< Previous10 COASTMONTHLY.COM / August 2018From the EditorI don’t know a lot about fishing, except you need patience. My father, who loved to fish, was a patient man. I marveled at his willingness to stay out for hours. His patience rarely failed, even on one trip to Matagorda Bay, when my sister and I managed to lock his keys in the trunk of our ’70-something Chevy Nova. He fished all day and spent much of the night dismantling the Nova’s backseat to retrieve those keys, without ever showing signs of what must have been pure annoyance. Even after that incident, he always let us tag along, hoping to instill in us a love of Texas saltwater fishing.We learned practical things on those wade-fishing trips, such as how to slowly shuffle along the bay bottom so we didn’t step down hard on a stingray. But we also learned spiritual things, such as how to appreciate life on the water and all the good things we had here along the upper Texas coast.Appreciation of the outdoors and tuning into nature was a recurring theme as we spoke to avid anglers about the allure of wade fishing. One of those avid anglers is Nate Skinner, born and raised in Texas City. Coast Monthly is proud to introduce the award-winning outdoor writer and photogra-pher as the newest member of our outstand-ing team. Skinner will write monthly articles on fishing, hunting and the outdoors.Skinner lives in Santa Fe with his wife, Emi-ly, who also loves the outdoors, and their son, Waylon, along with his bird dog and hunting partner, a female black Lab named Kahle.Happy fishing.LAURA ELDERCoast Monthly EditorPatience is key in fishing Photo by Stuart VillanuevaSEA ISLE4215 NUECES | $399,000PIRATES BEACH4014 BOUNTY CT. | $525,000THE BREAKERS CONDO7700 SEAWALL BLVD #103 | $219,000PIRATES BEACH4106 FIDDLER CRAB LN. | $429,000JAMAICA BEACH4308 SPANISH MAIN | $324,900SEA ISLE21511 SAN LUIS PASS | $365,000JAMAICA BEACH16630 FRANCIS DRAKE | $289,900ISLA DEL SOL3912 BRIDGE HARBOR | $549,900SUNSET COVE20715 E SUNSET BAY | $1,299,900PIRATES COVE3401 PETITE CIR. | $575,000TERRAMAR BEACH23002 VERANO | $339,000TERRAMAR22914 LUNES | $315,000LAFFITES COVE13507 MOYENNE PL. | $1,299,000PIRATES BEACH13826 MUTINY LN. | $529,000PIRATES BEACH4002 ELISSA CT. | $435,000PIRATES BEACH4102 FIDDLER CRAB LN. | $499,900• GAR 2014, 2015, 2016 MLS Committee Member• Accredited Buyer Representative - ABR• Seller Representative Specialist - SRS• Resort & Second Home Priority Specialist - RSPS• Notary PublicLINDA SIVY Realtor Associate WORKING PARTNER TO SUE JOHNSONGALVESTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS 2018 MLS CHAIRMANOVER 25 YEARS OF REAL ESTATE RELATED EXPERIENCE• Honored 7 times by the Houston Business Journal for Closed Transactions• Honored by H Texas Magazine• Honored by Heritage Texas Properties as 2013 - 2017 Top Producer• Honored by Heritage Texas Properties as Top Listing Agent & Most Closed Transactions Companywide in 2017• Nationally recognized as a Real Trends Top 250 Real Estate Professional for Closed Transactions & Dollar VolumeCONSISTENTLY RANKED AMONG THE TOP TWO PRODUCERS ON GALVESTON ISLAND FOR DOLLAR VOLUME & NUMBER OF CLOSED TRANSACTIONSOVER 45 YEARS OF REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCESUE JOHNSONBroker Associate, GRI 409.682.9050 sue@heritagetexas.com409.599.5847lsivy@heritagetexas.comJUST REDUCEDJUST REDUCEDJUST LISTED12 COASTMONTHLY.COM / August 2018ShorelinesWe asked on Facebook: What’s the one thing – gadget, item, good luck charm – you always have while fishing?A compadre that loves the sport just as much as I do.– Nate SkinnerMy 20-year-old Shimano Calcutta reel. It works like the day I bought it.– Lee UsryI might have a different tackle box be-cause over the years they kinda get worn out, but the tackle I stock it with has stayed consistent over the years. Funny, fish still eat the same bait as they did in the ‘60s and the spoons and lures specs and reds hit in the ‘70s still fool them today.(BTW I got my July Coast magazine today and I thought it was awesome.)– Keith GrayHaving grown up a “Galveston Island Boy,” I started fishing the 29th Street pier with a cane pole and borrowed cut bait at age 4 to 5 years. Through many enjoyable years of fishing, I have found that the absolute best thing that I always have while going fishing is someone who is a much better fisherman than I, so lessons may be learned by me, cre-ating a much better fisherman of myself.RIP Ronnie Trobis, former “Captain” of the Budweiser Fishing Yacht.– David CarpenterWhen I fish, having good fishing mem-ories of my grandfather and grateful for all his love. He died while at the cleaning table with the day’s catch, after fishing that morn-ing with his long-time fishing buddies. What a good way to go, doing what he loved with his good friends.– Lee BranumMy favorite memories growing up in Galveston were living on Bayou Shore Drive with my father, Lalor Biering, teaching my sister and me how to fish off of our boat dock in Little Offatts Bayou/English Bayou behind our home with nothing more than a cane pole catching catfish.– Leona Biering PleasantTake whatever makes you happy. Your best friend, a beer, a sandwich, your favorite rod or even your favorite tunes. Whether you’re catching fish or not, (it is better while catching), the main thing is to relax and have fun. If you can’t catch fish, head to B. Jiggers for more bait!– John Bertolino Sr.What readers are saying about the July issue:Seriously, this publication is the best thing to come out of Galveston in a very long time! Keep up the good work sharing the wonder-ful and outstanding qualities and people that live, work and enjoy Galveston County.– Marsha KnappWhat readers said about the June article: “A horticulturist transforms the long-neglected grounds of a former Galveston orphanage.”Mitzy, I appreciate the results of your efforts. I grew up in Galveston and I’m so happy with The Bryan Museum. I’m a member and each trip I make there from my home in Houston is an adventure — something new and beautiful has been added. Your enhancement of the grounds is spectacular. Thank you.– Patti MossLetter to the editor:The picture sent in from Brenda Lightfoot in the Broadway Cemetery was amazing. It shows an old statue of the Virgin Mary along with all the beautiful yellow flowers. Back behind her is a gravestone where my grandparents are buried! I had two broth-ers who died this year, one very recently in Galveston. This was amazing to me and was a true sign to me that all is well. Thank you for posting awesome pictures.– Linda Muehe MinorPhoto by Brenda LightfootPhoto by Jennifer ReynoldsKEEPING YOU AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAMEWhen an injury has you sidelined, the world-class team of specialists at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine will help you get back out there faster, with:• Expertise to treat common to complex injuries• Latest imaging and technology• Advanced nonsurgical treatments• Minimally invasive procedures• State-of-the-art physical and occupational therapySchedule an appointment to discuss your options with a specialist.Locations in Nassau Bay and Clear Lake713.363.9090 | houstonmethodist.org/gameonBaytownWillowbrookTexas Medical CenterWest Houston-KatySugar LandThe WoodlandsClear LakeBellaireMemorial CityPearlandConroe14 COASTMONTHLY.COM / August 2018santa Fe angler Nate skinner casts his line at the texas City Dike, which features premier walk-in-and-wade areas.Photo by Stuart Villanueva COASTMONTHLY.COM / August 2018 15Wading inThis shallow water approach will help you catch more fishStory by Capt. Nate Skinner“Why get out of a perfectly good boat?”That’s a question I’ve been asked innumerable times when discussing the sport of coastal wade fishing. The answer, although somewhat loaded, just might be enough to make you want to step out of a bay boat and plunge right into the brine alongside the fish you’re pursuing.For an outdoorsman, there’s something to be said about becoming one with nature. This idea doesn’t get any more real than when an angler is standing in the water with the fish. It’s almost like visiting these scaly critters’ homes. When performed correctly, wade fishing will increase the number of encounters anglers enjoy with quality-sized redfish, speckled trout and flounder.What lies beneath the water’s surface might always remain somewhat of a mystery. Regard-less of how advanced today’s marine electronics have become, nothing reveals the most precise and minute details of the bay bottom quite like a person’s very own two feet.16 COASTMONTHLY.COM / August 2018WADE FISHING GEAR CHECKLIST Waders (when water temperatures are cool) Wading boots Wading belt Pliers with line cutters stringer stingray guards tackle box with shoulder strap COASTMONTHLY.COM / August 2018 17FishingWade fishing allows anglers to feel the constantly changing underwater characteris-tics as they tread along stretches of shallow water. These might include slight changes in depth, as well as variances in bottom com-position such as mud, sand, scattered shell and seagrass. Areas where these changes and characteristics occur can be noted and revisited as hot spots from which to locate hordes of hungry fish.Wading also gives anglers a much stealthi-er approach in shallow water compared with fishing from a boat. Whether it’s anchored or drifting, a vessel projects plenty of noise and vibration through the water column from a process referred to as hull-slap. This is where waves and ripples along the water’s surface crash into the hull of the boat, creat-ing a slapping noise that’s amplified into the water. This disturbance can spook skittish schools of fish.Other sounds associated with a boat, such as the rumbling from an outboard motor or the humming of a trolling motor, also can tip off wary fish to an angler’s presence. Anchoring a boat and then getting out and wading away from it allows anglers to sneak into casting distance of fish that might not have otherwise been reachable.Sometimes, fish are found in tight concen-trations. This might be because they’re stag-ing around some sort of structure like a reef, point on a shoreline, marsh drain or deeper gut. In other scenarios, the fish might just be schooled up in a particular area. Either way, if this is occurring in shallow water, then wading will be the best strategy for effective-ly targeting them.In this type of situation, wade fishing allows an angler to stand in one spot and cast at concentrations of fish. Drift fishing the area would mean the boat would be constantly drifting over the fish. The boat operator would have to crank up the motor and circle back around up current or up-wind to get back on the action. Not only is this inefficient, but it could scare the fish and shut down the bite. The commotion involved with idling within casting distance of the school and then dropping anchor could also spook the fish.One excellent way to find a stretch of water worthy of wading is to start out by drifting through an area that has plenty of “fishy” signs. These signs include the pres-Photos by Nate Skinner(Above) Galveston angler Ryan Welch with a flounder he landed while wading the mouth of a marsh drain in Chocolate Bay. (Opposite page) Capt. Ryan Battistoni of Battistoni’s Guide Service with a speckled trout he caught while wading near the flats along the inside of the San Luis Pass in lower West Galveston Bay. Battistoni said wade fishing is his preferred method for pursuing speckled trout in Galveston Bay.ence of nervous looking baitfish, slicks and birds hovering over or diving at the water’s surface. Once a fish is caught or strikes, the boat operator can anchor the vessel, get into the water and begin wading in the direction of the action. This strategy helps anglers cover water and narrow down where the premier hot spots are to get out of the boat.Many top bay fishing pros are exceptional wade fishermen. Galveston Bay fishing guide Capt. Ryan Battistoni is one of these gurus and said wade fishing is his favorite way to target fish in our bays and estuaries.“I prefer to wade anytime the opportunity presents itself,” he said. “It’s a great way to stay cool when air temperatures are warm, plus sometimes it’s the only productive way to catch fish in shallow water.”There are many hot spots for anglers with access to a boat to wade fish and find consis-tent action for the next several weeks in the Galveston Bay complex, as well as in other bay systems along the upper Texas coast.In West Galveston Bay, the north shoreline from Greens Cut to Carancahua Point is an excellent stretch of water known for holding schools of reds and good numbers of trout. This area contains a hard, sandy bottom and has large seagrass beds along the bank. Other prime spots to wade fish in West Bay include the flats inside the San Luis Pass and the mouths of coves along the south shoreline.18 COASTMONTHLY.COM / August 2018FishingEast Galveston Bay’s south shoreline from Baffle Point to Marsh Point also provides anglers with miles of water perfect for wade fishing. Reds and flounder can be found near the mouths of marsh drains and coves along this bank, while trout will be holding off the shoreline over sand with scattered oyster shell.In the northern reaches of the Galveston Bay Complex, the east shoreline of Trinity Bay is littered with heavy oyster shell reefs. Specks and reds will be cruising along these reefs from Smith Point to Double Bayou.East and West Matagorda Bays also offer waders some outstanding options along their south shorelines. The same is true for Sabine Lake’s Louisiana shoreline.Wade fishing isn’t just productive for those with access to a boat. There are several plac-es within the Galveston Bay complex where anglers can drive their vehicles and then walk into the water to fish.The surf is one of the most popular walk-in-and-wade hot spots this time of year, and is arguably one of the most productive. The entire stretch of beach along Galveston Island can be quite good. So can the Bolivar Peninsula surf along Crystal Beach and the shallow flats of the Bolivar Pocket.Additional premier walk-in-and-wade ar-eas in the Galveston area in and around the Texas City Dike. They include the stretches of water out in front of the Texas City levee, and the shallow flats along Mosquito Island and the north side of the dike. The Galves-ton Island State Park also contains some great options for anglers looking to walk in and wade.While wading, anglers should always pro-ceed with caution. It's important to be mind-ful of the surrounding water depths as well as strong currents that might be prevalent in certain places. When fishing an area for the first time, waders should take their time and learn the lay of the land before hastily drudging through the water.August means summer fishing patterns are in full force and the action is steady. One of the best ways to enjoy it is to get out in the water and get wet. Who knows — wade fishing just might become your go-to method for bending sticks.From knee deep to waist deep, I’ll see you in the salt. ABOUT NATE SKINNERNate skinner is an award-winning outdoor writer and photographer who is a texas sportsman to the core. Born and raised in texas City, skinner became smitten with the outdoors at a young age with the upper texas coast as his playground. Fishing and understanding the bays of the upper texas coast has become not only a passion for him, but a way of life.As he matured, skinner expanded his saltwater fishing experiences and knowl-edge to the entire texas coast and its miles of bays, estuaries and beachfronts.skinner also holds the sport of waterfowl hunting close to his heart, and he enjoys coaxing ducks and geese into a decoy spread across the fields and marshes of texas, as well as in Louisiana and Oklahoma. With waterfowl hunting comes his love for retrievers. skinner takes along his favorite hunting partner, a black Lab he trained himself.When he’s not on the water or in a duck blind, skinner most likely be found in a field amongst a few turkey decoys, try-ing to call in a mature tom, or hanging out in a tree in full camouflage with his bow, hunting white-tailed deer.skinner is a licensed captain by the u.s. Coast guard and is the upper texas coast editor for texas Outdoors Journal, as well as a field editor for a publication that features articles about waterfowl hunting, upland bird hunting, archery hunting, turkey hunting and other wing shooting applications.His outdoor communications work also spans radio and television. skinner has filmed several seasons of the “On the Coast” segment for Fox sports Outdoors and is a regular guest and guest host on texas Outdoor News Radio.skinner lives in santa Fe with his wife, Emily, who also loves the outdoors, along with their son, Waylon, and his bird dog and hunting partner, a female black Lab named Kahle.Photo by Nate SkinnerCapt. Ryan Battistoni with an upper slot redfish he found lurking along the north shoreline of West Galveston Bay. Wade fishing shallow flats is an excellent way to stalk schools of redfish.Next >