Cedar Bayou Progress

For those following the Cedar Bayou / Vinson Slough project, you'll be glad to know that the Environmental Assessment study is wrapping up, and the application for funding has been submitted.

The next step, once the EA is wrapped up, is submit the application to the CORP requesting the permit to begin work on dredging the channel. I feel confident that the CORP will approve the application, and we can finally restore this pass and the thousands of acres of wetlands that we've lost.

We'll continue gathering signatures at the online petition until we submit them to the CORP, if you haven't already signed, click here to do so now.

If you want to be informed of the upcoming public comment period, head over to my Texas fishing site and register, all members will be notified when the time comes to comment.

Course One Behind Me

As much as I want to say it was a long weekend, it actually went by quicker than expected. On Friday evening there was a short orientation and introduction, and we got straight down to business. But first I need to add, I had some expectations on who my classmates might be, and there reasons for being there. Boy was I off the mark.

It’s a very diverse group of folks, there are eight of us guys, and two ladies taking the class. And out of the ten of us, there are only four anglers including one of the ladies. One of the guys is actually a full time competitive Bass fisherman (yea, there's a little envy there), another spends most og his time offshore, and the ladies family own a marina and restaurant somewhere on the upper coast.

We’re the only ones that voiced an interest in becoming a fishing guides, but for me that’s all it is at this point, just an interest. Most of the other folks run larger "cruiser" type boats including the instructor. For me, and my addiction to fishing, I’ve never really understood owning a boat and not fishing, but that’s just me.

The class is very fast paced, time slips away and before you know it’s time to go. But the instructor does an excellent job, he’s very patient and will spend all the time necessary to be sure everyone understands the material inside and out. The biggest hurdle will be "consuming" it all in such a short period of time. We’re talking about sixty hours over three weekend and one day, with an average test time being two to three hours.

So far we haven’t covered anything that I don’t understand, but I’ll definitely have to do some studying with chart plotting. It is by far the toughest thing we covered for me. There were guys in the class that made it look easy, but they are licensed pilots and have some previous experience. For me, I could use a tutor..

That's it for week one, I’m going to go do my homework and think of you guys that get to go fishing next weekend... Think about me when you catch one!

Texas Flats Fishing

My journey to becoming a USCG Licensed Captain

To be perfectly honest I’m not sure I even want to be a fishing guide, but I’m signed up, and classes begin tonight! The schedule is from 9 A.M to 6 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday for the next three weekends. And all I can think about is, I can’t go fishing until I’m done, not only that, but I will have just burnt three weekends of "kitchen passes" so I may not get to go for a while after.. But I have a simple solution for that one, the wife and our sons are going with me!

So this will be my journal as I experience what it is to become a Captain. I’m not nervous in the least, I love to learn new things so I’m looking forward to it and actually a little anxious to get started.

The classes will be at Carlos and Charlie's on Lake Travis, and the instructor is from "Mariners School". As the weeks go by and time permits I’ll share what my experience has been, and anything else the seems interesting.

Stay tuned, I’ll try to post on Monday...