< Previous90 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2023 FEATURE had given me for him to use. The gun origi- nally was my grandmother’s and was the first gun my father carried as a child when he hunted with his dad. One of the jakes was standing at full strut at about 14 yards, pre- senting Waylon with the perfect opportunity. He took the safety off and pulled the trigger. We watched as the turkey flopped under Waylon’s excellent shot. My elated 4-year-old was overtaken by emotion. I’m not going to lie, so was I. We hugged, then giggled like a couple of school kids, smitten with excite- ment, before stepping out to admire my son’s first spring turkey. I will never forget it. I’m not sure who was more excited when the dust finally settled. To say I was proud would be an understatement, and the way that adventure unfolded, is truly what spring turkey hunting is all about. Each spring, wild turkeys live out their love story across Texas, as strutting gobblers try to attract a mate during breeding season. They are extremely vocal at times, and display a range of emotions as they compete for the attention of nearby hens. One of the most exciting aspects of spring turkey hunting is interacting with the birds through various types of calls. The objective is to sound like a hen coaxing a gobbler to come find her, and hunters can mimic those sounds with slate calls, diaphragm calls and box calls. Box calls are by far the easiest to use. They require the most hand movement, however. They’re great on windy days because they project sound loudly through the woods. Slate calls require a little more practice and finesse, but can produce a much more versatile array of sounds and calls that just might put the finishing touches on a wary long beard, to bring him into shooting range. Slate calls are my favorite, especially hunting from a blind. Diaphragm calls allow hunters to have their hands free. They can produce a variety of sounds and calls by being held against the roof of your mouth and blowing air through them. Many turkey hunters prefer a run-n-gun style. They sport full camouflage head to toe and pursue wild turkeys on foot. The mobile (From top) Spring gobblers exhibit an array of emotions through their actions and behaviors as they try to impress a mate; there is no mistaking the piercing gobbles from a male turkey during the springtime. If you’ve never experienced the art and excitement of chasing springtime thunder, then you should make plans to change that. COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2023 91 aspect of this strategy allows them to move in on areas where gobblers are concentrated. They locate gobbling birds and try to get as close to them as possible before setting up and calling to them. If the tom won’t come to them, they’ll make a stealthy move to try to get a shot. Running-n-gunning works well if you have access to large properties. On smaller properties, I’ve found it best to sit in one spot in a high-traffic area. A pop- up blind gives you more concealment and allows you to sit in a chair and hunt a little more comfortably than on the ground against a tree. I’ve harvested many long beards from a pop-up blind with a bow by luring them close with lifelike decoys. I prefer to hunt turkeys only with a bow in Texas. I don’t take shots farther than about 15 yards. Wild turkeys can be found in most parts of the Lone Star State, including the East Texas Piney Woods, the Hill Country, West Texas and South Texas. If you’ve never ex- perienced the art and excitement of chasing springtime thunder, then you should make plans to change that. Waylon is 5 years old this spring, and he will be in pursuit of his first trophy long beard. Waylon Skinner harvested his first turkey last spring. This season, the 5-year-old is in pursuit of his first trophy long beard. Don’t Rely on LUCK to Sell your Property! Shani Atkinson Isla Del Sol, Lot 21, Blk 7 • $195,00092 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2023 HOOKED SPRING INTO ACTION March offers many angling options, despite the erratic weather story and photos by CAPT. NATE SKINNER M arch typically signals the arrival of warmer weather along the upper Texas coast. It’s welcomed, and usually provides some serious motivation for anglers to ready their gear and arsenal of tackle in preparation to hit the water. Even though temperatures are on the upswing, weath- er conditions still are likely to be inconsistent. Most years, when March rolls around, gale-force winds come with it, seemingly from all directions. Our hearts may be ready for some consistent rod-bending action, but March can be like a yoyo — there will be a lot of ups and downs. The key is being prepared to chase a variety of species. Depending on what hand you’re dealt when you’re able to wet a line, conditions might lend themselves to fishing a particular way or in a specific area. And if you’re dead set on targeting only one species, you might be disappointed. Speckled trout are among the most difficult species to Redfish can be found almost anywhere during the spring, and they will feed during conditions that give speckled trout lockjaw. (Opposite) Speckled trout may arguably be the most inconsistent species to target during March, as ever-changing winds and conditions will keep their patterns varying by the day. COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2023 9394 HOOKED consistently hook up with now. That’s not to say they aren’t worth targeting, as some of the heaviest specks of the year will be caught this month. Their patterns will be changing daily, however, along with the volatile spring weather. As March’s warming sets in, shallow flats along shorelines will load up with mullet. Any stretch with knee- to waist-deep water that’s teeming with mullet represents a potential hotspot for hefty trout. Finding stretches of clean, fishable water might be a challenge, though, because of the month’s changing winds. Protected areas in deeper back lakes and satellite bays with oyster shell are among the best places to target speckled trout during early spring. They’re usually wall to wall with mullet, and tend to hold clearer water in breezy conditions. Redfish can be found almost anywhere this month, and seem to be less susceptible to constant changes in barometric pressure and wind direction. Often, they can be caught in the same stretches of water that are ideal for trout, and likely will feed even when the specks have lockjaw. Shallow marshes and back lakes also will be key areas for redfish, especially during high or elevated tides. When water levels drop, because of strong outgoing tides, red drum pull out to deeper areas such as bay- ous and creeks that feed shallow marshes. All these areas will be protected from strong winds, which means they’re fishable in just about any conditions. Jetty systems, areas with submerged rocks and rip-rap, oyster reefs and the surf along the beachfront also are worth targeting for redfish this time of year. Prevailing winds will determine whether and when these areas can be fished safely and successfully. And don’t forget flounder. Flatfish get a lot of attention during the fall, but often are overlooked as water temperatures warm. Some of the best flounder action of the year takes place during the spring, especially around the mouths of bayous, ditches and creeks that lead to shallow marshes and back lakes. The best time to fish these areas for floun- der is when the tide is falling. An outgoing tide pulls baitfish, crabs and other crusta- ceans out of marshes and extremely shallow areas. Flounder will be staging in deeper adjacent areas for an easy meal. If you time it right, you can find flounder stacked up in specific areas during the spring just like you can during their annual fall run. Some of the most consistent drag-peeling action right now will come from black drum. Our hearts may be ready for some consistent rod-bending action, but March can be like a yoyo – there will be a lot of ups and downs. COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2023 95 JACKI HART REALTOR ® 409.692.5081 jacki.hart@garygreene.com www.realtorwithhart.com Home is where the “HART” is! Thinking of buying or selling a home... Call Jacki Hart TIKI ISLAND 13 136 QUAYSIDE DRIVE | $1,550,000 FOR SALE COLORADO 5741 AVENUE R | $399,000 FOR SALE The species’ spawning season is underway. Black drum of all sizes can be caught during this time of year. But the most notable catch- es will be oversized specimens weighing 25-30 pounds or more. Fresh, cracked crab fished along the bot- tom of channels and passes leading to Gulf waters is the silver bullet for hooking up with oversized black drum — big uglies, as some anglers call them. The most consistent bites usually takes place when the tide is moving. Incoming or outgoing tide both will produce activity. Periods of slack tide will be when the lulls take place. Smaller, keeper-sized drum also will be found feeding consistently right now, regard- less of the conditions. Sheepshead will be feeding alongside them in areas where there’s plenty of structure. Jetties are the best place to catch them. Both the smaller black drum and sheepshead will be lurking right along- side the granite rocks. Free-lined live shrimp will produce all the hookups you want. It’s an exciting time to be an upper coast angler. More consistent weather patterns are on the horizon and getting closer with each passing day. In the meantime, the warmer weather is worth experiencing and there are plenty of springtime options to pursue. Black drum of all sizes will provide consistent action this month. (Opposite) Flounder often are overlooked during the spring, but the flatfish can be found stacked up when conditions are right.96 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2023 PARTY PICS 123 764 5 9 11 10 8 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2023 97 Matt Hawkes | Branch Manager matt.hawkes@nflp.com | (713) 521-0413 Apply at nflp.com/matthawkes 1009 Broadway St., Galveston, TX 77550 MLO NMLS# 201887 Apply for a mortgage with Matt! WE MAKE BUYING ON THE BEACH AS RELAXING AS LIFE ON THE BEACH ©2021 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. David Bowers REALTOR ® 409.763.2800 David@DavidBowers.com Please Call/Text/Email me to sell your property. 3102 Seawall • Galveston Rare opportunity for Seawall frontage property with views of the Gulf & Beach six blocks west of the Pleasure Pier. Building includes upstairs open deck. • Noteworthy view of the Galveston Beaches and the Gulf of Mexico PROPERTY FACTS • Sale Type - Investment or Owner User • Property Type - Retail • Property Subtype - Restaurant/Club • Building Size - 2,480 SF • Price - $3,000,000 Scan QR code for complete information The Galveston regional Chamber of Commerce convened its 178th Annual Meeting on Jan. 28 at the Galveston Island Convention Center. Guests were transported “Back to Detroit City” with 1960s-era food, cars, Hitsville recording studio, Motown lounges and a performance by The Four Tops. The chamber presented awards to individuals and businesses making a difference in the community, including rodger rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, who was named 2022 “Nonno” Tony Smecca Galvestonian of the Year. Photos by Carla Peoples GALVESTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL MEETING PICTURED: 1. Bob Spagnola, state Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson, Dave Wilson and Gina Spagnola, president and CEO of the Galveston chamber. 2. Chamber Vice President Lindsay Touchy, Shane McDermott and Maggie Green. 3. Marty and Jackie Fluke with Joanna and Brian Yates. 4. Destin Sims, Concetta Maceo Sims, Ryan Holliday, Maryrine and Leonard Woolsey, publisher of The Daily News and president of Southern Newspapers Inc. 5. Hedy Minter, Dawn and Sonny Tholcken and Ashley Carner. 6. Sharon O’Connor Simmons and Joe Simmons. 7. Kevin Venable, Lisa Holbrook, Brad Neal, Jeff Ossenkop and Carlos Medina. 8. Keith Zahar, Charlene Christ, Amy Maxwell Chase and Pete Chase. 9. Seated: Jamie and Chris Alvarez, Pete and Joline Henley; standing: Maddie and Billy Joe Strawn. 10. Alena Pyles, Presley Pyles, Annie Boch and Victoria Newsome. 11. Bill Hopkins, Kay Davis, Joan and Doug McLeod.98 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2023 PARTY PICS 12 3 45 97 8 6 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MArCH 2023 99 An agent with the vision to turn your dream into reality. Kathy Kendrick REALTOR ® ” “ Find your space …in Galveston! Buying or Selling in Galveston County and surrounding area? Call Kathy Kendrick 214.793.4176 kathy@sandnsea.com www.sandnsea.com ...leading into a bright future. 1914 45th St. • Galveston, TX 77550 • 409-692-2001 Members and community partners joined the Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce in celebrating its 54th Annual Membership Meeting & Gala on Jan. 19 at the Doyle Convention Center in Texas City. Guests enjoyed “Some Enchanted Evening” featuring delicious food and drinks, festive entertainment and prestigious awards. Outgoing board chairman ron Assad, with Gallant Builders, passed the gavel to Warren Nichols, president of College of the Mainland. Photos by Carla Peoples TEXAS CITY-LA MARQUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERSHIP MEETING & GALA PICTURED: 1. Marielle Mascorro; Warren Nichols, College of the Mainland president and incoming chamber board president; Tim Culp, chamber president and CEO; Ron Assad, outgoing chamber board president; and Lauren Kaiser. 2. Lauren Burkhalter, Barbara Lopez, Marisa Voight and Caitlin Kim. 3. Kevin Venable, Marissa Malinowski, Shelly Scimeca and Ann Ramos. 4. Jeff and Michelle Robinson, chief revenue director for The Daily News; Laura Elder, Coast Monthly editor; Michael A. Smith, The Daily News editor; Maryrine and Leonard Woolsey, publisher for The Daily News and president of Southern Newspapers Inc. 5. Kyle and Mary Dickson, Georgia Meyer Barzilay, Ami Barzilay and outgoing chamber board President Ron Assad. 6. Standing: Gary and Valerie Baggett; seated Mark and Monica Davis. 7. Ramiro and Eva Barba, Jane Hayley and Sally Briggs. 8. Don and Sandy Gartman with Kim and Fred Raschke. 9. Seated: Justin McCravey and Jodi Shipp; standing: Terri and Paul O’Connell.Next >