Sail Conversions

QUANTUM SAILS GULF COAST

Sail Pick-up & Drop-off

Sail/Hardware Upgrades

1606 First Street, Seabrook, TX 77586 Monday - Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sail and Canvas Washing

Canvas Repairs

How did you get into canvas specifically?

with my backup option being a move to Fort Lauderdale to search for a job on a super yacht. Fortunately, about a week before my move to Fort Lauderdale, I was contacted by a boat owner who had just lost a crew member and was looking for help in Nassau, Bahamas.

Three days after the first email I was on a plane to Nassau and stayed for the next five years as a crew member on sailing yachts ranging from 45 to 65 feet. I traveled as far east as Portugal and the Canary Islands, and as far west as Tahiti, with many stops in the Caribbean and elsewhere.

Sunbrella C are T I P S

At one point during my five years on cruising boats we had an enclosure built for a boat’s cockpit. After watching that type of work, I became convinced that I could do similar projects on the boat; things like hatch covers and dinghy chaps. We got a little Sailrite portable sewing machine on the boat and we never bought canvas again.

I made a variety of different items for the boat that I was on and was commissioned to make dinghy chaps for a couple of other boats while in remote harbors where canvas work is hard to come by.

When I returned to the States, I starting looking for a job in a sail and canvas loft.

Through a mutual friend, I was put in touch with the Quantum Sails loft in Annapolis and started doing exactly the type of work that I was hoping to do. After starting out in the loft, I further advanced my canvas fabrication skills by attending a program at Hood Marine Canvas Training in Merrimac, Mass.

What are some of the biggest changes that you have seen in the canvas business in the last 10 years?

It would easily be the introduction of laser

Hose fabric off on a monthly basis or anytime the boat is coming back from having been out in significant salt spray.

Use a mild soap and water solution over entirety, allow it to soak on the fabric for a few minutes.

Canvas Waterproofing

templaters to aid in the templating process. They standardize 3D measurement on the yacht, allowing one to build a 3D model of the finished product that aids construction back in the loft. This not only increases the quality of the finished product, but also can help cut down on some of the labor required.

There has also been a lot of development in UV resistant and stable materials, including thread, which helps me build better products. One item, Solarfix thread, is UV stable and will outlast your canvas, eliminating the need for re-stitches due to thread failure.

What are the most popular color choices of canvas on the market today and why are these products and colors so popular?

When does a typical day for you start, and what does it look like?

A lot depends on what “taking care of it” means! We tend to think of items in terms of seasons. With our area’s year-round sailing, we’re eating up two seasons of use per calendar year. Provided one builds their bimini out of premium products, including UV stable thread, I’d expect a bimini to last 12 seasons, or 6 years.

A lot depends upon use. If you’re not going to use your yacht for a few months, and removing the bimini doesn’t compromise the yacht, take it off and stow it below. You can dramatically extend the life of these items by shielding them from the sun when not in use.

We start around 8 a.m. here in the loft. I check the weather to see what outdoor work can be accomplished that day, including patterning for new canvas, and/or sail removals.

Then it’s back to the loft for new canvas builds, repairing sails, or maybe a precision recut on a sail for higher performance. Then I take time to communicate with all of our clients and answer any questions they may have.

Then I’m back on the floor until 5 p.m. to finish projects and help get our clients back on the water.

Spot scrub where necessary with a soft bristle brush.

Rinse thoroughly.

After approximately three years if Sunbrella begins to be less waterresistant the fabric can be treated with 303 Fabric Guard.

Captain and Pacific Blue are wildly popular, as is Cadet Grey. I think the grey is popular as it doesn’t fade as much and tends to hide some of the dirt/wear and tear. The blues are a good match for wood and are classic yachting colors that match with just about anything. Natural (white) tends to be avoided as it shows dirt relatively easily.

If you take care of your bimini, how long should it last in the sun-drenched Gulf Coast environment?

If you don’t have the time or inclination to DIY give us a call here at Quantum Sails in Seabrook, we can take care of it for you and have it back on the boat in time for your next day on the water!

GulfCoastMariner.com

21

22

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

GulfCoastMariner.com

23

24

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

GulfCoastMariner.com

25

Oyster Gardening Residents hang bags from their docks to spawn bi-valves.

By Janice Van Dyke Walden

G

ood things happen over wine, and in this case, it was oyster gardening. At a Wine Social last Spring, Bayou Vista resident Chris Roper suggested to her neighbors that they collectively cultivate oysters, right from their docks. It’s a program that Galveston Bay Foundation started in 2010, and has been doing with success in Kemah and San Leon.

Fourteen residents signed up to help, and in June, they gathered at the Roper’s driveway on Blue Heron Drive to create the 5-pound bags. In all, they assembled 25 bags. Again, wine was the

26

elixir. “We were bagging with oyster gardening in one hand and wine in the other,” says Chris.

With Galveston Bay’s oyster population at an all time low, beset every two years by silt, storms, low salinities or high salinities, Galveston Bay Foundation is enlisting communities to spawn their growth and shore up subsiding land.

Bayou Vista’s tightknit bay community is a perfect setting to try out the nursery program. At the intersection of I-45 and Hwy 6 near Galveston, it’s built around a series of residential canals fed by Highland Bayou. On the community’s southeast boundary lies a wetland fed

by West Bay. Residents hung bags from their docks both on the bayou-canal side and the wetland side to see where the oyster larvae, spat, would take hold starting in June.

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

S Six months later, on this last day of November, it’s time to collect the bags, check for spat, and move the bags to an oyster bar breakwater so they can mature. We’re at the Roper’s residence, it’s a brilliantly clear afternoon, and the folks from Galveston Bay Foundation are curious to see what’s inside two ice chests at the Roper’s front door. Hallie Carter, Galveston Bay Foundation’s Habitat Restoration Coordinator, and Michael Neibuhr, Program Technician, open the chests and remove the wet towels covering bags that neighbors have dropped off. One bag, hung in the canal, shows no spats; the other, hung in the wetland, is full of spats. Commenting on that neighbor’s results, Chris says, “We’ve had very little influx.

I’m not surprised that our water in the canal was not absolutely full of silt. It was dark brown. You couldn’t see anything.”

Unlike Chesapeake Bay, where oyster gardening has been going on for years,

it’s not legal to seed oysters here. In Texas, it has to happen naturally. So, if communities want to build oyster populations, they have to set their bags in optimum conditions. This first year at Bayou Vista is a telling example for future sites.

Jeannie Kidwell has just returned from Christmas shopping for her grandkids when she comes to her dock to help pull up her half-year effort. “I was a Foster Parent,” she says.

Haille and Michael open her bags and the others on the Roper’s dock, sorting the shells, looking for spats. “I’m amazed at what I see,” says Haille. She’s finding spat on every 10 oysters. Some shells are covered with three or more spat.

It will take two years for this spat to grow to the legal 3-inch-size oyster for harvesting. But these will never be harvested. Today they’re going into restricted waters off Galveston Bay Foundation’s 449-acre Sweetwater Preserve. There, the oysters will build a

breakwater for land quickly eroding at a rate of two feet each year. The waters at the edge of this Galveston Island preserve connect to Bayou Vista’s wetland nursery.

“When we transport spat, we have to keep them in the same sub-bay system,” says Haille. And, in this case, it’s West Bay. The evening is closing in when we arrive at the

Shells at the curing site will go into the 5-pound bags for the gardening program. They also make up the 35-pound bags that form this and other breakwaters. Since 2011, the program has collected 570 tons of shells.

As they set the bags in the reef, Haille talks about how the program will expand to Galveston Island in the next year. “We‘ll partner with

“Oyster gardening is easy for families to do with their kids.”

Sweetwater Preserve to deposit the bags. Near the water is a tall pile of oyster shells, a curing site for those collected from nearby restaurants. So far, six Bay Area restaurants participate in the shell-recycling program. They’ve been given 32-gallon collection bins that Galveston Bay Foundation retrieves and brings to the curing site on a weekly basis.

Michael led that effort for most of last year. “I’d visit Tookie’s the most, about three times a week,” he says.

Gaidos and Cajun Greek, and continue our partnership with Texas A&M-Galveston with students picking up shells at those recycling sites and taking them to the curing sites.”

Oyster gardening is easy for families to do with their kids, and it’s a good way for kids to connect to their eco-system. To get involved, contact: Emily Ford eford@galvbay.org www.galvbay.org/getinvolved/volunteer

GulfCoastMariner.com

27

Healthy New Year

By Betha Merit

A

few years back, I realized that new year’s resolutions were effective for me when adding something to my life, rather than taking away. So, instead of a plan to cut out cheeseburgers and chicken fried steak and doughnuts, let’s add veggies! And, let’s narrow it down to a group of veggies called brassica vegetables.

Brassica veggies are commonly referred to as cruciferous, so that puts us on the right trail. Broccoli, radishes, kale, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and many of the wonderful but unidentified veggies in your Chinese take-out are on this list. They are known for their disease-fighting substances and are low in calories, fat, and sodium. A good source of fiber, they contain a variety of essential vitamins and minerals, and there’s more.

They also contain phytochemicals, which occur naturally in plants and have a variety of health benefits for our bodies. One of the bestknown benefits in brassica is their apparent cancer-fighting properties. These vegetables contain sulfur-rich compounds knowns as glucosinolates,

Spicy Brassica Veggie Coconut Stir-fry Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • •

2 TBSP coconut oil 2 eggs, beaten (or substitute one chicken breast, cubed) 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced 3/4 cup chopped green onions 1 cup small slices or pieces of broccoli and cauliflower (or brassica vegetables of your choice) 1 medium bunch kale, ribs removed and leaves shredded 1/4 Tsp salt 3/4 cup large, unsweetened coconut flakes 2 cups cooked and chilled brown rice 1 TBSP soy sauce 2 TBSP Sriracha 1 lime, halved and fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions: Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon oil. Pour in the eggs and cook until lightly scrambled (or cook chicken pieces for about 3-5 minutes until no longer pink).

Transfer the eggs (or chicken) to a large empty bowl.

Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and cook the garlic, green onions and brassica vegetables until tender, stirring frequently. Add the kale and salt. Continue to cook until the kale is wilted and tender, stirring frequently, for about 2 minutes. Transfer the contents of the pan to your bowl of eggs (or chicken).

Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil to the pan. Pour in the coconut flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until the flakes are golden. Add the rice to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is hot, about 3 minutes.

Pour the contents of the bowl back into the pan. Add the soy sauce, sriracha and juice of 1/2 lime. Stir to combine.

Slice the remaining 1/2 lime into wedges, then divide the stir-fry into individual bowls. Garnish with wedges of lime and a sprinkling of torn cilantro leaves. Offer red pepper flakes and extra sriracha.

Roasted Parmesan Cauliflower

which explains their characteristic bitter taste and pungent smell. Studies have shown that consumption of brassicas could reduce the risk for multiple types of cancer.

Boiling these vegetables can reduce the compounds that give this healthy effect, but steaming, microwaving, and stir frying don’t appear to do so.

An internet search for brassica or cruciferous vegetables will delight you with colorful images and recipes to encourage you in your add-brassica-veggies new year’s resolution. The following list is a good start:

Brassica Vegetables • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Arugula Bok choy Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Chinese cabbage Collard greens Daikon radish Horseradish Kale Kohlrabi Land cress Mustard greens Radish Rutabaga Shepherd’s purse Turnip Watercress

Ingredients: • • • • • •

1 small head of fresh cauliflower (or any brassica veggie of your choice) 2 -3 TBSP olive oil 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese fresh baby arugula for garnish

Directions: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Cut the cauliflower into 1/4 inch thick slices, then cut those slices into smaller bites. Combine olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss cauliflower slices in the olive oil mixture to coat. Spread cauliflower in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven until browned, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally in order to brown evenly. Remove from oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Return to the oven to allow the Parmesan cheese to brown, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately with baby arugula surrounding the plate.

28

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

WHAT TO DO WITH WAHOO?

Two great recipes for this delicious winter fish

Debbie Conway, right, is no stranger to nice wahoo.

LEMON-BASIL WAHOO

By Debbie Conway | Bad Intentions Charters Ingredients:

• • • • •

One 1” thick wahoo steak 1/2 cup of olive oil 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice 10-15 cherry tomatoes cut in half 1 cup of chopped fresh basil

•

Fresh lemon, thinly sliced

Directions:

Jasen Gast with a monster 93-pound wahoo.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove four round fillets from steak and place in baking dish. Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, tomatoes and basil into a bowl and pour over the fish.

Salt and pepper to your taste. Lift them up to allow liquid to equalize onto bottom of dish and make sure fish is coated on both sides.

Place paper-thin slices of lemons over the entire surface of your dish for garnishment and bake in the oven at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes uncovered. Don’t over cook fish!

Remove lemon garnishment and serve fish over rice.

REHAB Wahoo Ceviche

By Jasen Gast | REHAB Fishing Team Ingredients:

• • • • • • • • • • • •

1 lb. fish fillets 6 juiced limes (or enough to cover the fillets) 1 cup fresh tomatoes (diced) 1 green pepper (chopped) 1 medium onion (minced) 2 jalapeño peppers (seeded and diced) 3 TBSP parsley 2 TBSP cilantro 1/2 tsp oregano 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 2 TBSP white vinegar

Directions:

Slice your fillets into smaller strips and soak in lime juice over night. Drain the juice out and add the mixed ingredients.

Chill and serve.

GulfCoastMariner.com

29

Update on the Fight for the Rights of Gulf Coast Oystermen

By Patty Kane

I

f you have been following the fight for the rights of the entire seafood industry, recreational fishermen, and private land owners in Texas, then you already know that for more then two years the private oyster lease holders of Texas have waged a court battle over whether the Chambers Liberty Counties Navigation District had the right to issue an exclusive lease to Sustainable Texas Oyster Resource Management, also known as STORM. The court has spoken and the answer is a very big NO to STORM! The oystermen have stood up and won the fight!

The representatives of STORM and owners of Jeri’s Seafood were not satisfied with the verdict against them and took the matter all the way to the Texas Supreme Court, which denied their request to review the Galveston County court ruling and ended their illegal lease for good.

Now the parties involved in the litigation against STORM have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit claiming

30

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

their Constitutional rights have been violated by a conspiracy of the ChambersLiberty Counties Navigation District board members to help one company, Jeri’s Seafood, take control of Galveston Bay. The lawsuit states that Chambers-Liberty Counties Navigation District knew the lease was an under the table type of agreement and failed to considered giving the lease to any party other than STORM, even though they were aware that the plaintiffs and other oystermen were competitors and had competing leases with the state.

The lawsuit also contends that the navigation district failed to seek approval for the lease with Texas Parks and Wildlife and proposed that it had the right to control the submerged land and the oysters and other aquatic life that lived on it. Other stipulations of the lawsuit involve violations of the right of due process as provided for in the 14th Amendment and damages due to the oystermen being unable to cultivate and harvest oysters from their leases.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Back In the Water

By Patty Kane

C

ontroversy is mounting between a Bostonbased company and residents and land owners in San Leon and Dickinson. The industrial waste company seems to be ignoring requests by these citizens to stop dumping arsenic, aluminum, lead and other metals in the waters of Dickinson Bayou.

The industrial waste company, ironically named, Clean Harbors, is the nation’s No. 1 hazardous waste treatment company. Despite a public hearing last January 25, 2016, where about 100 residents spoke about their concerns over the dumping, nothing has been done.

In May 2016, samplings were taken and results from a lab indicated elevated levels

of aluminum, lead and arsenic were found in a gully that flows into Dickinson Bayou.

The polluted water in question is uncomfortably close to Hillman’s Seafood and Fish House and just across the bayou from the drinking water supply for residents of Dickinson, San Leon, Kemah and Bacliff.

Pollutants such as aluminum have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, arsenic is known to be a carcinogen to humans and lead can cause brain and kidney damage.

The Halili family, owners of Prestige Oysters and other properties in San Leon and Dickinson, which could be effected by Clean Harbor’s dumping, are assisting with the fight to bring this matter to the public’s attention and keeping our water clean and healthy for everyone.

LYC youth teams sail in Miami

L

akewood Yacht Club

sent three C420 Teams with Coach Marek Valesek to their first C420 Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta in Miami over Christmas break.

The two-person teams of Alex Wise/Laurel Tyson, Grace Bates/Pilar Blanco Midulla and Paul/Celia Houston, as well as several other youth sailors, were in full learning mode during the holiday weekend, as accomplished sailor and Yale Assistant Sailing Coach Bill Healy afforded the racers his knowledge of C420 racing.

“We practiced in very breezy conditions,” said Healy, who

spent two days at Lakewood Yacht Club training the spirited young sailors.

“If the kids see similar conditions in Miami they will feel much more comfortable since Galveston Bay doesn’t usually offer those types of conditions,” Healy said as they prepared to leave for Florida. “The group as a whole is fairly fresh to the C420 class but no strangers to these large events. Look for them to post some great individual races and results.”

Visit www. lakewoodyachtclub.com to learn more about Lakewood Yacht Club’s youth sailing program.

GulfCoastMariner.com

31

[ B O A T S

32

F O R

SA L E ]

2015 Viking 66’ CNV

2008 Viking 54’ CNV

$4,350,000 Randy Bright 713-816-2165

$1,120,000 Randy Bright 713-816-2165

2007 Tiara 4200 Open

2011 Pursuit 315 Offshore

$415,000 Larry Smith 850-259-8989

$229,000 Larry Smith 850-259-8989

1990 Hatteras 74 Cockpit M/Y

2004 Viking 45 Open

$499,000 Cory W. Webster 281-636-2228

$399,000 Randy Bright 713-816-2165

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

[ B O A T S

F O R

S A L E ]

2002 Grand Banks 42 Classic

2013 Beneteau Oceanis 41

$345,000 All new batteries Dec. 2015, Westerbeke 12.5 KW Generator, Raymarine RC 530 plus Chart Plotter, Furuno RD-30 Radar, Twin Caterpillar Engines 832-561-3344 | Doug@SeaLakeYachtsllc.com

$244,000 Extremely Light Use, 4G Simrad Radar/ AIS added, All new AGM Batteries 2014, Electric fold down transom 832-561-3344 | Doug@SeaLakeYachtsllc.com

2014 Lagoon 400 S2 $ 499,900 This is the only previously loved owners version Lagoon 400 currently available in the US. Extremely Well equipped and upgraded by the current owners for cruising.

832-561-3344 | Doug@SeaLakeYachtsllc.com

2003 35’ Tiara 3500 Open $164,500 Recent upgrades make this the best value on the market today! The current owner did all the upgrades over the last year and a half 832-561-3344 | Doug@SeaLakeYachtsllc.com

2002 Sea Ray Sundancer 310 $72,000 You will not find a cleaner, better maintained and ready to go model anywhere.

832-561-3344 | Doug@SeaLakeYachtsllc.com

2016 Cruisers 35 Express $369,000 Kyle Butler 409-795-1838

GulfCoastMariner.com

33

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

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

Tue 1/17

Sun 1/1 02:48 AM

0.6 H

12:50 AM

0.2 H

02:44 PM

-0.6 L

04:25 PM

-0.3 L

Wed 1/18

Mon 1/2 02:45 AM

0.5 H

12:33 AM

0.2 H

03:20 PM

-0.6 L

07:31 AM

-0.1 L

10:53 AM

0.0 H

04:57 PM

-0.2 L

Tue 1/3 02:09 AM

0.4 H

03:56 PM

-0.4 L

Wed 1/4 01:27 AM

0.3 H

04:30 PM

-0.3 L

Thu 1/19 12:13 AM

0.1 H

07:44 AM

-0.2 L

11:48 PM

0.2 H

Fri 1/20 Thu 1/5

08:14 AM

-0.3 L

11:10 PM

0.2 H

12:55 AM

0.3 H

08:45 AM

-0.1 L

12:24 PM

0.0 H

Sat 1/21

04:55 PM

-0.1 L

08:48 AM

-0.5 L

09:46 PM

0.3 H

Fri 1/6 12:30 AM

0.3 H

Sun 1/22

08:29 AM

-0.3 L

09:26 AM

-0.6 L

09:07 PM

0.3 H

Sat 1/7 12:07 AM

0.3 H

Mon 1/23

08:56 AM

-0.5 L

10:07 AM

-0.6 L

11:44 PM

0.4 H

09:53 PM

0.4 H

Tue 1/24

Sun 1/8 09:34 AM

-0.7 L

10:48 AM

-0.7 L

11:16 PM

0.5 H

10:56 PM

0.4 H

Wed 1/25

Mon 1/9 10:19 AM

-0.9 L

11:00 PM

0.6 H

11:29 AM

-0.7 L

Wed 2/1 04:40 AM 08:13 AM 03:34 PM 10:46 PM

0.1 L 0.1 H -0.2 L 0.2 H

Wed 2/15 04:05 AM 10:00 AM 03:58 PM 09:56 PM

0.1 L 0.2 H 0.1 L 0.3 H

Thu 2/2 05:29 AM 11:28 AM 03:51 PM 10:21 PM

-0.1 L 0.1 H 0.0 L 0.2 H

Thu 2/16 04:52 AM 12:29 PM 04:21 PM 09:22 PM

0.0 L 0.3 H 0.2 L 0.3 H

Fri 2/3 06:20 AM 09:57 PM

-0.3 L 0.3 H

Fri 2/17 05:41 AM 08:26 PM

-0.1 L 0.4 H

Sat 2/4 07:13 AM 09:30 PM

-0.5 L 0.4 H

Sat 2/18 06:34 AM 07:19 PM

-0.2 L 0.5 H

Sun 2/5 08:09 AM 09:08 PM

-0.6 L 0.5 H

Sun 2/19 07:31 AM 07:34 PM

-0.3 L 0.5 H

Mon 2/6 09:06 AM 09:21 PM

-0.7 L 0.6 H

Mon 2/20 08:30 AM 08:13 PM

-0.3 L 0.6 H

Tue 2/7 10:04 AM 10:01 PM

-0.8 L 0.6 H

Tue 2/21 09:27 AM 09:00 PM

-0.4 L 0.6 H

Wed 2/8 11:00 AM 10:51 PM

-0.8 L 0.6 H

Wed 2/22 10:19 AM 09:50 PM

-0.4 L 0.7 H

Thu 2/9 11:53 AM 11:46 PM

-0.8 L 0.6 H

Thu 2/23 11:06 AM 10:43 PM

-0.4 L 0.7 H

Fri 2/10 12:42 PM

-0.7 L

Fri 2/24 11:49 AM

-0.4 L

Sat 2/11 03:10 AM 01:28 PM 11:09 PM

0.5 H -0.6 L 0.4 H

Sat 2/25 01:48 AM 12:28 PM

0.6 H -0.4 L

Sun 2/26 03:50 AM 01:06 PM 09:49 PM

0.6 H -0.3 L 0.5 H

Mon 2/27 12:52 AM 05:28 AM 01:43 PM 09:19 PM

0.5 L 0.6 H -0.1 L 0.4 H

Tue 2/28 01:39 AM 07:05 AM 02:20 PM 08:54 PM

0.3 L 0.5 H 0.0 L 0.4 H

Thu 1/26 Tue 1/10 11:07 AM

-1.0 L

11:41 PM

0.6 H

12:04 AM

0.5 H

12:08 PM

-0.8 L

Fri 1/27 Wed 1/11 11:56 AM

-1.0 L

01:06 AM

0.5 H

12:46 PM

-0.8 L

Sat 1/28

Thu 1/12 12:43 AM

0.6 H

01:58 AM

0.5 H

12:46 PM

-1.0 L

01:22 PM

-0.7 L

Sun 1/29

Fri 1/13 01:39 AM

0.6 H

02:46 AM

0.4 H

01:35 PM

-0.9 L

01:56 PM

-0.7 L

Mon 1/30

Sat 1/14 02:14 AM

0.5 H

03:42 AM

0.4 H

02:22 PM

-0.8 L

02:31 PM

-0.5 L

11:54 PM

0.3 H

Sun 1/15 01:44 AM

0.4 H

Tue 1/31

03:06 PM

-0.7 L

03:04 PM

-0.4 L

11:14 PM

0.2 H

Mon 1/16

34

01:10 AM

0.3 H

03:47 PM

-0.5 L

Sun 2/12 01:37 AM 04:53 AM 02:10 PM 10:53 PM Mon 2/13 02:29 AM 06:27 AM 02:49 PM 10:38 PM Tue 2/14 03:18 AM 08:06 AM 03:25 PM 10:20 PM

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2017

0.4 L 0.4 H -0.4 L 0.3 H

0.3 L 0.4 H -0.3 L 0.3 H

0.2 L 0.3 H -0.1 L 0.2 H

A message from the president of Saltwater-Recon.com

B

y utilizing the latest technology in live, high definition, interactive web cameras, Saltwater-Recon.com is becoming the “Know Before You Go” resource for millions of people. Whether boating, fishing, or observing real-time conditions, Saltwater-Recon. com’s array of coastal HD cameras, combined with expert boating, fishing and weather content will give visitors the information needed to plan a safe and successful day on the water.

In addition to aiding the public with their decisionmaking, Saltwater-Recon.com aims to provide government entities, such as NOAA, U.S. Coast Guard, N.W.S., U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, as well as local news, and maritime logistics companies the information they need to make timecritical, and potentially lifesaving, operational decisions.

It has been a long-time dream of ours to be able to look at the water from the comfort of our own home.

Not everyone has the luxury of living close enough to the bay to be able to pop over and check out the water before an outing. Well, we have made that dream a reality.

With the help of our site sponsors and the SaltwaterRecon Team, CTO, Broc Adams and CFO, Larry Perez, (both BOI’s), we are using industry-leading, HD cameras that pan, tilt, and zoom with the click of a mouse to provide our users with the highest quality video stream, and YOU control the cameras! Our site allows the user to point the camera and even adjust how close they want to get with 30X zoom capabilities.

We currently have cameras in three locations; Trinity Bay, the Galveston Causeway and San Luis Pass. We are

currently working on adding another three camera sites by the end of March 2017.

New camera locations will include a Galveston beach cam, Seabrook and two cams at Seawolf Park to give users expansive views of the Galveston Ship Channel!

Along with our HD, interactive webcams, we also have some amazing bay/ weather content including tide charts, access to weather/ water information from NOAA buoys, weather radar and wind speed maps.

We also have a full-time meteorologist on staff to bring our users the best, most upto-date conditions of greater Galveston Bay.

“We currently have cameras in three locations; Trinity Bay, the Galveston Causeway and San Luis Pass.”

We are also working on a very exciting new algorithm to bring bay conditions and weather forecasting into the 21st century. But that’s all we can say about that for now… please stay tuned to Saltwater-Recon.com and our Facebook page for updates on all the latest happenings and tournaments around the greater Galveston Bay complex through our EVENTS page, or check out the exclusive offers and coupons on our DEALS page.

We are excited for the opportunity to continually expand our network of cameras to bring real-time, reliable weather and bay conditions to anglers, boaters, and saltwater enthusiasts.

Sincerely, Urs E. Schmid, President/CEO

GulfCoastMariner.com

35