tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14830364907270846172024-03-21T20:38:01.779-05:00Coastie CultureAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-59692017160028610982015-08-17T21:06:00.001-05:002015-08-18T12:39:38.710-05:00Roaming the Marsh<p dir="ltr">Fishing is much more than setting the hook. Although that's the goal, I enjoy many things that go along with the hunt. My favorite has to be searching for the redfish in marshy waters. Nothing quite beats the quietness of the morning and to hear a redfish busting bait just between a small strip of marsh and yourself. I quickly get to the other side just to realize it's more than one. As I paddle onward, lined up with the grass, every few minutes or so one darts out from beneath the darkness of the blades. Neither of us know exactly what to do, I watch in amazement. Sometimes, all for me to see is the cloudy trail of boils left behind. If I'm lucky, I'll get a glance of the painted blue tail. On a few rare occasions, I've had a few play bumper boats and unintentionally run into the hull of my plastic fish finder. Just last Saturday, I had this happen, and I was thrilled, scared, and upset that I had missed the opportunity for the time being. Yes, it scared the crap out of me momentarily. Frustration goes away quickly, as this is the game I play; a sense of joy overcomes me, and I'm thankful he chose to play bumper boats with me. Quickly, back into ninja-stealth mode, I head toward an opening that leads me to a stagnant canal followed up by a small maze of marsh. I don't get far into it when I spook another red; this was a brute. It darts passed me with a swift quickness. I turn around and see the torpedo-like wake at top speed in get-away mode. Once again, fishing-wise I had failed. But, for me, the feeling of failure <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">is brief. What I experienced, I can not explain in words, and the way it makes me feel is what will keep me fishing in the marsh for many years to come. I'm still learning the ins and outs of the marsh. Sometimes, I stay confined in a smaller area focusing on drains, openings, anything that I think may be suitable for a red. Other times, I'll allow myself to go deep into the marsh system and just go with the flow to get caught up in its magic. I was paddling down a canal which led to three separate canals. I chose the middle one, as most of this day, I witnessed bait jumping, small mud boils, signs of a flounder. Birds, crabs, etc, etc. Marsh life. Was not sure if this canal was a dead end or not, but I headed on my way. About halfway down I saw what looked like a wave. A wake, it seemed very big. I paddled closer and could see the backs of two reds which almost seemed locked together. They passed without noticing me and allowed me to follow. I tried to cast but couldn't land it where I wanted. I got pretty close as I followed them. They were working as a team feasting on tiny shrimp. I noticed a couple of the times that the shrimp jumped into the marsh trying to avoid being an afternoon lunch. This continued all the way to the end of the grass line. Then, I didn't see them. I was hoping they made the sharp turn and were going to do the exact same thing going down the opposite side of grass line. Nope, they were gone. Nonetheless, this was watching redfish doing what they do. Amazing, beautiful. A few more hours later, few more red sightings and my time had run out. This was a tournament day for me and yet I'm ok with not landing them. For now. I was to blessed with what the marsh had to offer me on this day. I'll be back, I'll try a few things differently and I'll do some things the same. Regardless of any future outcome, you will always finding me roaming the marsh. </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnToPBcVMbaUGgujN1tSr6WneakxX3v45D0NSOG_1eEAox-A9lB57e8w_jI_5lnN6enDvZLR6OJBMYvd_9iSfa6rOfVq6QoAE_zaYit72fKVLrdkB8s-gOtdQaXBgwOyAb5146AsDlvM/s1600/20150815_070119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnToPBcVMbaUGgujN1tSr6WneakxX3v45D0NSOG_1eEAox-A9lB57e8w_jI_5lnN6enDvZLR6OJBMYvd_9iSfa6rOfVq6QoAE_zaYit72fKVLrdkB8s-gOtdQaXBgwOyAb5146AsDlvM/s640/20150815_070119.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunrise with the Ride 135's<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-8NXymiRWZE_WdUYHTJKGp5VDm9kfB1VJdsj7kx4H2VjTqMiihlkhfc3G8FH9IHIWjThxOhjyyQDlUQ2fQg3oGosB7V0d9eirMiPBpvXsHnVKyCSz3w-w17iX4uQ9_GLjKFb9zg95gU/s1600/20150719_200249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-8NXymiRWZE_WdUYHTJKGp5VDm9kfB1VJdsj7kx4H2VjTqMiihlkhfc3G8FH9IHIWjThxOhjyyQDlUQ2fQg3oGosB7V0d9eirMiPBpvXsHnVKyCSz3w-w17iX4uQ9_GLjKFb9zg95gU/s640/20150719_200249.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gone mudding <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_LWU9f1DOSCMwXSnp-zMBpGA4l52d-8xRcx65lf8toohiOCs0zShyp5UXJ_rDDHfNYbNjzPoadhyN9IE3C6awsOtWpXx6llwanYbIJwnJAM3wVQFS-8HzFeI6QM5sZqeQvpQIrkxK7E/s1600/20150213_152202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_LWU9f1DOSCMwXSnp-zMBpGA4l52d-8xRcx65lf8toohiOCs0zShyp5UXJ_rDDHfNYbNjzPoadhyN9IE3C6awsOtWpXx6llwanYbIJwnJAM3wVQFS-8HzFeI6QM5sZqeQvpQIrkxK7E/s640/20150213_152202.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YUCEHn9-pPc/VdNrqum2lzI/AAAAAAAAITk/s1600/20150813_072839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YUCEHn9-pPc/VdNrqum2lzI/AAAAAAAAITk/s640/20150813_072839.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tarpon 140</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkee5rSrv5XmKUWy12RBeYYiJ6yEwz340P42AqLjuVQsvAc0OWWmJslx1nhnvMCe0l-Mg99cgvOxtYw78kiHvdNwbABrIpYmXJ9uSEuCX1dmQ-4eNpxzRDPIDGom1z3Nf3v-G-BNF_qkc/s1600/20150221_125748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkee5rSrv5XmKUWy12RBeYYiJ6yEwz340P42AqLjuVQsvAc0OWWmJslx1nhnvMCe0l-Mg99cgvOxtYw78kiHvdNwbABrIpYmXJ9uSEuCX1dmQ-4eNpxzRDPIDGom1z3Nf3v-G-BNF_qkc/s640/20150221_125748.jpg"></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-3764581431871044222015-06-29T19:52:00.001-05:002015-06-29T19:54:41.829-05:00Promote What You Love<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate.” - David A. Wolfe</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-71dfcdd0-41f1-1a7a-66ac-fc0b906af861" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With all of the dissension over rights lately, the one thing we all should feel compelled to do is to promote what we love. I’ve decided to do just that.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Earlier this year, a fellow teacher came to me expressing that her son is an avid angler. She explained that this 12-year-old would rush home each day from school in order to quickly exchange his book bag for his Shimano backpack filled with his fishing gear. He would then hop on his bicycle with his rod in his hand and ride over to one of the few ponds in his neighborhood to spend as many minutes with his line in the water before heading home to begin the nightly ritual of hours of homework--- only to repeat this process each week day. If her son was lucky enough to have been assigned minimal homework, he would talk his parents into helping him wheel his kayak into the water. On evenings when the weather didn’t permit fishing, he would stay home to watch “how-to” videos on YouTube to learn new methods for knot tying or walking-the-dog with topwaters. In class, during the day, he’d often find it difficult to concentrate on the task at hand--- sporadically distracted by the science of fishing. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="CJ Red.jpg" height="264px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TlENuB1HHyo0FeT3-MOwZ9icyMnJlKOhYaQh7lbOfFhrcMz-gz1XUe74nWlKf3A2FpBGaAOjWv_2QX1nOub7vj4SmKxufTFedp2qf6-ms_ed0w1tt6-GSYlFKsu0IXz7RlQH_G0" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="196px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His parents, I’ve observed, have been very supportive of his angling interests. There have been multiple trips to tackle stores for the best lures, line, and rods. He’s got an inflatable PFD and a kayak. Even Santa left him a GoPro under the tree last year! My fellow teacher explained that she just knows that this will likely be the career path he chooses. He will fish. And he will promote what he loves. Unfortunately, she continued to explain, “it is difficult to find tournaments for his age group, and there are almost no youth teams in this area for a 12-year-old.” As an English teacher, and someone relatively new to the fishing world, I simply suggested more research.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I must have been too swept up in whatever piece of classic literature I had to teach that week because, admittedly, I didn’t put much thought into what she was truly asking. I briskly told her that the next time we took the kayaks out, we would be more than happy to take him with us. I almost completely dismissed the fact that a parent was asking for help for a child who needed support.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luckily, for this kid, his parents do NOT give up. This fellow teacher of mine continued vetting me for a few months. In April, she decided that I was the one who was going to be able to help her find a way to fill a need for the students in our school who were born and raised on the water, the ones who are desperately looking for a place in which to fit… a place to do what they love now- instead of having to wait to hone their angling skills. She had done her research and introduced me to the Student Angler Federation and its program to support kids earning their way to college through competitive fishing. She concluded by pointedly asking, “Well?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Andrew sheepshead.jpg" height="321px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ZNesJYK1DeZft9W_k3C1jYZ3CJn8EuOV9ZhIGw1ZAgbl2sijXTu3snwfHflcOgQDscdi7YPWOKR8vtWQ2VolJKeDVUZbbyConv3dLdDd1z0zsgyLz_5xG9RyurSHqmHZ6b9RvhU" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="246px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well- my response was, “Let’s do this. How can we not? See a need, fill a need.” I am so thankful for her drive and inspiration, as helping to build this team has been an amazingly positive experience for me. And we are just getting started.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I guess neither of us realized the tsunami-sized response that would occur within days of putting up five 8 ½ by 11 inch “posters”. We had 47 students submit paperwork to sign-up. We had close to 70 students and parents attend the first informational meeting. Not only did we underestimate how many students would be interested; we grossly overestimated how many parents would have boats to captain during the tournaments. Add to that how many lures, rods, and PFDs we DON’T have. (Now, I don’t teach math for a reason, so I will let you run all of these numbers. I’m sure you’ll swiftly find out that we need some serious help.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Ovi bass.jpg" height="260px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/3W3-vFu-L_wVzcv2F12JENkYk3fwe5_8IKDUQJoXmMorhl9i7E-oAkKm6RFUoMciZ8UNnX_eIAp2BXEe5WpHrUGGipgnjTq8-wyS_E5vokWUg8z74EFAY1gqclqWJT3YykWzcJE" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="183px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are very grateful for the community support we have received thus far. Wade Bullard, at Hook Spit, in League City stepped up to create a tournament circuit (Hook Spit Junior Anglers Association) that will boast three freshwater tournaments and three saltwater tournaments for the 2015-2016 school year. Jenai Marek, host of the YouTube show “Momma Shark & the Hook-Up”, is sponsoring a summer challenge for the kids that has proven to educate and motivate our student anglers and angling parents. The summer challenge even attracted the attention of The Galveston Daily Newspaper, as the kids were featured in Saturday’s sports section. Calypso Trading Company is donating to the team $2 for every Sun Series shirt purchased from their website through the month of July. A big thank you to Mike at Down South Lures for his support. Furthermore, there was a box of Fish Grips sitting on my porch last Thursday that was sent and donated by this amazing company. And my ever-so-supportive husband, Tony Keill, will be donating his time, as an ACA certified instructor, to teach them kayak safety and proper paddling techniques.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="daily news.jpg" height="258px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Dl9YkcunQMeDcrVyXiJ3EGCOpTaAf6mkqP5cRy9u2HEJn_7iU452ZYG85cf9CSfPlM9ylPdvrJnSgPqbTbusGk4Yt_0t2vpCW3HZlrLcQVgXu2GAOTmK6nmL0ABtl0kStkljqSc" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="316px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of The Daily News</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This post isn’t meant to brag about personal or team accomplishments since we haven’t truly accomplished anything at this point. Conversely, it is a call to action. It is meant to give kayak anglers and readers like you a chance to promote what you love. 88% of our kids expressed a strong interest in kayak angling, yet the amount of kayak tournaments for student anglers is almost non-existent. Even when we do find a few in our area, we still have to round up kayaks, paddles, and a way to haul all of that gear with our current budget of $0. (Again--- you do the math.)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you, at all, are interested in helping to share the passion of kayak fishing with these kids, promote what you love by emailing me at </span><a href="mailto:ckeill@ccisd.net" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ckeill@ccisd.net</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with any ideas that you have about how we can build a strong foundation for the next angling generation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="image_20150608064133.jpg" height="253px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gv6U2trIIp5CzM_7_BZ5Bif4q5zcciZ-_4-N0mgg4OBDja0DS8FjXPhvSjwUO_hl3zGhw-PCjDFgd84L4E_YMdXhWFhYiT0mQlUzE5Vf0oxFguLLa6ea0i--xMPGtQu1ey8VeZc" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="189px;" /></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-90512905025192562902015-06-02T18:39:00.001-05:002015-06-02T19:05:07.234-05:00Galveston Area Kayak Anglers Find a Home at LSKS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX_mqZp4tD8w7KJYxb0tGrjmLvM3wGAZlRka7Yg5hDbztgDBkpbCQcS-DVAiRKvajuCbaEjUOCtGx3XkmmTCK_fB4CdKDPp4xggNktE7Is8krAkC-p9rKVmuw0JhFRwGHbx8Iqjhm10w/s1600/hs+lonestar+kayak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX_mqZp4tD8w7KJYxb0tGrjmLvM3wGAZlRka7Yg5hDbztgDBkpbCQcS-DVAiRKvajuCbaEjUOCtGx3XkmmTCK_fB4CdKDPp4xggNktE7Is8krAkC-p9rKVmuw0JhFRwGHbx8Iqjhm10w/s640/hs+lonestar+kayak.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the fall of 2011, Dustin Koreba had a dream to create a home specific to competitive kayak anglers in the Galveston area. With every creative dreamer, comes the need for an organized, "Git 'er Done" follow through. Lucky for Dustin--- he just happened to be married to Wendy, and she handles the finite details like a BOSS!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">See a need; fill a need. That's exactly what these two have been doing. After fishing in tournaments over the years, Dustin realized that boat-powered tournaments with kayak divisions only on the side were not going to cut it any longer. The sport of kayak angling was growing at a quick rate. The Korebas understood that the Galveston area needed a tournament dedicated solely to these competitive paddlers and peddlers. A different need for a different breed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">And so it was that they birthed a new Koreba baby with the Lone Star Kayak Series. The late nights sacrificed, the specialists consulted, the learning curve implemented, the new supplies needed ---- the website was up and running by December of 2011. The first event (ready or not) launched with 61 anglers on April 21, 2012. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">It takes a village to raise a child, and so it goes with angling tournaments as well. Clint and Cameron Barghi stepped up to man the scales while Sonny Mills mastered the hell out of that web. In today's mentality of "pics or it didn't happen", Jeff Herman showed up with his cameras to record the history of grips and grins while this baby grew at an alarming rate. From 61 anglers in 2012 to 176 anglers at the April 2015 event, LSKS has recently outgrown its birthplace at Louis Bait Camp and will now be relocating to the Lazy Lizard Cantina in Sunny San Leon, TX this Saturday (June 6, 2015). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dustin and Wendy attribute the outstanding evolution of this grass roots tournament not only to amazingly generous sponsors and volunteers like Russell Bradley, Roy Perry, Mark Miller, and the Bairds, but mostly to the anglers themselves. Never before have they witnessed a tournament where the "anglers have advertised more than the tournament. The word of mouth and social media activity with the anglers have really had an impact on the growth of the series." The Korebas didn't falter at the overwhelming response and quickly acquired a second scale, a new CPU, additional weigh bags, a bigger awning, and are even running side-by-sides to taxi incoming anglers. LSKS is not only a place for those who compete; it's an experience that encourages sponsors to come and foster the symbiotic, interdependent relationship between industry and kayak anglers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I created this series for the kayak angler. If y'all keep coming, we will keep hosting," exclaims Koreba. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don't worry, Dustin. The Korebas built it, and we will come. Coastie Culture will be there- Crystal, volunteering at the check-in table and Tony, on his Wilderness Ride 135, looking for them redfish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">On behalf of all Galveston Area kayak anglers, thank you for building us a home at the Lone Star Kayak Series. An even bigger thanks on behalf of angling conservationists for your efforts to keep those gorgeous reds alive and breeding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">*<i>For more information on upcoming events, visit the </i></span><a href="http://lonestarkayakseries.com/%C2%A0" target="_blank">LSKS home page</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-37503667482998682012015-05-26T23:25:00.002-05:002015-05-26T23:29:24.075-05:00PFDiva lives to yak another day<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"Well there's floodin' down in Texas</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>All of the telephone lines are down</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>And I've been tryin' to call my baby</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Lord and I can't get a single sound."</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> -S.R.V.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>*Trigger warning for anyone who has lost somebody to drowning.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tony has been telling me that I put way too many statistics in my blogs, and most people tune out because of that. For this entry, I’ve decided to put away my research and just go for it:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">People are drowning. At Sea. In Lakes. In Rivers. In Texas Floods. Lots of people. In record numbers this year. And almost all of those people could have avoided their deaths by wearing a life vest of some sort. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a kayak angler, there isn’t a single part of my brain that understands this blatant disregard for life. I’ve seen anglers attach rod floats to their custom rods while explaining that, “that sucker cost me $300. I don’t want to lose that fine piece of work.” I’ve seen anglers buy floating keychains, floating fish grips, floating measuring boards, floating sunglasses. These kayakers will buy paddle leashes, zip-ties, action cam mounts, floating stringers, bungees, etc.---- all in the name of protecting their precious cargo. But God for-freaking-bid they protect the most precious cargo in that boat… their own lives. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are plenty of excuses, and I have an answer to all of them:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>PFDs are uncomfortable</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Yeah, well, so is a jock strap and a cup--- but I’m sure you don’t mind protecting those jewels.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>PFDs are expensive</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Yeah, well, so are funerals.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>PFDs are bulky and make me look fa</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t. Yeah, well, birth control makes you look fat, but I promise you look more fat when you’re pregnant. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>PFDs are constricting</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Yeah, well, I bet you won’t be able to move around much after you’ve drowned either.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I can’t find a PFD that I like</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Yeah, well, I bet your family won’t find a casket for you that they like.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you think I’m being too harsh, I don’t care anymore. I most certainly am judging you if you aren’t wearing a PFD while you are on the water. You might think - “well, I’m familiar with this area of water.” No. No, you are not. Unless you’re freaking Jacques Cousteau’s genius mentor/ submarine guide to the entire oceanic floor, then you are NOT familiar with that water. That water is an unpredictable beast. She is a doting wife one second and an angry mistress the next. If you think you can clock her movements, with observable science, you need mental help. If you think that you aren’t hurting anyone else, you are dead wrong. That sea will swallow you whole and look for her next snack while your family and government employees lose weeks of sleep and suffer irreversible trauma because of your negligence.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve got those excuses too. I still haven’t found my go-to life vest because this PFDiva needs:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">an appropriate length. I’m 5 ft. 10 inches. Not all chicks are 5 ft. 2 inches. It would be awesome if it didn’t look like I was wearing a toddler life jacket every time I sat down in the yak. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a cost that isn’t higher than my wedding ring. Seriously--- if it costs that much, my husband might feel that my priorities were a little sketchy (Who am I kidding- we all know he’d be proud).</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cute colors and a fitted shape because I am not trying to be one of the guys. I’m a woman- and that PFD better be damn awesome if it’s gonna be covering up my Rowdy Maui shirt. Maybe some girls want to wear RealTree Camo print, but I’m just fine NOT shooting a deer from my yak. Plus, I'd really like to NOT be "invisible" to nearby boaters. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">room for actual boobs to actually exist while breathing at the same time (not the kind that are paid for and just stay in one place, not the tiny runway model kind--- the kind that fed two kids and shift around during movement). Also- I have hips. Please account for that extra space, so my vest doesn’t ride up and give me double chins during my grip and grins.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While I'm at it--- Can I get an "AMEN" for top-loading pockets? Who in the hell decided that women's PFDs needed no pockets? Who in the hell thought side-loading pockets were convenient on a life jacket? I mean- I'm girly, but I damn sure don't take my purse out on the yak with me, C'mon y'all. For Real-----> top loading pockets, please. </span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And a convenient place to clip my pink Smith and Wesson knife.</span></li>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What it all boils down to is that this buttercup is gonna suck it up. I just flat out don’t care anymore about any of those excuses. I have them all too, but there isn’t a single part of me that thinks I will look cute getting sucked into the vortex that is Charybdis, grasping for my life or stuck under the root of a huge tree in the Trinity River while Equisearch and my family scour a grid on a map looking for my dead and bloated bass-eaten body.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This PFDiva will continue to sport a cheap Stearns life-jacket from Walmart until my design demands are met, but you (without a doubt) won’t catch me in the yak without it because forgetting your PFD is just like forgetting you left your baby in the backseat of the car during an August heatwave. Both actions can destroy the most precious cargo.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-12964388745497161032015-04-27T18:21:00.004-05:002015-06-08T14:19:16.154-05:00Let the Games Begin<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="launch.jpg" height="289px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jR21i---0Ahqi4LFO_AcX8CM64rC39Wp6zTbgzzlEQH7u66Y7QMx0ssAARGxT1lWIPME9L4P01AIceN1_GYRchzBgnXFrHml52EUr9lecFnI7AmplZTzZumhIRDKE5M9XOPaaJw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="289px;" /></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-11b9f924-fd27-7c17-2db1-d77ce08bd953" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There comes a point in your angling career when you must decide whether you will go the tournament route. This is a decision that I’ve been considering for about a year, and I can’t escape the question: Are tournaments for me? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For some people, competition is a natural course. For others, it seems that competition brings out an ugly side to something that is otherwise a peaceful outlet. When you enter a tournament, your otherwise private skunk becomes embarrassingly public within moments after the weigh-in begins. Instead of just a slow day on the water, you begin to wonder if all those who have supported or sponsored you will doubt their faith in you.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fact of the matter is- if you want to be a pro, you have to prove that you are a pro in a public forum. No longer does it matter if you are your mom’s favorite angler. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had been signed up for my first Lone Star Kayak Series Tournament for several months. The first event out of four was to be on April 18th. I was more than anxious on several levels. Before the 18th came around, I got the opportunity to fish in a local benefit tournament for </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LanceLinthicumBenefit/info?tab=page_info" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lance Linthicum</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> . I was excited to be able to compete for a good cause, and this was also a great way to pre-fish for the LSKS. I had my </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/collections/hook-1-gear/products/hook-1-jerseys" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hook 1 </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">jersey ready for the winner’s stand and my new </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/products/t-bone-bed-extender" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T-bone bed extender</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was going to get my </span><a href="http://www.wildernesssystems.com/kayaks/ride/ride-135" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wildy Ride 135</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> there in good condition.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="hook1_jersey_front_grande.jpg" height="258px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/jIT1nC-hM8zwORAiO4OS5k9W7pU-4Sk3-SlDDFNYH-jClSGGYBaubyH5lt99jXmfnO-nKvhpIpJqckNcjM9oy_mSHNhiF1K7iGVOyNvmpPTnG-LsqyI_--N9parAyGtFxKVXpfA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="282px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="t-bone.jpg" height="281px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pnE6U6g3-pWtWxiQ90xTimmEXkznMLfvkX8f9evAyucsdg2NpVbVQG11dkIfrgJ4wVF36tmayFVkDzM1jvsGUwOQtCkxpUW_R33Jm7_I8U951u4iaRavOwlTxrkUX2YM-k_Dq8g" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="403px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It took me until about 10 pm the night before to rig up my </span><a href="http://www.hookspit.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HookSpit Performance Rods</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and finally decide on a spot to fish. I wanted to be close to the weigh-in located in <a href="http://educatingamphitrite.blogspot.com/2015/03/something-about-sunny-san-leon-texas.htm" target="_blank">Sunny San Leon</a>, but at the last minute, I decided to fish a familiar spot in Galveston. Since this tourney allowed bait or artificial, I decided to use both. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="hook spit.jpg" height="294px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ozkLg79gGUAqVQkeG9Di4VerWQOlp-Fja9hQNFoADoHZioCAFjW9MLQ13_ul0fjDToxrPNVUjkYFShCie8Wg0gvC7EP1Jo-nvHF9p8YequCpABHijKOgvb9vfkyQhJSPG2P3coA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="294px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="prep.jpg" height="405px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/yprr0hXk7Om0ZbDEjLHBqtelQslj9JD38Qm82pnhx_QJV4rnF5FQlXDKUq83rLPnkCblhNPdMT-_Xh9HdBoSloCdMq3dS09YBZNAx8pfP2fVAtyt1hJdbHwb2-KCxdCXSeQIdj0" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="405px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This proved to be a fun mistake on my part. I know live shrimp can be a great choice, but I usually go with dead shrimp if I'm using bait. I was confident I'd catch some reds on it. Instead of a beautiful red, I ended up catching the following (on dead shrimp):</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Two stingrays</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- a 22" gafftop</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- several hardhead catfish</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- one small black drum,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- a whiting</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- a couple of croakers</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I knew I had back-tracked into a pattern of fishing I had started out with years ago and although I don't discourage it because it can be fun for some, it’s just not my style anymore. Too many unwanted fish caught and precious minutes with my line out of the water while releasing them. Running out of time, I found a familiar deeper channel in the marsh and started throwing a popping cork with a Vudu shrimp. A few minutes later, I felt that hit and knew I had a redfish. 17" was not going to cut it, but I was relieved it was not a stingray. My buddy, Jose, joined me in my spot and he, too, quickly got a smaller redfish. He was smarter and using live shrimp. Sadly our time was running out, and we both ended up with an empty stringer. Later on in the day, I found out that only four kayakers had signed up and out of the four of us- only one caught some tourney-grade fish. One keeper redfish, flounder, or trout would have put me in second place. I'm sure I won’t get that opportunity again. This is likely something that will haunt me for quite a while, as my </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/collections/hook-1-gear/products/hook-1-jerseys" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hook 1 </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">jersey will have to wait for another day in the sun.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="redfish.jpg" height="222px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aQmoTlwAU_L0Rz8MSRgHHKCZmYu7D2sCKGQvuZTt-t5c9Kpblwev3i_HCVwduBqiJI0Qh4lRK3sDMW72kjEJxRF8laaHtyiJn_FFC75B8aayu0wOK-GmlpCWOCWLFyGugbXLDnc" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="433px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The weigh-in was a blast as this tournament had a boat division as well, and I loved watching the fish being brought in, especially when so many were released to fight another day. Most importantly, they raised quite a bit of money to help Lance and his family out. I met lots of new people and saw some friendly, familiar faces. I'll be back, better and with no dead shrimp. Add in that I missed a couple of flounder and had a nice trout get off at the boat somewhere.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After getting a few high-fives and hand shakes from the wonderful </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pierpressuregirls" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pier Pressure Girls</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and Mike Bishop (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner - he and his lady are cool as a fan) in my first-ever tournament, it was good to learn that most people in the angling world are still supportive and understanding when a day on the water doesn’t turn out as expected. It was also important to learn that the only expectations I have to live up to are the ones I set for myself. No bad days on the water... only lessons learned.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="winner.jpg" height="624px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4VZXmhT4Mf8I1hEiLIgxrHHQMEvP-ZT_gvfMf5du6QIhDuI1n_okjdxSMacS7IHb4c00OwPbaabmwfGEWxUZ-g9yOAT1MK0v_9v0M8oGh5rR97GB1vS8syVD79cpipQzCWa0LJo" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-10044470758187336882015-04-04T16:31:00.000-05:002015-04-04T18:04:41.501-05:00Coastie Culture on a Mission<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKsiAPlsSMepnpbtxyv8zZAS8Mm6qmlwBVC4GFsTyvh2pbXSi-71quUD8VNh0tTIidD8XG69HZAz-25N9-glWW_1bgf05nNu0fGGxCQECjlQ5pQBCeD-Jt4BDiAmxXr7SBFgiTgIRK7A/s1600/coastiecultureLOGO.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKsiAPlsSMepnpbtxyv8zZAS8Mm6qmlwBVC4GFsTyvh2pbXSi-71quUD8VNh0tTIidD8XG69HZAz-25N9-glWW_1bgf05nNu0fGGxCQECjlQ5pQBCeD-Jt4BDiAmxXr7SBFgiTgIRK7A/s1600/coastiecultureLOGO.png" height="240" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“In one way or another, every landform and creature on Earth</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> reflects the presence of the oceans.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Understanding the Earth’s oceans is essential to our understanding of human history,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the origin of life, weather and climate, medicines, the health of the environment,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> energy sources, and much more.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">T</span><a href="http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/osb/miscellaneous/coastal_hazards.pdf" style="color: #1155cc; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;">he National Academies</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-da58b7a3-8645-f3b6-da9a-4e82a68400d0" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lately, we’ve been handing out Coastie Culture business cards left and right to any and every person we meet who seems remotely interested in water, kayaking, or angling- carefully explaining that our business will officially launch “soon”. The one question that immediately follows is, “what kind of business is this?” The answer to that question is something we have tossed around for a while now, and we have finally been able to nail that down.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over a year ago, we sat looking at our one and only kayak and decided that it shouldn’t just be a toy in our garage. We made the choice to shift our career-driven lives into a Coastie Culture. Since then, we’ve added three more yaks to the fleet and spent hundreds of hours on the water (with and without fish).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnXnyh7nN0zJfANbX2DeChYWcdv8hcPeiwmgYLAF3Nc5ApuGhCEPDZrBTWgn6q3DnLw_uk9p8UHAq5YrdFyAnzFhsOkgFGoTRuAANl0gJqXdmrrUf95PPcM0llQUwwu1-h3gFduQH_A8/s1600/Screenshot_2015-04-03-20-58-03_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnXnyh7nN0zJfANbX2DeChYWcdv8hcPeiwmgYLAF3Nc5ApuGhCEPDZrBTWgn6q3DnLw_uk9p8UHAq5YrdFyAnzFhsOkgFGoTRuAANl0gJqXdmrrUf95PPcM0llQUwwu1-h3gFduQH_A8/s1600/Screenshot_2015-04-03-20-58-03_1.jpg" height="189" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crystal and Tony (husband and wife)- Owners of Coastie Culture</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After building our social media presence, collecting some wonderful sponsors, and meeting so many amazing people, we sat at that same garage table while staring at our yaks and, thanks to some advice from Brooke and Robert Dunning (our friends over at </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ALLGOODAUTO" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Allgood Auto</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), decided on a mission for Coastie Culture.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mission</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Coastie Culture is the connection between man (or woman) and water. It is the idea that we are a reflection of the coastline. It is simply getting outside to explore the merging of land and water. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coastie Culture</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">self-improvement</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">exploration</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">conservation</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">experience</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">safety</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Self- Improvement</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Getting outside for a mere 5 minutes a day has been scientifically proven to ease depression, improve your outlook and focus, as well as strengthen your immune system. According to the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the closer you live to nature, the healthier you're likely to be. Even more so when you live closer to the water. Science shows that just being in nature can improve your brain function. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coastie Culture focuses on kayaking as a means of spending time outside--- because of this, there are added physical health benefits. Just one hour of kayaking burns about 350 calories! It improves strength by providing a full-body workout when implementing proper paddling techniques. Kayaking decreases fat and builds lean muscle muscle mass. Men’s Journal has even dubbed kayaking as one of the best workouts for heart health (</span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/01/kayaking-health-living-well_n_5626998.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Huffington Post</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exploration</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coastie Culture yaks in three counties: Galveston, Brazoria, and Harris. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aside from there being over 1 million different species in the ocean, about ⅔ of the ocean’s species remain undiscovered and according to the </span><a href="http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/about/facts.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">EPA</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “The Gulf of Mexico yields more finfish, shrimp, and shellfish annually than the south and mid-Atlantic, Chesapeake, and New England areas combined.” There are mysteries in our waters calling to curious minds. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">History tells us that the pirate, Jean LaFitte, had a big hand in establishing Galveston--- that, alone, is enough to pique interest, but I will also add that Galveston is said to be one of the most haunted cities in the United States. You can tour all of these points of interest by foot or car--- but why not take the yak to explore this island filled with Victorian-era architecture. There is something alluring about a city that has survived the worst natural disaster in U.S. History.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of the most gorgeous species of </span><a href="https://www.galveston.com/birding/birdingchecklist.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">birds</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> roost in Galveston County, but Brazoria County is home to more species of birds than any other county in the country. You haven’t lived until you have been on the water less than 20 yards from a Roseate Spoonbill (Spoonie)- the feeling is indescribable.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnppBCB12K5WXPo88ZDs1UY8V0o5yUTsMt7mW3y8A1SS21AiJ6A4njabMSWjrvW8qcG50lf20sP6o0FxLb4rT69V5FTCEGou3TGP_ri1hMAgc8RECzbywYc_4kIizczceY3g7GgBxxmw/s1600/spoonbill-0001C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnppBCB12K5WXPo88ZDs1UY8V0o5yUTsMt7mW3y8A1SS21AiJ6A4njabMSWjrvW8qcG50lf20sP6o0FxLb4rT69V5FTCEGou3TGP_ri1hMAgc8RECzbywYc_4kIizczceY3g7GgBxxmw/s1600/spoonbill-0001C.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roseate Spoonbill <br /> (www.ownbyphotography.com)</td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Gulf beaches are often considered some of the best shelling beaches in North America- boasting more than 400 species of shells.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you need more of an adrenaline rush, all three counties house multiple freshwater and brackish bayous that are great for alligator spotting although we try not to get too close on account of the desire to keep all of our limbs. Most of the Coasties down here like to leave the gators to the experts in Louisiana, but you’ll often find us spending a day in the saltwater in search of the </span><a href="http://texasweekendangler.com/south_texas_slam.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">South Texas Slam</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - you’ve got to earn your angling accolades by snagging a redfish, a flounder, and a speckled trout all in the same day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDfJhj2tCtBXabqm8-ArW7tYtn8y40YpDQCqw8GZ8nYRl5aHrGJYk89qzmWM_qUVlnAMLC0IoWHgeV5-hAD0CtMk-qKVzFpGqCamqurJKmyTUJpwIwLy0XCzuTBK2MaYWbgSOFaXixQ8/s1600/Texas+Slam+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDfJhj2tCtBXabqm8-ArW7tYtn8y40YpDQCqw8GZ8nYRl5aHrGJYk89qzmWM_qUVlnAMLC0IoWHgeV5-hAD0CtMk-qKVzFpGqCamqurJKmyTUJpwIwLy0XCzuTBK2MaYWbgSOFaXixQ8/s1600/Texas+Slam+sm.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conservation</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coastie Culture is a big advocate of conservation efforts. While fishing, we practice catch and release a majority of the time. There is nothing wrong with taking an excellent meal home for your family from time-to-time; however- we are on the water a few times a week, and it’d just be flat-out irresponsible and wasteful for us to keep every fish we caught. For future anglers and marine biologists, we want to leave some of those big boys out there to fight another day. It’s just our way of showing gratitude to the fish for providing us with a good day on the water. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A standing rule at Coastie Culture is to ALWAYS leave the coast looking better than when you got there. Thanks to the Russ at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CoastalCountryCleanup?fref=ts" target="_blank">Coastal Country Cleanup</a> for leaving free mesh-bags at surrounding bait and tackle shops, so we are all able to keep one with us on the yak to hold our trash. We also like to try to fill our bags with whatever else we see discarded on our coastline since we love where we live and want others to love it too. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlrSwD5Apeh_Fc4GGIhVa8jE63O1hWC3-nOBqN-l2iFmH-2X3jm1J8EyF8CMwS_AFlr2RuXfND43qj0SohrAfoZE67ra86UV5EPKvxVhFL99mibzf8IVqxogqrjQumn-I74N5iY48xZg/s1600/coastal+country+clean+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlrSwD5Apeh_Fc4GGIhVa8jE63O1hWC3-nOBqN-l2iFmH-2X3jm1J8EyF8CMwS_AFlr2RuXfND43qj0SohrAfoZE67ra86UV5EPKvxVhFL99mibzf8IVqxogqrjQumn-I74N5iY48xZg/s1600/coastal+country+clean+up.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coastal Country Cleanup</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seaweed- sometimes there’s seaweed collected on the coastline down here in Galveston. It doesn’t always smell too pretty, but we are grateful for the fact that it is helping to cut down on the erosion of our beaches - which is extremely important considering that the Gulf of Mexico has the nation’s highest erosion rates ( </span><a href="http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/osb/miscellaneous/coastal_hazards.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">up to 6 feet a year</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ifZK1iIjcMwVqHTv40e0GAra-DcnjxFPduZ48j7iCQ7JEHlDDfHeYDUU4akbts9LZwfld-iSj8SaN0ifAuDxMMEX4BK2-IUkeXrReYscWA1iO_8vyAqlPXt94CVvuwDVpNLrc_ryQcs/s1600/Screenshot+(34).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ifZK1iIjcMwVqHTv40e0GAra-DcnjxFPduZ48j7iCQ7JEHlDDfHeYDUU4akbts9LZwfld-iSj8SaN0ifAuDxMMEX4BK2-IUkeXrReYscWA1iO_8vyAqlPXt94CVvuwDVpNLrc_ryQcs/s1600/Screenshot+(34).png" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yak right over that seaweed.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Experience</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The more a person experiences on the coast, the more likely they are to grow to love it just as much as we do. Coastie Culture is about having fun and creating memories with friends and family. We want you to experience the health benefits of being outside. We want you to experience the self-confidence that comes from challenging yourself physically. We want you to experience the thrills of exploration. We want you to experience the feeling of appreciation and admiration for the environment. We want to feed your coastal curiosity and inspire all sorts of future anglers, yakkers, nature enthusiasts, and scientists. There is no better way to do that than to provide a fantastic and safe experience out on the water.</span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Safety</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Self-Improvement, Exploration, Conservation, and Experience </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">weigh next to nothing when scaled against Safety. At Coastie Culture we are well-aware that our bays, marshes, and bayous can pose some </span><a href="http://qajaqrolls.com/2011/06/analysis-of-2010-uscg-kayak-incident.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hazards</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for even the most experienced kayakers. That’s why we have partnered up with the </span><a href="http://www.americancanoe.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">American Canoe Association</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The ACA is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to expanding proper paddlesport education. Coastie Culture is owned by an ACA Certified Kayak Instructor (Tony) who can instruct you on proper paddling techniques or safety and rescue procedures. We also offer Intro to Kayaking courses. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82yXDNB6Q-n8-BxKvtlWzJPtB_fJeONRoT-ARzkJip2zcxH8UdpHF6FtFHNKBSkkwpoAyYD4XlzJr5OGMvTQ3bUnx0gVkmKCdOrLdjHq_nDGOzffcC5rPak5BgPGcMck8Xw2ig_WWrDQ/s1600/tony+kayak+fish+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82yXDNB6Q-n8-BxKvtlWzJPtB_fJeONRoT-ARzkJip2zcxH8UdpHF6FtFHNKBSkkwpoAyYD4XlzJr5OGMvTQ3bUnx0gVkmKCdOrLdjHq_nDGOzffcC5rPak5BgPGcMck8Xw2ig_WWrDQ/s1600/tony+kayak+fish+2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ACA Certified Kayak Instructor, Tony </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Remember to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"Cast the Coast"</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> safely.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlrnuAkHxoC4fLD1vydZZ2Qdr0SjIHM2a0i2bQX6PgL2wZbLQ1_XCRecZUkWQxebAQf1R-FGBc550pVeVC6sRjbwmh1-Nkco4lKnffVWs3YS0M7tWtr1xfwzrb2j68xopWRSkFjuJjJw/s1600/ACA_Logo_blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlrnuAkHxoC4fLD1vydZZ2Qdr0SjIHM2a0i2bQX6PgL2wZbLQ1_XCRecZUkWQxebAQf1R-FGBc550pVeVC6sRjbwmh1-Nkco4lKnffVWs3YS0M7tWtr1xfwzrb2j68xopWRSkFjuJjJw/s1600/ACA_Logo_blue.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are planning to launch our ACA courses and various Coastie Culture kayaking experiences this summer, as soon as we can finalize all of the legalities (ie: insurance, staff training, and other logistical red-tape). Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Blogger to stay updated.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Until then, we’d like to thank our families, friends, and everyone in this industry who has supported and encouraged our dream for Coastie Culture---- go check them out:</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.hookspit.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hook Spit Performance Rods</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hook 1 Kayak Fishing Gear</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.mommashark.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Momma Shark and the Hook-Up</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.rowdymaui.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rowdy Maui</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.orangedogoutfitters.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Orange Dog Outfitters</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.wildernesssystems.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wilderness Kayak Systems</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://pier-pressure-girls.myshopify.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pier Pressure Girls</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AllgoodAutoDenton?fref=ts" style="text-decoration: none;">AllGood Auto</a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56000003814697; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TerrisTShirtQuilts?fref=ts" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Terri's T-Shirt Quilts</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-83006764515369466262015-03-22T10:17:00.000-05:002015-03-22T10:17:02.802-05:00To Simplify, or Not to Simplify? A Yak Question.<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've been kayaking sporadically since I earned my first beads for a wet exit at Kamp Kanakuk in 7th grade. But, in January, we snagged a good deal on a 2014 Wilderness Ride 135, and that's when things got serious. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="IMG_9728.PNG" height="314px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/sRI3_yzrYiGMzahPK0_LVQbPUUZXYImSRFM9Njvh53aXxpVibHbYvWn3i_627Jv_3y_fv67_q39YiWBufpGvEgLbf3Syom5TUxYFLipmQYEye0L-TTKTJHMeAGDk2qqjnxVeFd0" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="309px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in my Ride 135</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tony drove all the way to Lafayette, Louisiana to pick up my baby and to add a Tarpon 140 to our fleet. I don't call them our "babies" lightly. When you've got four yaks carefully stowed in your garage and two vehicles parked in the driveway exposed to the elements, it's a huge statement about your priorities. Judge us if you want. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="IMG_9733.PNG" height="288px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/6PLCE8it-xiiBBSwOnENPgPZsYVsolkEuFGqjgJuU3GTlF4MMxW3G6naXt65wmpfnUWeAlsXzjicbB3GWpaJgdvT-B6P-wvaIMZSXjAZ4JMsyV3UqGE08Pqe9bgaktPc7DgGt3Y" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="287px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new babies from Louisiana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 108pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The amazing thing about kayaks is that they provide a sort of simplicity to the angling sport. Here are a few examples of what I mean:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1) Boats are freaking expensive! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cost of maintaining a boat is out of the question for most people. I believe that we'd have to take out a second mortgage on the house to pay for said boat. We'd spend all of our extra cash paying for gas just to take the boat out. Then you've got to worry about insurance and maintenance on top of that. My dad (a boat owner) often reminds me that there are two most exciting days for a boat owner: the day you buy your boat and the day you get rid of it. At this point, we've had zero finance fees, zero fuel costs, and zero maintenance issues with any of our four yaks. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2) Kayaks are extremely portable</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unlike boats, no special trailers are necessary when you are ready to drop everything and get out on the water. I've even witnessed my 100 lb. friend whip out her tandem yak and scoot it right on top of her Pontiac Grand Am, and strap it to her roof with ease. We were loaded up and on the water within minutes. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="IMG_9732.PNG" height="250px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/A0eF6VMTq3rE0IZePkcmGS5AkJyqVGEsfhBky1_6RJ1InbhUK4MXoYa6eA2HZ_U3kkmksDoR1hNlrj5iEZ41UgxVI6tM4mK4IuFDcXwcBm91hoXrd5eN565HEucaI01SU1y9nb4" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="247px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easily loaded and ready to go</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3) Yaks provide an added health benefit</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can tell you from experience that with proper paddling techniques, you will get a full body workout from a day on the yak. It's not just an upper body thing. Your core is constantly working to keep you balanced and aiding in a stronger and more efficient paddle while your legs are helping to brace your position and boost your speed. I don't remember having a single sore muscle on the days I was out on the boat. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4) Yaks are Eco-friendly. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That's right. No environmentally-damaging emissions given off from these babies. No worries about fuel spills in our bays that will harm the aquatic life. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5) Yaks provide the ability to navigate areas that you can't get to by boat or foot.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Man, oh man- have we been able to creep into some confined spaces with these babies. I've seen some things in an up-close and personal way that I never would have been able to experience from a boat simply because boats are much bigger. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="IMG_9729.PNG" height="206px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/k7oTblh-8fM8tJF2Jb02u2Kksw-iA_q9qa_Oao1-Q1QcIhY5KXHLrS9Vz_pmK3Lz7IQLwQC0d9lpdzym3B_8rEgM9fDWQH0SNr02IbE2sJidXJuWP1JtBU7fFGORSfun8VxZ7PQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="206px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can your boat go here?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="IMG_9730.PNG" height="200px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/InYJbbyfL6cIaOcCfhSOfHhLdSRclXGLy7MUphPq32NpgBq5ALBk1eV4uwNTorKd-XHW7yTiTDrxWasZzZjO-aQKc5RD5G0cLGoZUUOlmIhcQNeP9u9o4BJsZMNuZdV3sHTcXp0" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="193px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">or here?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="IMG_9735.PNG" height="208px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-trwwXlYZj1wkMjhlCeEP5eGAVnFBla-29pwj0gWStkQYikQ5M_Ki40CYIX2UYc60zh0do3NxT1ElCSoTzIiKhKipafzfyH1HREDkGUWFqn6CakJBrWXK54pbB9887YC1eFNBy4" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="200px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what about here?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_9736.PNG" height="206px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TPAbHrPpZd55X17RGSNTkmJN2PdkqGNs65odKuTRotHNzOMX5dETVUDs5vnabcPMDJAVrJuHBc1swSEsaLgUJV1lw_O9Jfp4BAy-yAp5sFDNUdx-ShMP-xz0ycaHYeivO6xtqpk" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="621px;" /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All that being said--- there are plenty of yak options that will enable you to bring out your inner-techie. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1) Maybe you don't want a full-body workout or have physical limitations. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some people choose to get a yak with system that allows them to propel the craft by foot. Others even add-on a trolling motor. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2) ELECTRONICS!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a world where we are always "plugged-in", it's quite a change to get out on a yak with no electronics. If that bothers you, most yaks are built with that in mind. You can easily have a </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/collections/fish-finders-radios-gps" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fish finder</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> installed or purchase </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/collections/mounts-and-mounting" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mounting systems</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for your action camera and smart phone. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="IMG_9734.PNG" height="306px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Jc5INZpePCzAurd9omhCbX5-if9Z5VuDq5Fe9aCQdZXW3uceFMJffdCp4vhUfkx9xfFSZnaF7Eh9HS663wsH8DjmoB1yqZEjVVYSmT1hjIBytDW-bJn_DfZNiZ6j0ACeFXJ_ElQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="306px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony- battling a red fish and his go-pro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3) Gear Storage</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Holy options, Batman! I can't even begin to list the numerous choices you've got for storing your gear on a yak. </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/search?q=rod+holders&type=product" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rod holders</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/products/yakattack-blackpak-with-lid-and-3-rod-holders-black" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Black Paks</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> , and </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/collections/mounts-and-mounting/track-system-hardware-used-with-wilderness-slide-trax-system" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trax systems</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Oh My! We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. I'll be the first to admit that juggling a paddle and a rod at the same time would even frustrate Ghandi.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4) Seats</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a day on the water, it's normal to get what I call "bleacher butt". This is a condition categorized by numbness and discomfort even in the most naturally padded hind-ends. This is one of the many reasons we are loyal to Wilderness Systems. They've got the best yak seats on the market. Most of their yaks come standard with a low riding seat that will easily slide forward or backward for proper positioning. You can adjust the straps for better back support which aides in the paddling process. Or--- you can upgrade to their high-seat if you want to get a better view for sight-casting. If that's not enough for you, their new </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_bm0EaXOgk" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ATAK</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> yak has what I call the "Autobot" seat option. It's actually called the AirPro Max 3D seat. This bad boy can do everything. In true Transformer- fashion, this sucker can fold all the way down when not in use, it can slide forward or backward across the length of almost the entire deck, it can lift and lower, or it can be adjusted into a standing perch for sight-casting and bleacher-butt avoidance. (Yes, please!)</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="air pro max.jpg" height="212px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/iUGf3KEzolgVYPaz1X4CBiabz5A6vMko2A9ugutGuGuUj9uLUO5HrIwWTLkB8Wu85cpQ-KRsD2bpf4ppyjuqIZNxf6fuFtfdujwCWsX55Auue6XcpNjEr6ABgjZpK0CtxVKXiio" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="238px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Wildernesssystems.com)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="airpro 3d.jpg" height="169px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/LfBKKVfU44PE8Gv7NXC6FIiIgB-HPOXmld6reHZRMxs1HUU8jQMyYoHSfMHJlfVZTo54Kp3jIAaecQxqf3Pn47id5Jv8TcVM0UOqu_uns9jnsQl1ysH699ph8mx6YiUTKxDdt4w" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="298px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Wildernesssystems.com)</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5) Colors</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the kayaking world, it's always an added safety benefit to have a yak that is bright in color, so you become more visible to boaters on the water. Although, many hunters opt for something more neutral in order to camouflage the yak from their prey. If you're looking for a good deal, you take whatever color you can get then pimp out the yak with colored </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/collections/mounts-and-mounting/track-system-hardware-used-with-wilderness-slide-trax-system" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trax systems</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/collections/outfitting-and-rigging/bungee" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bungee</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> , or </span><a href="http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/search?q=conseal+kits&type=product" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ConSeal Kits</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It all boils down to the person in the yak. While the simplicity of yak fishing is certainly alluring, there are many add-ons that offer convenience and ease. Gear does matter. I started fishing with a Shakespeare rod and reel combo and it sort-of got the job done. After I upgraded to a </span><a href="http://www.hookspit.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hook Spit</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Hot Stix rod with an Okuma Trio spinning reel, I quickly realized that Shakespeare don't know shit about fishing. Yet--- Hamlet's centuries-old questioning still remains. To simplify or not to simplify? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That, my friends, is a balance you choose for yourself. </span></div>
<br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-50910544605711681252015-03-02T14:11:00.003-06:002015-03-02T17:55:07.089-06:0040th Annual Houston Fishing Show<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today marks the end of the </span><a href="http://www.houstonfishingshow.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">40th Annual Houston Fishing Show</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at George R. Brown Convention Center. Tony and I were both able to attend; unfortunately, due to our schedules, we had to attend separately. We also had different approaches:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tony = work</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crystal = play</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_9417.JPG" height="310px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/r43aWGKyKMohhg_lNf2z_7yUNcHdS2CeRR4Hxev-pFkmfLdmNyZntW-u3P6UJplh0N3WDoRjGsjiwmPAWZMe8CpogVSKR_EEy1bkbMKAjvofCvkb2aoi9DDVLO1dp1CiEd8j7MY" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="453px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was Tony’s view of the show, as he arrived the day before in order to help set-up the Hook Spit booth. There wasn’t much booth shopping for him in his two days at the show. As a matter of fact, he didn’t even get to see everything since he was busy assembling shelves and such. This is how Tony is. He would rather move an entire house full of furniture than sit still. Because of this, most of his time off work (when he isn’t fishing) is spent helping somebody else. Don’t worry- he managed to make it home with a few packages of lures from Michael Bosse at </span><a href="http://www.downsouthlures.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Down South Lures</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_9382.JPG" height="167px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EHB2MAfoSQ8Ceqh-HMXQLpPGhZS0zG5o8OBrOU7GZYpWQohu0px3pLH1eOB7xKPWdfVkWzCH-Doj-gULGfiLGVV20QfUEhJCS_dP8NBuNo-K2gn4_Pab6lP1GPviHhex3HygE8" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="356px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was also able to grab the much-talked-about </span><a href="http://www.linecutterz.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Line Cutterz Ring</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> . He won’t have to bite off the line with his teeth anymore, so I view that as a plus. I, too, planned on getting a Line Cutterz Ring, but I will be waiting until they release the colored rings. I believe they have talked about releasing the product in bright green, blaze orange, cobalt blue, steel gray, and pink.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_9420.PNG" height="235px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/pSq-cvAIR9GFk1aY9NUK0MAaBOXRy5YG318d8qwl-fEvXFiZ-kQdqdmlsV1mthc7jf5zrwdphP45L1wmsdAXIoxpXUMp0nRVzdplpKrOSbQJkIkB0G8njosKaorDTZBwfpm5-q8" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="237px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_9419.PNG" height="233px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/kS9UUh0TKffqTJZ0HY1fWpDM8uJ0zmD-eD4kRiJ7XkzVT1-9bB3TkFRVVUXmz8uQxwZsMDc110vYoyESnjDo2NayRuHB1D6HNaX1Oa0nJ0X8OiMbLma9-m-U8biFs2AO5oL6lwc" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="245px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was jealous that he got to check out the show before it even opened, so I texted him from work and asked him to bring me something fancy. That, he did! Later that evening, I spent a good 10 minutes practicing my casting skills while lying in bed with my brand new </span><a href="http://www.hookspit.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hook Spit</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Hot Stix Rod. I can’t wait to put this rod to work on the water. Again, Tony didn’t walk away empty handed, as he was finally able to get </span><a href="http://www.hookspit.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hook Spit's</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> TNT rod that he has been eyeballing for over a year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_9418.PNG" height="235px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/rPzFEMNWKFBLVHtzUaSTA4nApfqzsXvQm1MCGWrg__vAyuaoN7XQXf4Wa0W2lttb_86MQjKHZjuwCWuDjtjluwvaXmOBpVsO6ghMRYAbk6NjXN9tOgfNuvgfMpxe3uorAT3r_vo" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="628px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I finally was able to get to the show on Saturday afternoon with our friends Josh and Jenai. Jenai is responsible for the amazingness that occurs at </span><a href="http://mommashark.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MommaShark.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My goal was to snag some lures and jigheads while checking out the new </span><a href="http://www.wildernesssystems.com/community/introducing-atak" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wilderness Systems ATAK</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> . No such luck on sneaking a peek at the ATAK. I guess I will have to live vicariously through the short video clips and pictures on the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/WildernessSystemsKayakFishing" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wilderness Kayak Fishing Facebook</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page. I was also hoping to be able to get some Hook 1 accessories for my yak - specifically wanted to check out the Conseal Kits and bungee cording, but <a href="http://kayakfishinggear.com/" target="_blank">Hook 1</a> didn't have a booth at the show this year. No worries since I can order online. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plugging away, MommaShark introduced me to </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reelem-in-Lures/882640208437031" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reel 'em In Lures</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and I promptly grabbed four bags when I found out they were made in TEXAS! The owner and creator, Clint, of </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reelem-in-Lures/882640208437031" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reel 'em In Lures</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> assured me that I couldn’t go wrong with anything remotely close to chartreuse. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made my way to </span><a href="http://www.downsouthlures.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Down South Lures</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to meet Michael and stock up on more lures (just in case Tony isn’t in the mood to share). Michael was a super nice guy - he even returned the utility knife Tony had left in his booth earlier in the week, so it’s really good to know that there is no thievery going on over at </span><a href="http://www.downsouthlures.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Down South Lures</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On to the next stop- I had to meet Vance and the rest of the </span><a href="http://www.linecutterz.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Line Cutterz</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> crew</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though they didn’t have the colored rings yet, we couldn’t leave without doing the signature Line Cutterz pose. They had some great decals that will look great on the yaks, marine-grade and everything! We also learned that this little-line-cutting phenom has sparked more than a local interest. Apparently, even people in Japan have heard about and are interested in getting this sucker in their hands. (I promised myself I would not insert a cliched Beyonce ring comment here- you’re welcome.) These guys were awesome, and I can’t wait to see how this product explodes (globally, not literally).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There were so many booths, I was overwhelmed; however, it was clear who was the star of the show. The </span><a href="http://www.hookspit.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hook Spit</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> booth was so packed, you could barely reach for a shirt without bumping somebody else. I was extra-appreciative that everyone there seemed to be wearing deodorant. Here, I took advantage of the sale on hats and performance wear. I even salivated over a few rods (sorry about that). Wade, the owner of </span><a href="http://www.hookspit.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hook Spit</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, even took the time to pose with us for cheesy pics and answered some of our questions about the </span><a href="http://www.deepseadivas.org/event-registration" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deep Sea Divas</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> fishing tournament this summer. I’m really glad they did so well at the show and can’t wait to visit their store in League City next week to get a new reel for my Hot Stix rod.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-25529824578800238952014-11-26T15:16:00.002-06:002015-03-02T17:56:11.920-06:00What kayak fishing means to me...In the past few months, I've decided to step up my game on the road to professional fishing. It seems that fishing for a living has evolved with the rest of the world in regards to technology. A seemingly simplistic sport no longer has nature at its core; rather, it has shifted into a "he who has the most toys wins" mentality. Not only do I need top-of-the-line poles, reels, and tackle, but I also need to be social media savvy with knowledge of photo and video editing programs. I need a computer that has a strong enough operating system to power all of said programs, and no longer will my trusty iPhone 4 suffice for snagging pics of my catches due to something about megapixels (or lack thereof).<br />
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I now have realized how invaluable my 20 year background in sales and marketing for the restaurant industry will prove to be. In signing with a company as field staff or becoming selected by a sponsor, I'm certain to spend multiple hours a day seamlessly displaying a brand.<br />
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It seems a bit ironic that amid all of the roles and responsibilities manuals, Google Docs, and Instagram filters, I've finally been asked by a company, "What does kayak fishing mean to you?"<br />
Now--- I'm a self-starter, and I have no problem acquiring endless amounts of high-tech gadgets. I have zero issue implementing my experience in marketing into the fishing field. I don't mind sitting hours at a computer learning all these new programs. But... I am just now realizing how far off track these goals had taken me from the heart of my passion. I am humbled to so quickly (and with just one simple question) be reminded of why I do what I do. A seemingly simplistic question for a seemingly simplistic sport that puts everything back into perspective: what does kayak fishing mean to me?<br />
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It means balance.<br />
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That is all it means, yet balance means everything--- such an all-encompassing idea that requires careful and extensive juxtapositions.<br />
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There are genres of classic literature that rely almost solely upon the restorative powers of nature. Books flying off shelves for all eternity and studied in classrooms around the world simply because mankind desires a balance with nature. This concept is not one that I need a professor or Spark Notes to explain to me. Every fishing excursion provides an escape from the chaos of every day life, a few hours to forget about the 21st century's never ending to-do list. It is that fishing is an ideal classroom in which I can teach my kids about life: conservation and curiosity, patience and persistence. Just as it is in life, in fishing, you must learn when to keep the line tight and when to adjust the drag, when to battle a beast and when to let him tire himself out. Each new species reeled in is a reminder of the endless possibilities of exploration and discovery. This sport rewards risk-taking and demands safety. It fosters a balance between the thrill of the hunt and a respect for nature. Kayak fishing breeds spontaneity and requires thoughtful planning at the same time. It teaches that skill and luck are both pivotal. The challenge is symbolic that what comes easy is not always what's best--- the constant pursuit, a reminder that things handed to you are never as cherished as those for which you have tirelessly worked to gain. There will be days you win big countered with days you get skunked--- and either way, you are left wanting more. Regardless of trophies won from competitions and tournaments, the intrinsic rewards outweigh the tangible. Because of kayak fishing, my kids will know that the best dinner doesn't always come from a fancy restaurant or aisle 7 in the grocery store. Instead, the most fulfilling meal is the one you scooped out of the water and prepared together as a team.<br />
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It is said that mastery in any area can never truly be attained; rather, you will spend your whole life bettering yourself to reach the highest level of skill and knowledge through practice. While this is certainly the case for fishing, it holds true for self-discovery as well. I know no other sport that offers this "Great Perhaps"; I know no other sport that is so richly ingrained in balance.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-68973060424715743452014-03-26T21:02:00.001-05:002015-06-08T14:02:20.765-05:00My first yak fish!!!!!!It's not the biggest not the baddest, but after a struggling long winter, I finally reeled in a fish...<br />
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Left the house around 7:30 am on Monday, March 25th. It was cloudy and the wind was Karate Kid part 4 early on. We headed to Seabrook Flats and looked around then drove to the Pine Gully Pier and I showed it to my buddy, Cody, who had never seen or heard of it. We chatted it up and moved around, decided to launch near the Kemah bridge and launched next to Outriggers. At this point the wind had died down, and we were off. We went left at the bridge and were fishing next to the Kemah Boardwalk. I decided to resort to some old habits and was using dead shrimp on one setup and throwing a Paul Brown Pink corky with the other. I posted up in one spot for a good 30 -45 minutes while Cody was mobbing all around. I sure miss shrimp! Majority of the time- I always feel bites, crabs, something with shrimp . After about 15 minutes, I got a hard hit and was pumped. Nothing was there. Grrrrrr. Few minutes later - FISH ON! I yelled to Cody, but he could not hear me. After about 45 seconds, I had my first kayak fish. A WHOPPING (wait for it.......) piggy perch!!! And, to top it off, it was foul hooked in the stomach!!!! Oh well. Skunk over regardless. We headed back toward Clear Lake. Cody was consistent in wanting to fish some marsh, so we decided to change location. We paddled back to Outriggers, tied up to the dock and ran in for some lunch. Good food and enjoyed my first trip to a restaurant via kayak. When we were done, we headed to Galveston and fished some marsh off 45. ( Exit 7 ish) Once again, on shrimp, I caught a black drum!!! 16" of fish, <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">and I was pumped!! About thirty minutes later, I managed to pull up a feisty blue crab. The wind started to pick up, and we called it a day after a couple of hours. I'll continue to throw lures and hope for a more fish-filled blog in the very near future. Had a blast !!!!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-79954164513750744662014-02-26T20:25:00.001-06:002015-06-08T14:03:42.860-05:00Wintertime blues To some, the winter fishing brings out a chance to catch a monster, wall-mount trout, to others a shivering day with nothing to catch but a cheeseburger on the way home.<br />
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I myself have not done well at all fishing in the crisp air of winter, but it's definitely growing on me. When dressed with just the right amount of layers to protect you from being too cold, it can feel great out on the water. The water, gin-clear, air so crisp, on a calm day with no wind and no one around... it almost has the feel of a remote chilly paradise. Watching a pelican glide effortlessly, for miles just one inch above the water, from the kayak I paddle along into the quietness listening for clues of nearby fish. Waiting for a mullet to jump, to show some signs of life underneath the clear water. Birds diving into the water off in a distance, liar birds just bombing the water looking for life as I am, or are they giving clues as to bait in the area with bigger fish possibly lurking near by causing the chain event from the depth underneath? </div>
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Most bait is gone, no more plankton, shrimp are scarce, mullet few and far between. The winter hunter knows patience and will find them. Presentation is extremely important during this cold time. Fish move more slowly during the winter, so your lure must move to the pace of their liking . Water is much clearer, so (in my opinion) you need a natural looking bait as the fish can more easily sense that something is off with your multi-colored, laser-shooting lure. Keep it simple, natural, and work it slow. Some, on a real bad day, will use dead shrimp as the drum both red and black will have a bite if they cross paths with it . Trout like deeper pockets with mud bottoms near shell and typically won't go for cut bait. They prefer them alive or a good lure will fool them into a strike. Flounder can still be caught often in the winter as well.They rest on the sandy bottoms and love mullet, live or dead. Working these baits slowly by a hidden flounder in the sand can cause for a tricky strike in which one has to know when to set the hook to capture a delicious flounder. I'm pretty much referring to the bays, and marshes . Winter fishing on the surf can be fun and rewarding too. Ever caught a Jack Crevalle? No, me neither . But many have, and they are as tough as nails and will fight the whole entire time they are hooked on your line. Thrashing and pulling, working the waters forcing you to be on your A- game and have appropriate tackle. Bull reds and monster black drum will cruise the winter surf looking for bait and if they come across yours, buckle up and hold on. Strength and a large size make these beauties a super fun catch . I recently asked fellow TKF's ( Texas Kayak Fisherman) what they thought of when it comes to winter fishing. Theses are a few of their replies .</div>
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<b>Kosmo10</b> " I think of our skunk streak,and how I kept it alive this morning in Kemah lol. But I didn't get a ticket time do the glass is half full!" </div>
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He is one of my fishing buddies, and he was referring to the not too good luck we've had this winter.</div>
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<b>Yakrazy</b> " First thing I think of is gin clear water......beautiful, but an annoying sight"</div>
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<b>Slayer21 " </b>Corkies and big trout! My favorite time to fish!"</div>
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<b> Lurejunkee </b>" Nice long cold wades, scanning the water looking and listening" </div>
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Some don't even fish during the cold months; for others, it's prime time. For me, as I'm still new to kayaking and winter fishing, it is a pleasurable challenge. Even when I'm not reeling them in, I always enjoy casting the coast anytime of the year!</div>
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Those of you following my blog, I appreciate it and you will learn my journey one splash at a time! </div>
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Shout out to my Kayak Wars team !!!</div>
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Cody, Justin, Raul, and James! </div>
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See ya soon</div>
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I'll be going Monday, and I plan on fishing till I catch my first fish on a kayak !</div>
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Winter blues ......</div>
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Coastie </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-21037673644440133192014-02-06T12:24:00.002-06:002015-06-08T14:21:12.764-05:00An Open Letter to the "Fishing Widows" from a Coastie Wife <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
I’m just going to say it--- if I see one more picture of a skinny, bikini-clad blonde holding up a bull red and smiling on a fancy fishing boat, I am going to puke. That is NOT what most fishermen’s wives look like. These cute little blondes have a rich daddy who was nice enough to send his little princess to Cancun for Spring Break, and she just so happened to try to go out on a fishing excursion to show the boys how cool she was, and she accidentally caught some big ol’ Mahi-Tuna-Swordfish crossbreed (which I’m sure she did not know the name of until she was told --- 4 times). This is the story in my head, and I’m sticking to it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It more than upsets me to see these pictures for a few reasons:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->1)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Hell yes, I am jealous that she looks so damn good in that cut off tank top that I could NEVER pull off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->2)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Hell yes, I am jealous that she is on a fancy boat off the coast of Cancun without a care in the world, and her daddy paid for it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->3)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Hell yes, I am jealous that she caught a Mahi-Tuna-Swordfish crossbreed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->4)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->But mostly---- these photos make the bile rise in my throat because REAL Fishermen’s wives do far more than giggle while looking cute in a paradise photo op.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let me paint a real picture for you--- the real wife of an angler rarely shows up in photos because she is either at home with the kids, or she is the one taking the photo. However, IF a fisherman’s wife did show up in a photo--- here is what you would see. You would see her making sure that each kid had his/her line in the water before she even baits her own hook. You’d see her rubbing 70 SPF sunscreen on her husband because GOD FORBID he have the instrinsic motivation to prevent his own skin cancer. You’d see her running in the background toward her son’s catch because she knows it’s a hard-head from 20 feet away, and she doesn’t want him to get barbed. You might see a picture of her cutting the bait into smaller pieces to make it last longer for her daughter. You most definitely would see a picture of her trying to get fish guts out of her hair. And if she is really lucky, you might catch her in a moment of relaxation trying to wipe dead-shrimp juice off the top of the can of beer (because somebody got the bait & beer coolers mixed up) while she sits down to catch her breath for two seconds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of course there will be a few occasions which she actually catches her own little whiting or black drum, and her hubby will be proud enough to drop his own line long enough to take a picture. In that photo, she damn sure won’t be wearing a freaking string bikini with cut-offs and a face full of make-up (WHO are these girls?). Instead--- she will probably have on the same grungy, baggy pants she has on in the last photo because those are her comfy, fish-gut-wiping pants, and they have enough room in the pockets to hold pliers, rags, and a flask. A real fishing wife will be wearing one of her husband’s XL Coastie Culture (or other fishing related brand) shirt. She won’t have any make-up on because she knows that if her sunscreen runs into her eyes, it will sting and her mascara will run. She will also be wearing a hat in order to avoid her hair getting entangled with fish guts or getting blown in her freaking eyes every freaking 5 freaking seconds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ladies and Gentlemen--- THIS is what a real fishing wife FREAKING looks like.</div>
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At a Super Bowl party last week, my husband and I were blessed to meet Richard. Richard is the first person I’ve met in a while who appreciates what we ladies sometimes deal with. After introductions were made and my husband swayed the conversation over to fishing, I thought I was only secretly rolling my eyes and sighing at an all too familiar scene. Apparently, Richard caught on. He leaned over, and through a smile, he asked, “Are you a fishing widow?” With one small question, he had validated every bit of what I have felt since I figuratively lost my husband to the ocean 3 years ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If he isn’t at the pier, in a kayak, or surfcasting--- then he is at Fishing Tackle Unlimited or his eyes are glued to TKF forum. We have even sacrificed date nights due to off shore fishing trips or to meet up with fishing buddies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know you other fishing widows are feeling what I’m saying right now. I know you are putting your hand in the air and screaming out, “Preach it, Sister!” But, before you start letting that bitter streak show--- let me share with you something with which I am coming to terms---- While the ocean is pretty big competition, it ain’t a skinny, bikini-clad blonde. Fishing is where my husband goes to refill his soul just like I do when my nose is buried in a book (or a glass of wine). Through the years, I have seen too many of my friends lose their love to gambling, bar-hopping, cheating, or just plain indifference. I have to tell you, sisters, I don’t see fishing being the root of any of that. I see my husband passionate about learning, I see him reading, I see him making memories with our kids, I see him trying to spark the same zeal within me, I see him bringing home dinner like a BOSS!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m not so sure I’m a widow. This isn’t a man who is indifferent or dead to his wife. Quite conversely, it’s a man who is most definitely alive. Can’t complain about that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This blog’s shout out goes to all of the fishing wives I see in the background of those photos! Go give your fisherman a big fat kiss on the mouth, and tell him thanks for choosing fishing as a habit instead of all of the other things he could have been addicted to. Remind yourself that he has to go to sleep sometime, so unless there is a tournament going on at the pier, he will be home in time to lay his head on the pillow next to yours. On the days when you feel like you have slipped too far into the background, I hope you find it in your heart to step into the sunlight, stand next to your man, represent the rest of us in your fish-gut covered jeans, and cast that line out into the ocean. <o:p></o:p></div>
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(Side Note to the Anglers--- please go hug, kiss, and thank your significant others.)<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-13304382992609858962014-02-05T17:31:00.002-06:002015-06-08T14:04:40.666-05:00Kayak Wars<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><i>Kayak Wars was created by Eric Ozolins in 2006 as a friendly kayak fishing tournament between two Texas teams for bragging rights... the upper coast and lower coast. Since then it has grown to be one of the largest, year-long kayak fishing tournaments in the world. An event completely free of charge to enter and enjoy. Kayak Wars delivers a unique point system for over 100 species of prized fish in the United States. </i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i> -KayakWars.com </i></span></h3>
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I came across Kayak Wars on TKF, and I wanted to partake instantly . Even though I'm new to kayaking, I recruited a team and look forward to a year of great fishing and stories to share with you. Now, let's meet the team!</div>
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First angler up, <b>Justin</b> <b>Kostelnik.</b> Paddling a brand new <b>2014 MEAN GREEN WILDERNESS RIDE 115x</b> --with all the fixings. Justin is new to kayaking and fishing, but he is ready to rip some lips. Educated Aggie, served our country in the Army, and has three beautiful daughters. A big thanks to his wife, Krista, for letting him fish! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krista, Victoria, Katya, Giana, Justin</td></tr>
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Next up in the bay is Captain Cool, <b>Raul Sarmiento</b>. Enrolled at UHCL studying Environmental Science in Biology. At only 23 years of age, he has been fishing Galveston bay and the Clear Lake area for several years. When he is not using a fish grip, you might find him jamming the guitar (which he does quite well).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Cool</td></tr>
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Chillin in the no wake zone is <b>Cody Ryden</b>! Received his education from Sam Houston and is currently a manager for Mattress Firm Warehouse. Cody is a die hard fisherman and duck hunter. Whether it's from a kayak , power boat, surf, or pier, he is always eager to reel in the big boys !!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cody </td></tr>
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Hobie Outback cruising, bull red hunting, <b>James Jurica</b> is on the scene next. He loves catching sharks and reds and more sharks and reds. James has a 16 month -old baby boy and is happily married. When not with family or fishing, he is working with low, med, & high voltage electrical equipment. This summer he wants to catch some king fish from the yak!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftHMsaKoM1KVUI2ooUrW3n2qMwm1iEoOCukTBd5hFzZEdfY5by_Cz8dEs4_jOKYa7pjzraDVptTfIZUxqOeQHap22yxJjf_1SuGrcNAEVAAQF_5VOXKCd5n8yJe8Xgeu2BJwmhKx7jdk/s640/blogger-image-989979026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftHMsaKoM1KVUI2ooUrW3n2qMwm1iEoOCukTBd5hFzZEdfY5by_Cz8dEs4_jOKYa7pjzraDVptTfIZUxqOeQHap22yxJjf_1SuGrcNAEVAAQF_5VOXKCd5n8yJe8Xgeu2BJwmhKx7jdk/s640/blogger-image-989979026.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James</td></tr>
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Last up, <b>ME</b>! I love my wife, kids, and life on the water!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0_NAULsoksOFaAA91JMQ1UC2K-9ftn7BAHjGGVCsf_zNtxmbp5PSAJYnT2vo4TTB2K9jnUvuDWANtlKEBXUd8sWbaQ7uCLJmgIX12g4oYrtvTVR-1Tek6z27Pr4tY2nY5zOYn3zwNLA/s640/blogger-image--402174479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0_NAULsoksOFaAA91JMQ1UC2K-9ftn7BAHjGGVCsf_zNtxmbp5PSAJYnT2vo4TTB2K9jnUvuDWANtlKEBXUd8sWbaQ7uCLJmgIX12g4oYrtvTVR-1Tek6z27Pr4tY2nY5zOYn3zwNLA/s640/blogger-image--402174479.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Crystal, Rachel<br />
Tyler, Jez</td></tr>
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Team Coastie Culture </div>
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Wish us luck!</div>
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Thanks Eric Ozolins for keeping Kayak Wars Crazy fun! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-727822868813245172014-02-01T16:56:00.002-06:002015-06-08T14:08:02.830-05:00Big Money Red Tourney<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxP-pRmHyNBNCDtPXhFLxG-dpiw1uTqL6RXbafmCyvJYCdHfk6EoOQI0fLfObdQsadidbsIDKgKFRsLkhkhu7f75ayVyUaT_skqyKbn8kkSbgWY0urQtdnE-y8kl1ukZYsPjcZbr_QLWY/s1600/1395283_545741728843781_1740892394_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxP-pRmHyNBNCDtPXhFLxG-dpiw1uTqL6RXbafmCyvJYCdHfk6EoOQI0fLfObdQsadidbsIDKgKFRsLkhkhu7f75ayVyUaT_skqyKbn8kkSbgWY0urQtdnE-y8kl1ukZYsPjcZbr_QLWY/s1600/1395283_545741728843781_1740892394_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Eric, Cody</td></tr>
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Galveston Urban Ministries ( galvestonurbanministries.org) hosted their First Annual Big Money Red Tourney a few months ago and it ended up being my first tournament too. <br />
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My #1 homie, Eric, and his brother, Michael, drove all the way down from Denton, Texas to represent and fish in the tournament. </div>
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The tournament was supposed to start at 5 pm on a Friday, but we got there a few hours early to stake claim to our spot on the Galveston Fishing Pier. I was pretty crunk when the tournament started because I was the first one to catch a red. Unfortunately, it was only about 34" and I knew that wouldn't be big enough to place in the end. So--- Fish on. Most of the catches came that night. It was cold and windy, but we tried to stay warm with a little help from a handle of Jim Beam and some of the best Habanero Beef Jerky from Mean E's Meats. (getcha some ---> facebook.com/meanesmeats )</div>
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Those two things kept us awake for 3 days straight with a few naps in between, but sleeping on the pier isn't that comfortable. Even though we went most of the day Saturday and Sunday without catching much we couldn't complain because this was our view:</div>
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Eric ended up catching his first red at this tournament. It was a good looking fish, but it wasn't enough to place either. My buddy, John Stapleton showed up to fish the tournament and pulled a red in that made it on the board. My buddy, Cody Ryden (pictured above) did not fish the tournament, but he was there with a friend a few hours before the tournament started. I actually think he is the one that caught all the reds, and I blame him for our slow weekend. In hindsight, we probably should have gotten a spot at the end of the pier because the guys set up down there were pulling in most of the reds. If I'm not mistaken, that's where the tourney winners were set up. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric's first red</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st catch (34 in.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd catch (36 1/2 in)</td></tr>
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Even though we didn't place--- it was a great experience. This shout out goes to Eric Murphey for driving 5 hours to sleep on a wooden pier in the cold, and Michael Murphey from Mean E's Meats--- thanks for sponsoring us, bro.<br />
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Y'all go check out Galveston Urban Ministries to see how you can give back to underprivileged youth on the island.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-87233823145363880442014-02-01T15:57:00.000-06:002015-06-08T14:07:24.490-05:00"Say hello to my little boat" KAYAK<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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My passion and desire to learn more about the Coastie life, mastering catch and release of our salt water creatures led me to wanting a Kayak. Mobile , requires no gas , can float on less than a foot of water ! The hunt , the ride , the scenery of the birds diving for bait as the sun rises and you are watching the day awake before your eyes. I'll miss the pier , a lot , but it's time to move around. I'll be back!<br />
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Ok so what did I know about Kayaks . Nada, other than it's a small plastic boat ! Then TKF , (Texas Kayak Fisherman) came out of nowhere--like someone said "here's a book of information with anglers you can talk to!" Thanks TKF and all its members for all the great info and my intro to virtual kayaking. <br />
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Next stop , FTU, (Fishing Tackle Unlimited ) where I met Devin Hood in the Kayak department, and he was more than knowledgeable and extremely helpful. Devin had no clue that I would be in to talk to him several times with endless questions, but he was captain cool about it and he was the main reason I bought my kayak there. Thanks Devin, I hope we hit the water someday. After a couple of months of reading reviews, I finally pulled the trigger. Say hello to my Wilderness RIDE <a href="tel:135%202013" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">135 2013</a> model. I'm extremely happy with my choice and love my coastie cruiser! Purchased in Mid December. My beautiful wife Crystal got me a lot off goodies for my kayak, and I was about ready to hit the h20.<br />
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But, I still needed a PFD and with a little research, I ordered a stulquist form ACK online Austin store. Here is how that went .... I'm in Houston , there was no shipping fee, the PFD showed up the next day before noon via fed x. I was like wow what great service . So thanks ACK!<br />
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Finally, hit the water first week of this month thanks to John Vining. Thanks for my first trip and I'll see you again soon. You are a pro in my blog! Also, I picked up some norton quick twist. See ya soon.<br />
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Since then I've been out a few times and haven't figured out this cold winter kayak fishing yet. Although I have met a bunch of new anglers, created a Kayak team, made some friends , and fish or no fish I've enjoyed every second on the water . Sunrises , birds giving clues to the sign of fish , the anticipation of what's to come at any moment . Fish on! Oh wait , that was a branch . Till next time<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDHSS5TvGXBEcMx_X3hPs9hAkXlbW-Yz_Tu8xKij8CZatob5jcYA27WXFZNaSgIHusGsbbt2N48k99gZ0vzYynSfFER_2KipG8Ze41u79778_IU1baJsZNN_FID80BWJm-jCqszt0qPc/s640/blogger-image-540392753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDHSS5TvGXBEcMx_X3hPs9hAkXlbW-Yz_Tu8xKij8CZatob5jcYA27WXFZNaSgIHusGsbbt2N48k99gZ0vzYynSfFER_2KipG8Ze41u79778_IU1baJsZNN_FID80BWJm-jCqszt0qPc/s640/blogger-image-540392753.jpg" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-84384643216840839782014-01-28T16:26:00.000-06:002015-06-08T14:09:32.787-05:00The Puffer Fish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVpIx7A4RqnRg_4DUGg-BBbSe347zY7fjBfFYFadG__xBCJhgOCy0oZGEsGW4iDIqgee313JdbOckf9O2Qwi6H8goGfnjwJx-2lP8Ke1tkFfspggtxrqH93SBQ9mkZondaNbjNYgdBOs/s1600/1186993_508667875884500_350449826_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVpIx7A4RqnRg_4DUGg-BBbSe347zY7fjBfFYFadG__xBCJhgOCy0oZGEsGW4iDIqgee313JdbOckf9O2Qwi6H8goGfnjwJx-2lP8Ke1tkFfspggtxrqH93SBQ9mkZondaNbjNYgdBOs/s1600/1186993_508667875884500_350449826_n.jpg" width="298" /></a> </div>
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I caught this bad boy on The Galveston Fishing Pier. It is actually the second one I have caught there and was told this isn't particularly normal. Either way, I was crunk about it.</div>
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Most of you know that a puffer fish is called a puffer because it inflates. It does this by inhaling large amounts of water or air to increase its size as a defense mechanism. The puffer fish has tremendous eye sight, but it isn't very quick. </div>
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Not only do they puff out to help fight off predators, they also possess a toxin called tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin can be stronger than cyanide and is one of the most toxic components known to man. One large puffer contains enough toxin to kill several men; however, sharks can eat puffer fish without consequence.</div>
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But if you ever catch one, be careful when you get your pictures and try to use gloves (just to be safe) when you toss it back. While we aren't too big on eating puffer here in Texas--- in Japan, highly trained chefs will serve Fugu (puffer) as a delicacy. I have also read that dolphins are fans of a little puff here and there; they have been filmed off the coast of Africa passing puffer fish back and forth in order to get high.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMYhotnC44AfentCW6QMwsjgQfhkJ_SvZowsrhbZIgVjuo4sUKkeUxbHpNdyTQNJW8iiZapM2yyEWXWsWtiDLm0iQXX4KU45Wdjmvw8iAYyHyw3ZFUAmBI2BokmYGkCF4u-tL1VU9GlU/s1600/1382218_540352089382745_2122921883_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMYhotnC44AfentCW6QMwsjgQfhkJ_SvZowsrhbZIgVjuo4sUKkeUxbHpNdyTQNJW8iiZapM2yyEWXWsWtiDLm0iQXX4KU45Wdjmvw8iAYyHyw3ZFUAmBI2BokmYGkCF4u-tL1VU9GlU/s1600/1382218_540352089382745_2122921883_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Cne7oxAgWIoBR-mV6iVRVn6x8BCn4RlqecOmOiJxLri2gJuEeZ06mwB2pGVaqnD1kyFaSKVyISU7lE1b9Qcp0GI5QZN-ZzU3raHhl7RsLkLxvWAce0oE-11koHNS7JllZPSSwOSaFsE/s1600/1381610_539902129427741_1299844222_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Cne7oxAgWIoBR-mV6iVRVn6x8BCn4RlqecOmOiJxLri2gJuEeZ06mwB2pGVaqnD1kyFaSKVyISU7lE1b9Qcp0GI5QZN-ZzU3raHhl7RsLkLxvWAce0oE-11koHNS7JllZPSSwOSaFsE/s1600/1381610_539902129427741_1299844222_n.jpg" width="239" /></a><br />
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Catching this guy landed me a spot in the Reel Report in The Galveston Daily News. Capt. Joe Kent explains the reason for the puffer (which is usually an offshore fish) being so close to the pier: "the warmer waters and higher salinity levels have contributed to a large variety of fish being reported in shallower waters this year."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyS7tM8uBzNECxppKOHoTmvmfcRzePaspmz3rx0O3qfdvZMVz-Qad7N68h9n-zzCj9LbUKfMht7u0FA5rlFEeYPo18d5W6-dWyig8c-4dB-OCC2ktvlbjbSFVRpg0ymxCJnmrs0pHGJk/s1600/1236907_508668062551148_669893686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyS7tM8uBzNECxppKOHoTmvmfcRzePaspmz3rx0O3qfdvZMVz-Qad7N68h9n-zzCj9LbUKfMht7u0FA5rlFEeYPo18d5W6-dWyig8c-4dB-OCC2ktvlbjbSFVRpg0ymxCJnmrs0pHGJk/s1600/1236907_508668062551148_669893686_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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This shout out goes to Capt. Joe Kent and his Reel Report in The Galveston Daily News--- Thanks for making me famous!</div>
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And a special shout out goes to Virginia Adair for being a loyal Daily News reader--- if it weren't for her, I wouldn't have even known that I made it in the Reel Report.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-79677983021153467702014-01-24T23:11:00.001-06:002015-06-08T14:10:35.806-05:00Galveston Fishing Pier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKyUMin6HCGtgKmAkD9axYCDwrf9COH_QdpJftjKjOxHUNJL57OZjc9X0g9rdiGREyOY7asZoJW81UKEzuba7zdo-h8InGt3lKSSMArcagttSuh7122kRS4vjIxYypYkhCKqH5Ta4kYY/s1600/pier+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKyUMin6HCGtgKmAkD9axYCDwrf9COH_QdpJftjKjOxHUNJL57OZjc9X0g9rdiGREyOY7asZoJW81UKEzuba7zdo-h8InGt3lKSSMArcagttSuh7122kRS4vjIxYypYkhCKqH5Ta4kYY/s1600/pier+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I don't know how I ended up there the first time I went, but Galveston Fishing Pier has been my home away from home since I fell in love with saltwater fishing.<br />
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Here is what my wife loves about the pier:</div>
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1) They have clean bathrooms (apparently that is important for girls since it made #1 on her list)</div>
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2) They serve mixed drinks upstairs and the bartender "don't play" (surprised that didn't make #1 on her list)</div>
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3) It's the longest fishing pier in Texas.</div>
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I'm not sure that I can narrow down the things I love about GFP to just 3; however, my list has a whole lot more to do with fish than my wife's list. </div>
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So let's start with fish. One of the things I can never quite wrap my brain around is how many different species of fish there are in the ocean---some of which have not even been discovered yet. I thoroughly enjoy pulling them all up and over the rail of The Galveston Fishing Pier. Click on the link to peep the slideshow of some catches.....<br />
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<a href="http://animoto.com/play/TS5vzMtD9kdZ4wfDGBI1Xg">Galveston Fishing Pier</a><br />
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These are just a few of the pictures I have from the pier. Obviously, I love catching reds, but, on the pier, I have caught:<br />
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<li>ribbon fish</li>
<li>cobia</li>
<li>sheepshead</li>
<li>black drum</li>
<li>gafftop</li>
<li>hard head (aka wastes of my time)</li>
<li>pompano</li>
<li>bonnet head shark</li>
<li>black tip shark</li>
<li>whiting</li>
<li>croaker</li>
<li>sand trout</li>
<li>golden croaker</li>
<li>angel fish</li>
<li>puffer fish</li>
<li>stingray</li>
<li>blue fish</li>
<li>piggy perch</li>
<li>blue crab </li>
<li>spanish mackerel</li>
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Here are some of the fish I have seen caught there, but I have never happened to pull up myself:</div>
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<li>flounder</li>
<li>speckled trout</li>
<li>spinner shark</li>
<li>bull shark</li>
<li>jack crevalle</li>
<li>sea turtles (yes, I know it's not a fish. And, yes, proper authorities were called and the turtles were released)</li>
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So far, the GFP has been my biggest learning experience when it comes to saltwater fishing. It was a great place to learn many different species just from reeling them in, but it was also a great place to meet anglers with all different levels of experience. Depending on the time of day, day of the week, or how many beers you have consumed, you could end up losing a pole, getting your lines crossed with a complete stranger, or almost losing a thumb to a hard head barb. I might just be speaking from experience- small prices to pay for the knowledge and lifetime memories I have gained.</div>
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All in all, my idea to create Coastie Culture would not have been born had it not been for my time at Galveston Fishing Pier. It's a wonderful place to learn, to fish, to bring a friend, and to be treated like family (thanks Diz). </div>
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This Coastie Culture shout out goes to the owners of GFP, Jimmy and Kelly. Thanks for the fun.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-44779359824181966272014-01-16T18:22:00.003-06:002015-06-08T14:13:11.929-05:00"Speed Fishing" - Molding a Coastie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFclRkidmx-RsPb3PeumuldIyF0ZGISYFrLaLb49JUrbSC7Z8fHg0y5oAdjzyDdSOWz1LiANNC1gVu3TfA7UrLdIROvi4O2LQ-UXfuBC816PkaiY5_-9it9sA9Hj2BqRncLUJ_5EG_oQw/s1600/285731_134443169973641_5713695_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFclRkidmx-RsPb3PeumuldIyF0ZGISYFrLaLb49JUrbSC7Z8fHg0y5oAdjzyDdSOWz1LiANNC1gVu3TfA7UrLdIROvi4O2LQ-UXfuBC816PkaiY5_-9it9sA9Hj2BqRncLUJ_5EG_oQw/s1600/285731_134443169973641_5713695_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
The next step in my evolution to becoming a "Coastie" was fishing with my father-in-law, Mike. Let me start by explaining that he is a retired Police Chief who, prior to working up the ranks, served as a MP in the Army during Vietnam. Mike is admittedly a Type A person--- which makes going out on his boat with him extremely entertaining.<br />
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Mike does a lot of what my wife and I call "Speed Fishing". By that I mean that we never spend more than 10 minutes at each fishing spot. I might be exaggerating a little but not much. I could be pulling in 5 fish at a time, but when Mike is ready to move on--- he is ready to move on. <b>From this, I learned about 100 different fishing spots in about 3 fishing trips. </b></div>
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Mike also always has top of the line gear. It's like he just stepped out of some kind of bait and tackle magazine photo shoot. Because he has all sorts of fancy gear, he makes sure he uses every bit of it on every trip. Every single bit of it. This means that at each 10 minute stop-- 5 minutes of that time is used to switch out lures, weights, or bait; hell, he might even be working one pole on the top water and one pole dragging the bottom. <b>From this, I learned which gear is good in which spots and which name-brands to splurge on.</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB78vg_Ej1Wpqrl2C0cmk3ui9kmM2W96QQi_2A5CY6N5HYsl9UHXnh3pWwwbozk17ljFNTN0mDOHkRp6jtBFwZM7FgRR1yYh1Jeo3HVk2niDmodYJUIZh88aqtId3gzec-BTqFJSAmTMY/s1600/178990_312634865487803_2116718417_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB78vg_Ej1Wpqrl2C0cmk3ui9kmM2W96QQi_2A5CY6N5HYsl9UHXnh3pWwwbozk17ljFNTN0mDOHkRp6jtBFwZM7FgRR1yYh1Jeo3HVk2niDmodYJUIZh88aqtId3gzec-BTqFJSAmTMY/s1600/178990_312634865487803_2116718417_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother in law, Trey and<br />
my father in law, Mike, heading to the<br />
next spot.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tNgtk8kI278Nnh2PBt5ZNW09Ef0nrN3mF_H7M8nbeAyK89EtgGfSLT5NIJNsv5TK4WrGO8vEBn_yMsBumsIDMa7hK6ZxsvjRMBfp9f2mKVvZRGSRGFZ-oruRxEjPlzzZHVbmimoG-1Q/s1600/64973_258622780889012_1641965196_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tNgtk8kI278Nnh2PBt5ZNW09Ef0nrN3mF_H7M8nbeAyK89EtgGfSLT5NIJNsv5TK4WrGO8vEBn_yMsBumsIDMa7hK6ZxsvjRMBfp9f2mKVvZRGSRGFZ-oruRxEjPlzzZHVbmimoG-1Q/s1600/64973_258622780889012_1641965196_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike, driving the boat and rocking the<br />
stache. Terri--- photo bombing.<br />
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Organization is key on Mike's boat. There is a place for everything and everything has its place. There are compartments labeled with a P-touch, there are velcro straps for the gear; hell, sometimes there are even assigned seats and an itinerary posted so you know when and where the next stop will be. When we get done, the itinerary (in a waterproof bag), tells us what chores we are all assigned to in order to stow the boat properly. <b>From this, I learned that your gear lasts longer when you take good care of it, it's easier (and quicker) to change your gear out if you are organized, and the cleaning part goes faster when you work together.</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLpXO17UQn0FHcuRRzrl_xmd6Te0iDwGw3Gpfy5LvKDpjoOGPN-jWgpM7nXs0-__F1o-kSO-pwM0rU5wiN2z8lOmxfef_AAbBRYSJg99ss5A9V-nXNnOp7KPHDn7Los2RkwGf0ptC3Ow/s1600/406401_228478397236784_914378077_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLpXO17UQn0FHcuRRzrl_xmd6Te0iDwGw3Gpfy5LvKDpjoOGPN-jWgpM7nXs0-__F1o-kSO-pwM0rU5wiN2z8lOmxfef_AAbBRYSJg99ss5A9V-nXNnOp7KPHDn7Los2RkwGf0ptC3Ow/s1600/406401_228478397236784_914378077_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike's baby</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNvoYLAIqBYItRwMcTFhVbty3KLWCYppDlUtzIu8FJcBiaMuuy_yn_cv1ZX5D3gCm8PqfXh8MwZRGi-FCWeT6tQqt9LUaCXMjqnDggco1noG7_X2YZfIg9LN1pZmKYtjTRPLuj4YySak/s1600/409318_228482647236359_65935471_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNvoYLAIqBYItRwMcTFhVbty3KLWCYppDlUtzIu8FJcBiaMuuy_yn_cv1ZX5D3gCm8PqfXh8MwZRGi-FCWeT6tQqt9LUaCXMjqnDggco1noG7_X2YZfIg9LN1pZmKYtjTRPLuj4YySak/s1600/409318_228482647236359_65935471_n.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing my chores</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi24bFLLVHLhC2679M8MjMMyIKpV5hasUPOkVw_TCEU_-ECmk7ftIOp-kHIwavab0PYo4BTpWYsNivUkWByqJ0pFR6FUBOJ-0B8LaqK0T6ayxrN7Xa7byWYaihMem0C5-iJ6MeCzaIV4/s1600/577401_298527390231884_2125947634_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi24bFLLVHLhC2679M8MjMMyIKpV5hasUPOkVw_TCEU_-ECmk7ftIOp-kHIwavab0PYo4BTpWYsNivUkWByqJ0pFR6FUBOJ-0B8LaqK0T6ayxrN7Xa7byWYaihMem0C5-iJ6MeCzaIV4/s1600/577401_298527390231884_2125947634_n.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He let me sit behind the<br />
wheel once. For a minute.<br />
Before he<br />
got in the boat.</td></tr>
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I also never need a baby sitter when I go out on the boat with Mike because he is the WORLD'S GREATEST PAPA. The kids know where their assigned seats are and they know what their chores are when we get home. <b>From this I learned, kids are always welcome when it comes to fishing because somebody has to raise a future generation of Coasties.</b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41f0pKjC2pKjZZkx4kXcAnN5RaOtI6aByVhlCqGERHmEl9KZsLjS5odSAb_kzBeLtdXD1IhVr7sOSXGw5UUNeqAocjj3JVDrVc8vshN1S-hDZcEVeQF6fARyRaQn74KEaStZpVytdWww/s1600/420539_264660743618549_1229942313_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41f0pKjC2pKjZZkx4kXcAnN5RaOtI6aByVhlCqGERHmEl9KZsLjS5odSAb_kzBeLtdXD1IhVr7sOSXGw5UUNeqAocjj3JVDrVc8vshN1S-hDZcEVeQF6fARyRaQn74KEaStZpVytdWww/s1600/420539_264660743618549_1229942313_n.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assigned Seat Fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmB_tlZ8veIUTHwc1PRyfhSHR7Qr7O6i2k-zlguG3kZyW5wDD1JUOPQ5b0aHNIq4Jou2PIcg5O45pUlfnWqUY53OmXEO_DJTAtVjFjynlFvHwsgCy2y4mYK1Ldxnf9jy162Y6qbH2BR0/s1600/183155_458666274217994_638765217_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmB_tlZ8veIUTHwc1PRyfhSHR7Qr7O6i2k-zlguG3kZyW5wDD1JUOPQ5b0aHNIq4Jou2PIcg5O45pUlfnWqUY53OmXEO_DJTAtVjFjynlFvHwsgCy2y4mYK1Ldxnf9jy162Y6qbH2BR0/s1600/183155_458666274217994_638765217_n.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quit playing and do your<br />
chores! I don't care if you<br />
are 2 yrs old.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOk8QuLr8tuKzG4ycTh5sYWrDR6cvtJf3ZisQA6rW9fxWu6Z9bHSfUZnUYQDPegToVp0ZoyJxeWvMVWuHCT8cCVcOnduvn2EQNGcVkbsLEB39Ar0CLhuIEeTPRVLqNfeVa_UkaSOph1M/s1600/555209_274737222610901_1343266139_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOk8QuLr8tuKzG4ycTh5sYWrDR6cvtJf3ZisQA6rW9fxWu6Z9bHSfUZnUYQDPegToVp0ZoyJxeWvMVWuHCT8cCVcOnduvn2EQNGcVkbsLEB39Ar0CLhuIEeTPRVLqNfeVa_UkaSOph1M/s1600/555209_274737222610901_1343266139_n.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jez- pulling in his<br />
own catch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5JGyFv7H_yjkiAJJMI8-OlK_7wYNJ9lDAglhMoGn3OxU-0KYNq3FDsZFB064tFhQYzaTiqFdqq4eT8qwnZU3-CqCumxE9MoscGj6t4nq1klqVHEGnwNKh0vfsdgPi1hzwE7OtIfmNIQ/s1600/249120_458663250884963_1573214451_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5JGyFv7H_yjkiAJJMI8-OlK_7wYNJ9lDAglhMoGn3OxU-0KYNq3FDsZFB064tFhQYzaTiqFdqq4eT8qwnZU3-CqCumxE9MoscGj6t4nq1klqVHEGnwNKh0vfsdgPi1hzwE7OtIfmNIQ/s1600/249120_458663250884963_1573214451_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jez and Rae with their haul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
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<div>
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<div>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS6pGSv4zoJfTKVy2Cbxrv1FU970tJnVWfLLQ2eI3magVGROcvnav9JBurQzVoBy-4866XELMhP0FWo0NEQGpKUmlmUuXRymVI0-1hc5NLIFGQyICrJmUMN8mKPi0L4oTNmkpPeTAVmQ/s1600/419142_264661603618463_1305345163_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS6pGSv4zoJfTKVy2Cbxrv1FU970tJnVWfLLQ2eI3magVGROcvnav9JBurQzVoBy-4866XELMhP0FWo0NEQGpKUmlmUuXRymVI0-1hc5NLIFGQyICrJmUMN8mKPi0L4oTNmkpPeTAVmQ/s1600/419142_264661603618463_1305345163_n.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look, it's a sheepshead.<br />
Now--get back to your<br />
assigned seat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGcZV1jqZXnXu4dqPDhS1Y6Ws54CFKDd6RuSMs9IvNy6gWlKcM5Nxbgwk8PzKtW73jjg8hO7bkQX_6d2jncGisdnPlirRk0tcgtNgP0h87dC2CU8x0z4tCQhL3jbXM1Wx7HsoVZz8XJ0/s1600/548893_274738899277400_774944802_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGcZV1jqZXnXu4dqPDhS1Y6Ws54CFKDd6RuSMs9IvNy6gWlKcM5Nxbgwk8PzKtW73jjg8hO7bkQX_6d2jncGisdnPlirRk0tcgtNgP0h87dC2CU8x0z4tCQhL3jbXM1Wx7HsoVZz8XJ0/s1600/548893_274738899277400_774944802_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jez- taking a break from his<br />
assigned seat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYALRWLPsuS39_VoIDkQYeWMHYf6LwYkoDq97vrMrBjZy6YxTMU7JL76Ec6TlMbryXdZITW2doAkpp6woSH-1AWub2TzDx0kaBsgkk2Ksd4J8U6hkOPpcliz6wujTuFsGQ3PLwSrCBYc/s1600/522897_312636502154306_1729237142_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYALRWLPsuS39_VoIDkQYeWMHYf6LwYkoDq97vrMrBjZy6YxTMU7JL76Ec6TlMbryXdZITW2doAkpp6woSH-1AWub2TzDx0kaBsgkk2Ksd4J8U6hkOPpcliz6wujTuFsGQ3PLwSrCBYc/s1600/522897_312636502154306_1729237142_n.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa and Jez</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
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If I'm lucky, my mother-in-law (Terri), will go out on the boat with us. She always packs sandwiches and sun screen, and she is always excited about being on the open water. Let's just be honest, there would be no boat to go out on if Terri didn't let Mike buy one. <b>From this I learned: sandwiches and sunscreen make everything better, it's always exciting to go fishing, and (last but not least) bad ass wives let their husbands buy bad ass boats.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFxrChV8D0IhZaXmylWCtz-wL4trQOhyeOsBwuwgMPsE6BayHPgVWB5k4eK0_fsnoP3qRs7lhjjJ6J20rJAc9JOTJdIa9AWb2rKWRjpJv8TDRIjob5xyTbhbgYWyeED2jIUlCOqFERdQ/s1600/185533_144452638972694_2023902_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFxrChV8D0IhZaXmylWCtz-wL4trQOhyeOsBwuwgMPsE6BayHPgVWB5k4eK0_fsnoP3qRs7lhjjJ6J20rJAc9JOTJdIa9AWb2rKWRjpJv8TDRIjob5xyTbhbgYWyeED2jIUlCOqFERdQ/s1600/185533_144452638972694_2023902_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited Terri.<br />
Photo bomb by the sandwich cooler.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This post's shout out obviously goes to my in-laws. Thanks, Mike and Terri. Not everyone is lucky enough to marry into a family full of Coasties.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFOrt3T8CMlUGP8BObTbVGopEl2lmCS25GmezUKAILrK-lqK1TXzIpQRo_YDYs4jdX18Of1D9mbja_YtFiYZ2jgJhs8E0yZuzv3uqZE9ozc4vvTJJ77JTg2jlexUMFPTypUXtRq5ism8/s1600/603849_458666324217989_1819062490_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFOrt3T8CMlUGP8BObTbVGopEl2lmCS25GmezUKAILrK-lqK1TXzIpQRo_YDYs4jdX18Of1D9mbja_YtFiYZ2jgJhs8E0yZuzv3uqZE9ozc4vvTJJ77JTg2jlexUMFPTypUXtRq5ism8/s1600/603849_458666324217989_1819062490_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chores</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483036490727084617.post-50167746717098594172014-01-16T13:32:00.001-06:002015-06-08T14:15:06.654-05:00A Culture Created<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-hgCPvl7cQaz-uXlI4ZMrAZyR8pOqCwzuldYDFrJufs-vGEEc0I_X1dfBIrCRXIg7RaV7LvsmlRuPlDPNS6L4VAC8MqPbGm-bDJBRFbt0DrOJmsgBBane4A8MBxJO1X-LRJ2M99WE-c/s1600/216028_111205558964069_7441769_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-hgCPvl7cQaz-uXlI4ZMrAZyR8pOqCwzuldYDFrJufs-vGEEc0I_X1dfBIrCRXIg7RaV7LvsmlRuPlDPNS6L4VAC8MqPbGm-bDJBRFbt0DrOJmsgBBane4A8MBxJO1X-LRJ2M99WE-c/s1600/216028_111205558964069_7441769_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh Water catch in East Texas on Hochheim Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's hard to say exactly when my passion for the water first began. However, I know exactly when my addiction to the Texas Coast started. <br />
<br />
At the end of 2010, I married my beautiful wife, Crystal, who is an AP Literature teacher a few miles down the road from Galveston. It wasn't long after the move down here (from Denton, Texas... represent) that I was invited to go on a fishing trip in the bay with some friends.<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIgWI3YTQifss69nY4T_ELBCn0jfCRm_8NUrTQgscPpmd9icWTdRV9yVsH7HINjaEkCIKKW36Vu8mniSxh_EynBRkOLbGmzNemMKGG9m0ReoN-JpOKLqTDSCQxVJGs0KX5SVhgAL4U5I/s1600/7469_471233569627931_686738523_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Crystal, Nash, Lee, Rick<br />
on Galveston Party Boats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIKpFUYrMXlU49Zbd7y6DSDiHHyHyJPcJn-L0IwNkuq2ZViUpDQngDbHX6c9GWTFJZiy6hk7Lg6sWzoDU6hKmkntyRjBp4j4g9tF8OHpwD_J4hCm3LM6eG2H4Y0GXyyTgt8j2spjoMkU/s1600/250102_116831901734768_3283455_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIKpFUYrMXlU49Zbd7y6DSDiHHyHyJPcJn-L0IwNkuq2ZViUpDQngDbHX6c9GWTFJZiy6hk7Lg6sWzoDU6hKmkntyRjBp4j4g9tF8OHpwD_J4hCm3LM6eG2H4Y0GXyyTgt8j2spjoMkU/s1600/250102_116831901734768_3283455_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slim, Rick, Ruben, Lee, Crystal, Me<br />
on Galveston Party Boats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIgWI3YTQifss69nY4T_ELBCn0jfCRm_8NUrTQgscPpmd9icWTdRV9yVsH7HINjaEkCIKKW36Vu8mniSxh_EynBRkOLbGmzNemMKGG9m0ReoN-JpOKLqTDSCQxVJGs0KX5SVhgAL4U5I/s1600/7469_471233569627931_686738523_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQZ7t6zu5J6-sP-aTzpKpcXcs-tyZ4tiqijFcVZJC5t7IExrZKaJs7vrTtoWGvo9rpsLOKqRthZHbI6edud3jG06Tbnx-jdVtjkBbufAcken58vrXssuZRKwXKppfeqESrmPQ3yazmgc/s1600/247133_116877161730242_316905_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQZ7t6zu5J6-sP-aTzpKpcXcs-tyZ4tiqijFcVZJC5t7IExrZKaJs7vrTtoWGvo9rpsLOKqRthZHbI6edud3jG06Tbnx-jdVtjkBbufAcken58vrXssuZRKwXKppfeqESrmPQ3yazmgc/s1600/247133_116877161730242_316905_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wife, me, and one of my first Coastie catches!<br />
Ha! That's my buddy Lee photo bombing in the back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
No matter the size of that first catch, it was at that moment that I vowed to learn all there is to know about salt water fishing. It was then I realized that the<b> Coast</b> is a<b> Culture</b> all its own. </div>
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This blog will be a record of my evolution into a "Coastie" and those who helped me out along the way.</div>
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<i>*I'm a firm believer in shout outs. We have had some good times on the Galveston Party Boats. You can find them at </i>galvestonpartyboatsinc.com<i> . <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU49lc7QAs-aMQeiQE3l3en4NxLfr1G7ZdCJWEVilRQ6Kzd-MMsPO62jsR3qnPLsd603iI0hV_SKICyncW_ALgqQcj7M2aGtUe8IWYwgBgmsqwxlWzsXLEvsmQHjbYUeyNzLSGH5S40dc/s1600/549876_434652093286079_435735954_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU49lc7QAs-aMQeiQE3l3en4NxLfr1G7ZdCJWEVilRQ6Kzd-MMsPO62jsR3qnPLsd603iI0hV_SKICyncW_ALgqQcj7M2aGtUe8IWYwgBgmsqwxlWzsXLEvsmQHjbYUeyNzLSGH5S40dc/s1600/549876_434652093286079_435735954_n.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery's catch. Photo bomb by Jason.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</i></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV12o0s1iCZJdjWPxXympbbGtHZceNogvP-3pIBmtmC06D10ByY5d3HMftXixhflFlClsRS-NUAbkvVvw4ykoGqsIIvO-WC1MAtaGY9NUE8ZQONiPIcVOOtsQJqhj1tziHquR3YP_FxA/s1600/576763_434654429952512_1441519358_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV12o0s1iCZJdjWPxXympbbGtHZceNogvP-3pIBmtmC06D10ByY5d3HMftXixhflFlClsRS-NUAbkvVvw4ykoGqsIIvO-WC1MAtaGY9NUE8ZQONiPIcVOOtsQJqhj1tziHquR3YP_FxA/s1600/576763_434654429952512_1441519358_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason, Me, Crystal, and Avery<br />
Avery's b-day trip on Galveston Party Boats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01652194884592002264noreply@blogger.com0