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Season Ready
By Fred Rodriguez
I find myself with so much to do, so many choices but I love it. Whitetail hunting is upon us, where did time go? It was just last February and I was already putting deer protein in the protein feeders. I am now entering my 8th year as the Deer Lease Manager at the Margo Ranch.
formula is the deer protein and I’m a firm believer in deer protein and this year we have elected to go year round on the protein. We have 1,000 acres of high fence with South Texas Genetics, another must of course is water ponds and a added bonus is RAIN!!! A big bonus are food plots and there are many to choose from, pick them out carefully. Another subject when it comes to deer season and I can’t say this enough, Sight in your rifle, sight in your rifle!! Enjoy your hunting season and always keep safety number one. Take your time when you are out on the ranch. Happy Hunting and take your family.. I Do! Gotta Have it! If you would like to book a hunt give me a call.. 956-776-4623 Gotta Have It! Fred Rodriguez
I am very proud to say we had a great helicopter survey in September and I saw some very nice bucks and lots of doe and fawns. The key to having a great lease, well it starts with your hunting members and for them to be on the same page as me. We need to choose the right buck to harvest, we want to make sure that it is the right age. Another thing to look at is to look for the bucks that might be inferior and we need to harvest those out. Just make sure you have aged it and looked at it very closely. The other thing that comes into the Volume 5, Issue 7. October 2018. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is a production Sportsman Media LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors or its publisher. Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy
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in the material published in this magazine. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors shall be held harmless and indemnified against any third - party claims. Advertisements appearing in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors present only the viewpoint of the advertisers
ON THE COVER An Inside Look San Isidro Ranch
STAFF Fred Rodriguez The Texas Sportsman fredrsportsman@yahoo. com (956)776-4623 Jose J. Martinez Sales jmtzx54@gmail.com (956)638-0036 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Fred Rodriguez Wanda Stewart Brian S pencer Capt. James Stewart Steve Hathcock Manuel Perez Nick Lapre Martha Reyna Brent Johnson Albino Mendoza
Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is printed in the U.S.A. All correspondence to the publication become the property of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors. To advertise in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors call (956)776-4623 or email fredrsportsman@yahoo.com
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Flounder Tips and Tactics By Brian Joseph Spencer
Its been a few months and the weather is starting to cool off a bit, at least not over one hundred degrees lately. For a bit of the summer and coming in to fall with the flounder a hair behind schedule in the Corpus Christi area. Lots of fish have been caught rod and reel out by different sets of jetties near the washouts and or on the sand side near the beach. Only problem is these fish have only been around twelve to fourteen inches and quite a bit of undersized. The good size flounder I have been catching are being found in little rivers and creeks that feed into the intracoastal and the gulf. My absolute favorite colors this last month have been lemon pepper and perfecto pink pollo Chickenboy lures rigged up with a 1/4 ounce Texas Rattler jig heads on my front hook with either a 1/16th on the back and try two colors to see what they are most interested in. I tie up a tandem rig which you can find on my you tube channel “Flounder Professor Outdoors Tv� under the how to catch flounder video. Gigging wise has been a bit of a headache with mother nature being so temperamental and the rain not wanting to stop along side high winds and lots of lightening has really dirtied up a bunch of my good gigging spots. WE finally after trying spot after spot and finding nothing but undersized fish we went a whole new direction and actually found limits of fish but they are only ranging from fourteen to seventeen inches which seems to be a bit behind for the run. Normally it is a bit cooler already and I am finding quite a few big girls but not this year. By my logical guesses we are about a month behind or so and will probably have the migration a month or so later. We will have a no gig November where only two fish are allowed by rod and reel until December 1st when it changes to two flounder by any means or method and then on December 15th the rules go back to 5 flounder by gig or rod and reel. Pay very close attention to those rules so that we can have flounder for our future generations it would be a very sad thing if our kids, kids, had no fish to go after. Just remember when you are fishing for flounder to wait about five to ten seconds when you feel that thump and let your line loose so he can get the bait into his mouth and then set the hook real good because they have a very tough mouth and you want to get the hook through that bony mouth. If you ever any questions feel free to 12- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCTOBER 2018
shoot me an email and ask, I am out to help others catch fish. Until next time, tight lines and sharp gigs.
Brian Joseph Spencer Flounder Professor Outdoors @ You Tube Flounder Professor Outdoors @ Facebook Flounder Professor @ IG & Twitter Sponsors: Frio Coolers, Legend Popping Corks, Nacho Daddys Spoons, ForEverlast, Chupacabra Rub, Chickenboy Lures, Texas Rattler Jigs, Redtail Republic, Stinkypants, Pure Fishing, Outcast Rods, Fin Addict Angler, Salt Thugz Apparelo, Kelley Wigglers, DeFishing Soap,Unfair Lures, Poer Pole
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October, The Golden Month By Marta Reyna
October is my favorite month of the year. By now, my first grade students have adapted to the new school year setting and have adjusted to new routines, peers, and environment. Personally, it also took me a couple of weeks to transition from being in the Middle East this summer to a highly packed structured schedule at my work. If you are an educator and an outdoors guru, you know that the first couple of weeks are rough! At least it was for me. Autumn arrived with a lot of rain, followed by humid days and clouds of mosquitoes. When it all cleared up, it was sunny and beautiful. Boaters lined up at the dock, eager to fish. I was one of them! It felt great to feel the salty breeze in my face and watch the sunrise illuminating the sky with an array of radiant colors. With so much boat traffic in the bay, redfish seemed to be easily spooked in this golden month, which made wade fishing the best way to approach these startled fish. Knee deep, murky water, with moderate sea weed, a golden weedless spoon was my choice of ammo. I clipped my wading belt and jumped in the water, and headed north, shuffling my feet as I casted and retrieved my gold spoon. Redfish were on fire! The spoon barely hit the water and redfish were catching them like footballs and running. That adrenaline rush of hearing the drag on my spinning reel, reluctant to give line to these powerful fish on my gold spoon, was priceless. To me, it is not just fishing, but a supreme sense of relaxation and incorporating exercising, doing my favorite activity. While I’d love to spend all my free time in the water, I also hunt. Dove season officially kicks off hunting season in Texas. Opening weekend is always a rainy one, and having a lot to juggle with at work, I wait for my favorite month of October to have time to venture. Dove hunting is way easier for me as far as preparation. Fortunately, a two hour commute (to the bay and home) is not required like it is when I fish. 18- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCTOBER 2018
All I need is my shotgun, and a walk in my backyard, away from the city. Camouflaged clothing is not a must but highly encouraged due to doves’ great eye sight. These amazing acrobatic birds will plunge and swarm in the air making it difficult to hit. I admit my shooting is below average. Trap and/or clay shooting helps warm up my shoulder, but truly, there is no real practice like the real world practice. Nonetheless, if you had a bad day of hunting or fishing, it is no big deal. It is about having fun and spending quality time with loved ones, enjoying nature. Earlier this month a proclamation was signed, in which recognizes October as National Hunting and Fishing Month. This was created to recognize the contributions that millions of sportsmen and women make towards the fish and wildlife conservation. October is our month. It is never too early or too late to introduce a youngster or a newcomer to the outdoors world. Making the best of October is vital, as it is also a low pressure month to what awaits, deer season. Good Luck! “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” –Albert Einstein
Celebrating our Heritage Building our Future As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this year, we are reminded of the importance of preservaing our community’s unique cultural heritage and passing on our traditions, stories, and our values, to our children, our grandchildren, and our children’s grandchildren. children, our grandchildren, and our children’s grandchildren. In January of this year, we hosted Pharr’s 2nd annual State of the City address to share the previous year’s accomplishments and our plans for the future. With the theme of “We Built this City,” our focus this year has been on building – roads, parks, facilities, communities, and a better quality of life for our Pharr families. At the same time, this year we celebrated the City of Pharr’s 109th birthday, and to mark the occasion, we
City of Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. The seeds we plant today sow the fruits of tomorrow. As leaders, the actions we take today will impact our future generations. As mayor of my hometown of Pharr, Texas, the legacy I hope to leave of my tenure is one of growth, progress, and sustainability. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this year, we are reminded of the importance of preserving our community’s unique cultural heritage and passing on our traditions, stories, and our values, to our
unveiled a time capsule that would memorialize the moment in time. Attendees at the State of the City wrote messages to be placed in the time capsule – messages from current Pharr residents to the future. We wanted to capture that particular moment to help our future generation of leaders and community members recognize and understand the historical context of our present (which will be their past). The time capsule, with its messages, mementos, and relics, would provide a snapshot of Pharr as we now know it. During Hispanic Heritage Month, we will bury the time capsule and its contents in a location in Pharr, to be opened in 50 years.
At that time, Pharr will look very different, and we look forward to our future leaders uncovering this buried treasure we will have left them. In commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month and to coincide with the time capsule burial, we will also unveil a new mural that captures Pharr’s history and present. The mural, created by painters Muris Aram Ramos Pinedo and Jose Arturo Ramos Pinedo, also captures Pharr’s closely-knit relationship with our sister to the south, Mexico. Pharr is bridging countries, uniting cultures, and celebrating our heritage, and together, we will leave this legacy for our future generations.
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San Isidro Ranch is located in McCook, Texas. It’s a beautiful 246 acre ranch with some monster bucks. You can enjoy some Trophy Whitetail Hunting. They also have some management buck hunts also. Bucks ranging from 139 to 280; Boone & Crockett. San Isidro ranch also provides First Class Accommodations where everybody can experience some of the best dinning and lodging experiences. San Isidro Ranch has been working hard for the past 5 years to provide a great hunting experience. This will be their first year that the 246 ranch will be open for the upcoming hunting season. The deer blinds are set and ready for action. San Isidro Ranch provides 3 blinds for rifles and they also have a couple of blinds for bow hunters. Each blind is stationed with it’s own feeder. They have a main house and a 3 room lodge where they can take care of up to 16 people. The lodge provides every room with it’s own bathroom. The San Isidro Ranch truly has everything and anything a hunter would need, including a swimming pool. In the main house you can watch TV while they provide you with high quality meals and where everybody gets treated like family. Alcoholic drinks are also provided at the San Isidro Ranch, it’s all included with the hunt. 24- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCTOBER 2018
Most blinds are set up for distances from 180 to 200 yards. A 50 yard range is also provided for the hunters to make sure you are good to go. Each hunter will be provided with there very own guide and they can also clean the animal for you as well. If you want to get that large buck mounted they can take care of that for you as well. San Isidro Ranch truly is a First Class experience. They want every hunters dream to come true. Their quality, services and their attention to detail will give every hunter an unforgettable experience located in McCook, Texas. Give Javier Garza, the owner of San Isidro Ranch a call and have a once in a lifetime experience. You will enjoy First Class Accommodations and some of the best Trophy Whitetail Hunting in South Texas.
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javiergarzafaz@mac.com 25 - TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCTOBER 2018
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Fishing Report from RodnReelGirl By Wanda Stewart Fishing has become my first love and sharing that passion has become my dream. More often than not a day on the water has been my saving grace, to me, it is as close as you can get to heaven with out actually dying! Beautiful blue skies and a soft morning breeze with a splash of activity on the water here and there skimming through the marsh, gets my adrenaline pumping. Throttle back tilt and drop the trolling motor I can just feel the suspense in the air, FALSE ALARM, it isn’t until I am getting ready to hit another spot after 15 minutes of anticipation, that my cork goes under and that sound I love so much, A screaming reel, I know a big bull red wants to play! How many times has one of my Charter Guides warned me not to horse him, they may as well have handed me a saddle! Fighting him for a short period of time I have him back at the boat, netting him a different story. Once done he is a tag and release after a few nice pics. Fishing hasn’t always gone so smooth for me and trying to find my niche in this industry has been more than tough. Shut downs from would be sponsors constantly being told I would never work in the fishing industry and being shunned by many. I knew all I needed was just a small bit of support even if those closet to me offered none, by now I was literally hooked on promoting our fishing industry, getting our kids out to fish, preserving our natural resources for future generations. But getting the guides to work with me was not an easy task, I needed their business in order to continue on my journey. Once they realized I could give them much needed visibility they slowly accepted me into their business world of chartering and opened up to me about what fishing meant to them. Then doors started to open for me and I worked harder, going to boat shows promoting products, staying visible at all times, then more and more women started to follow me to reach out to me and ask how they could get sponsors and product and how much they had come to loving the their time on the water. I am now an equal partner in a website that told me I would never wok in the fishing industry again and no charter guide would work 28- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCTOBER 2018
with me, it did not stop me from going forward, it did not stop me from following my passion and it shouldn’t stop you either. I have come through some troubled storms to be where I am today. There is an untapped market out there for women my age 55 to 65 and fishing products sales have gone up drastically! “I’ve noticed that [women] will enter into the activity only after they … commit to caring for the resource in the same way they do their families, friends, home, and work,” “They’re not going to overlook conservation education.” Last but not least encouraging other women my age to follow their passion, BELIEVE and ACHIEVE. It is never to late in life to pursue your passion and when no one else believes in you, don’t ever give up. After much hard work I have earned some credibility among my peers. I fish with and promote numerous charter guides in the state of Louisiana and several other states as well. People have come from all over the world to Fish Louisiana with Wanda Stewart. Fishing has traditionally been a boys’ club. But more women are challenging norms and carving out their own space at the fishing hole. This is why it’s a great thing. Only 35 percent of anglers are female. We need more women on the water. And there’s definitely a market. In response to women’s evident enthusiasm for angling, some big brands have hopped on board, recently releasing women’s-specific gear. This should be good for the bottom line, as according to the 2017 special report published by the Outdoor Industry Association and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, women are now the fastest-growing demographic in fishing. More women anglers will lead to more product sales, opportunities for guides, and diversity in the sport. Women’s increased involvement unites communities and invigorates conservation initiatives, ultimately leading to sustainability of angling and healthier ecosystems. Best of all, the result is a sport that is increasingly accessible to all. Fortunately, it’s happening now. Join me once a month as I share some fishing reports or stories about our great Sportsman’s Paradise, Right here in Louisiana! Feel free to email me with any questions or fishing stories you may have or want to share. Or go to www.rodnreel.com and post your own fishing reports.
Wanda Stewart Rodnreelgirlfishing@gmail.com www.rodnreel.com
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Short Leash, Short Fence By Brent Johnson
If I have any advice to give young couples planning to get married it would be this, don’t get married during deer season because I did. Not only is my anniversary the second week of November, my wife’s birthday the week after that, and Thanksgiving the week after that. My better half is a tough ol mare and breaking her was not easy. My old buddy Russell Lowery found out the ranch in Sweetwater was sold and he had one last year to hunt his grandfather’s spread. Being one of his ride or die friends naturally I was hunting it too. It was back in 2008 when the University of Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma were in a 3 way tie for a Big 12 Championship berth. Russell Lowery and I were riding in a pickup truck from Fredricksburg to Sweetwater Texas listening to the AM station carrying the Texas vs. Tech game. Both teams were undefeated at 8-0. He was rooting for Michael Crabtree and the Red Raiders, and I was pulling for Colt McCoy and the Longhorns. The game was back and forth the whole way as was the smack being talked in the pickup. Whoever had the ball last was likely to win. The Horns dropped an interception to end the game and Michael Crabtree made them pay on the following play and take the win. We fought like Republicans and Democrats, but man that truck ride was fun. It was 1200 acres of low fence in the middle of thousands of acres of farm and ranch country. Giant windmills were as far as the eye could see throughout the landscape, but had somehow missed Russell’s place. The land was beautiful with rolling hills of cotton fields mixed in with mesquite wildlife corridors. Back in August we set up feeders, blinds and made a camp on the highest mesa. The camp overlooked the ranch and was an awesome spot for a Saturday night party. One night I was scouting around and I came up on an old barbecue pit. Lucky for me it was really cold that night for when I opened up the pit the biggest bee hive honey comb I’ve ever seen loaded with big ol bumble bees was inside that pit and I’d a surely been sorry had I’d looked at this back in August. The bees were unable to move due to the cold so I calmly closed the lid after looking in awe for awhile. Mike and Matthew were the 2 other guys hunting with us that year. We had that ranch covered pretty good, but Russ and I had the first picks and both of us picked primo spots to place our blind. My blind could be seen from camp, and was separated by a large field of winter wheat. It skirted the edge of the Mesquite and Oak Mott and on the other side of that corridor was Russell where he overlooked a cotton field. Mike’s blind was on top of a hill with a draw below it and brush on either side. Mathew’s was near 30- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCTOBER 2018
the front of the ranch in a thick mesquite pasture. The place was super gamey. One day we drove up on a big rafter of turkey with half taking flight and half walking away. We saw bobcats, fat coyotes, a badger, quail, dove and rattle snakes which we saw at least one every trip. Saw lots of deer, but didn’t see any bucks until one cold morning third week into the season. I could hear the buck running through the brush to the side of me on his way to the feeder.
When he emerged from the bush I was delighted to see he had 10 points and a decent spread. He was still a young cull buck maybe 3 years old. It was awesome just watching him feed in the early morning sunlight. I decided I was going to pass as I might hold out for something better. Then the buck was through eating and he started walking down the path towards me. As he got closer he started figuring something was not right. He picked his head up to look, but couldn’t figure it out. Each time he would resume his walk, I would slowly move the gun into position as a sort of practice and to see if I could pull it off in the tripod open air blind. Finally on the third look he bolted. I followed him in the scope and said goodbye, but when he stopped at 160 yards I couldn’t help but squeeze a round off and drop him in his tracks. As the dust settled I saw him attempt to get up so I sent off another round this time hitting him in the spine behind the shoulder blade. It was like a cat and mouse reaction and the experience of that kill will always be one of my favorite hunting memories. Russell and Chase came over from their blinds to see what I had downed. Then they went back to hunting and Chase shot a doe. In the evening Russell heard a monster buck come up and make all kinds of commotion near his blind, but he couldn’t get a shot at it from the angle his deer blind was set up. Since we were hunting the next day we put the gutted deer up in a tall mesquite tree next to camp to keep it away from
the coyotes. That night we were awakened to a pack of lobos trying to get at our kills, but after a shot from a pistol in their direction they dispersed. The following week was Thanksgiving and though I wanted to go hunting my wife yanked on the leash so hard I had no choice but to stay home. Russell and Mike went out and Russell opted to hunt my stand. That morning a doe popped out of the brush with 2 monster bucks chasing. Russell had his choice between a monster 8 point, or a large basket 12 and he ended up taking the one that gave him the first opportunity. That ended up being the 8 point. The deer scored 139 1/8 B&C and its outside spread measured 26”. Old Mike came over to see what Russ had shot and when he rounded the tailgate of the truck he turned green with envy and couldn’t talk or walk straight. He didn’t hang around as he was quick to get back in his stand hoping lady luck would show twice. It was great to see Russell shoot such a nice deer on the place that had given him so many memories of hunts with his granddad and fitting since he would never have that opportunity on that ranch again. It was also good he won the wrestling match he and I got into as I would have felt guilty had I beatin’ him on his own turf, though it would have been good payback from the Longhorns loss to Michael Crabtree. As for my wife…well it’s like that saying “there ain’t
never been a horse that couldn’t be rode, and there ain’t never been a cowboy that couldn’t be throwed,” meaning sometimes she gets her way and sometimes I get mine. Take it from me though life is a whole lot easier if you wait to tie that knot in March through July. See you on the sendero my friends.
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Rio History
By Steve Hathcock Port Mansfield, or Redfish Landing, as it was once called was an isolated fishing camp located on the sandy shores of the Laguna Madre in the early 1930s. Newspaper reports from the time refer to giant redfish over 4 feet long and trout so numerous that a man could walk from his boat to the shore without getting his feet wet. I don’t know about the size of the fish, but it was possible at that time to wade across the shallow nine-milewide Laguna Madre to the mudflats situated along the western shores of Padre Island. A short jaunt over the dunes and one could find some of the best surf fishing in the world. In September of 1933 an unnamed hurricane hit near the mouth of the Rio Grande. The Island was inundated with a twenty-five foot tidal surge and the storm, which lasted for over thirty hours, dumped thirteen inches of rain over a wide part of South Texas. Eighteen people were killed and an estimated five-hundred were injured. Fifteen to twenty foot waves crashed ashore at Redfish Landing. Eleven people rode out the storm in several crudely built fishing shacks - only one person drowned. The road to the fishing camp was washed out and for a short while the camp was once again isolated from the outside world. In late 1933, the Civil Works Administration, or C.W.A., was established. In addition to building bridges, schools, hospitals, airports, parks and playgrounds, C.W.A. funds also went toward the repair and construction of highways and roads. Soon after, in 1934, Congress allocated $7,000 for construction of a new all-weather road to Redfish Landing. Redfish Bay remained fairly isolated during the war years, while the Army Air Corps used a good sized section of the Laguna Madre as a practice range by pilots training at the air gunnery school in Harlingen. About four miles south in the back bay, large round pilings were placed in the shape of an aircraft carrier with canvas stretched between the posts. The Air Force planes used these targets for their bombing and machine gun practice. For years when wade fishing near the targets, one had to beware of holes, up to ten feet deep, left by those exploding bombs. Hurricane Allen in 1980 finished filling in the holes and swept away what pilings were left, but that area is still called “the targets.”
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Versatile Gun Dogs By: Manuel Noel Perez Jr.
In today’s world, we live in a time of instant gratification and one size fits all. We have become a society of maximizing everything from our time at work to our time off. All these aspects of today’s society bring me to gun dogs, and the pursuit of a versatile breed to do it all. In today’s article, I will be touching on several of these breeds and my experience working and hunting behind several of these dogs. I will also talk about the level of difficulty in training these dogs for the field. When I mention versatile gun dogs, I am talking about a dog whose heritage is to hunt game, and not just birds. In the United States we recognize a versatile gun dog as one that retrieves in water and hunts dead game. However in Europe, the expectation of a versatile gun dog is a dog that hunts birds, rabbits, deer, and even trails blood. There are two associations dedicated to this in the U.S. and they are known as the National Versatile Hunting Dog Association and the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA). Let’s talk about breeds of versatile hunting dogs. I will mention the ones that I am aware of,however there may be others. They are: Brittany Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers,Vizslas, Wiemaraners, Drahthaars, Munsterlanders, Braque d’ Auvergne, Spinone, Griffon,Puddlepointers, and a few other breeds that NAVHDA recognizes. It is also important to recognize that all of the breeds have been developed in Europe. Versatile breeds must exhibit great scent ability, pointing, tracking, and retrieving (both on land and on water). They must also have a great disposition and desire to hunt independently, as well as please its handler. Let’s talk about the advantages of owning a versatile gun dog. The obvious is true, when you get a wellbred and well trained versatile dog, the finished 36- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCTOBER 2018
product is exceptional. I have worked with several dogs who were able to just do it all. However, this comes with great patience and lots of time training. Let’s face it, we are asking for a whole lot in one package. My experience has been that most of these dogs excel at one thing, and can be trained to do the others. While some of these drives come naturally, others require a lot of time and training to teach the dog which one of the disciplines is being asked of him/her. I always use a different command for each discipline, and perform lots of conflict training to ensure the dog is able to stay on task. This is extremely difficult and has proven to test both the dog and the trainer. It is however, my experience that each dog’s ability level is different. Additionally, their ability to be corrected from improper behavior while continuing to perform the desired task may differ. An example would be running your dog on a quail hunt and it encounters a fresh animal trail, or even more difficult a fresh blood trail. At this time, the dog would be expected to ignore the animal trail and continue searching for and hunting quail. The good news is that many of these well-bred dogs are bred for mental toughness, grit, athletic ability, and a strong desire to please. This is the perfect cocktail that allows the trainer to enhance the dog’s ability and have high expectations when turning on the pressure in a training environment. Overall, the message I want to relay is not to discourage anyone from a versatile breed of hunting dog, but rather prepare and educate the reader of what to expect. Expectations should coincide with a strong willed puppy and a difficult, lengthy, and timely training regimen. These dogs are bred to work and need a job or can become rather obnoxious and difficult. I recommend daily exercise and attention to these breeds of dogs as it allows them to maintain a positive demeanor and a high level of physical fitness. Looking forward to a great year in the field and lots of photos and success stories.
Manuel Noel Perez Jr. “Manny� has been an outdoor enthusiast for most of his life. He began training his own hunting dogs at the early age of nine. He has been guiding deer and quail hunts for over twenty years and has a wealth of dog knowledge in the field. When not on a hunt of his own, Manny would rather be found working behind a blood trailing dog, a water dog, or a well-trained pointer. -CEO of Coastal Concepts,
LLC Follow me on Facebook at Coastal Concepts, LLC and on Instagram @coastalconceptsllc
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So, YOU WANT TO BECOME A CAPTAIN By: Captain James Stewart
While the idea of chucking your day job to fish for a living may sound appealing, there are serious issues to consider before you make the leap. The best fishing guides are gregarious, outgoing and have a knack for dealing with all sorts of personalities. If you’re drawn to fishing by the promise of spending a peaceful day on the water, this may not be the career for you. How good are you at finding fish on a consistent basis? Since there’s no shortage of fishing guides in Texas; you’ll need to separate yourself from the pack. Even if you are a master angler, many of your clients won’t be. In addition to fishing skills, you need considerable patience and coaching skills. A freshwater fishing guide license from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is required to guide trips on inland lakes and rivers. An all-water fishing guide license is required for salt waters. There is a fee for such guide license. You cannot acquire one of these until you get your U.S.C.G. License. They kinda got you by the #%&@s. As I said, to be a saltwater guide, you must have a Coast Guard-approved captain’s license (a captain’s license isn’t required for freshwater). There are many types of captain’s licenses based on the size of the boat (or ship) and where you’ll be operating it among other things. But the basic license required for a saltwater fishing guide is the Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels or OUPV license. It allows you to host up to six clients on a vessel weighing less than 100 gross tons. Applicants must be at least 18 and have a minimum of 360 days’ experience on salt water. If anyone is under 18, a consent form from the parents would be required. The four portions of the exam cover rules, course plotting, general navigation procedures and safety. The only official Coast Guard Regional Examination Center in Texas is located in Houston. However, you can also get your license by taking Coast Guard-approved classes at a number of other locations. These other schools now can give the exams as well. No need going to Houston for testing anymore. Don’t forget; you don’t need to renew your TWIC card every 5 years. The biggest unknown in the guiding business is 42- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCTOBER 2018
Mother Nature. Bad weather often causes last-minute cancellations. Even a slight change in weather can alter fish behavior and send them into deeper or shallower water. Tropical storms and hurricanes along the coast can damage or destroy your boat or other equipment. Major weather events can also cause fishkills or decimate breeding habitat. Threats to an area’s fish population – from weather, pollution or overfishing – may cause state or federal agencies to severely restrict or ban fishing in affected areas. With that said, there are lots of other things you can do with a captains license. Many of my students go to Louisiana and work rigs, crewboats, supply boats to name a few. Some simply just stay here and pull banana boats, teach kite boarding, windsurfing. These are not required to obtain a Texas Parks and Wildlife license as you are not harvesting form the water. I took snorkelers out for several years using my license and didn’t need my guide license. There are lots of things to consider when getting a license, but help is just a phone call away. You can always call me and ask me anything that is troubling you about the process. Classes are every month on the first Saturday. 956-639-8697. As always, be safe and see you on the water.
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