Last week’s fishing report from the docks of Deep Sea Headquarters, Port Aransas:
May 28, 2017 48 hr Trip Tommy Frank and Bob Matteson hauled in a 105 # Black grouper caught aboard the Pelican with Capt. James Wheeler
Stay tuned to see what new catches there may be!
Report by Marsha Walker – DSH
The Port Aransas Ferry is always something different that people of all ages seem to enjoy. Whether it’s your first time to Port Aransas or your 100th time, the ferry is something you’ll never forget. You get to see the ships cross, the seagulls and pelicans, and if you’re lucky, a pod of dolphins! While waiting in the ferry line, why not learn some history of the Port Aransas Ferry wile you’re at it?
In 1911 there was a railroad called the Tonnerville Trolley that transported workers from Aransas Pass to construct the ferry landing. When the channel was built, so was the crude oil pipeline that goes from Aransas Pass to Port Aransas under the water.
The first ferry boat was names Mitzi. Mitzi was privately owned and could carry 6 vehicles across the water at a time. To get to the ferry, people had to buy a ticket, load up their vehicle on the train and use wooden boards inside the rails to move the train if it wasn’t on a scheduled run.
The toll road opened in 1931 between Port Aransas and Aransas Pass. The roadway was made of wooden planks. Now that there was a new roadway, it did away with having to load your vehicle on the train. They could simply drive on the wooden planks after paying, and drive to the ferry landing.
Ferry operations were privately owned unti 1951, when Nueces County took over operations. Eight years later in 1959, a paved roadway was constructed and replaced the wooden causeway. There was still a toll that was charged before you got on the new roadway. Toll was taken away when the Texas Department of Transportation took over ownership and operations in 1968.
These days, the Port Aransas Ferry runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and you ride for free. There are six ferry boats that carry 20-28 vehicles each. You can check the ferry wait times online and even check the webcam’s that show you what traffic looks like.
If you are coming Port Aransas, take a ride on the Port Aransas Ferry before you come over to Casa on the Beach!
When you think of Mother’s Day, the first thing that crosses your mind is, “What do I get her?”
We resort to gift giving so often that we forget how great making memories can be. What better way to gift your mom than to give her a memory that will last a life time, and why not make that memory at the beach? Any mom would enjoy a relaxing getaway with the wind in her hair and the sand between her toes, which makes Port Aransas a great place to celebrate Mother’s Day!
A mom’s number one need (and want) is sleep. Let her sleep in or even just relax while you make breakfast in your condo and treat her to breakfast in bed with a beautiful beach view!
Let her take a break from the craziness and get dressed up for a nice dinner. Moms need a break sometimes, and Port Aransas’s night life will help her let loose and enjoy herself! The fact that she won’t be washing dishes after dinner is a gift all on its own!
If you’re looking to treat a new mom, crafts that involve your baby with be the most heartwarming. With Casa being steps away from the beach, you can let mom sleep in and take the baby out for beach pictures. Nothing says happy Mother’s Day better than a picture of baby feet in the sand! Having a picture processed is quick and easy, and it’ll mean more to Mom than you know!
No matter Mom’s age or number of kids, one thing is for sure – you can’t go wrong with a surprise beach trip. Making memories together as a family is the best gift of all!
This week’s fishing report from the docks of Deep Sea Headquarters, Port Aransas:
8 Hr Trips King Mackeral, Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks, Mahi Mahi, Jack Crevalle, Rabbit Fish, Spanish Mackeral, Ling and a 102# Blacktip Shark.
30 Hr Trips Vermillion Snapper, Black Fin Tuna, Yellowedge Grouper, King Mackeral, Wahoo and a 18# Mahi Mahi.
Bay Trips caught Gafftops and Whiting.
Private Bay Guides have been bringing back Redfish and Black Drum.
4-9-17 Thomas Koederitz from Austin, TX caught a nice 18# Mahi Mahi while aboard the Pelican 30 Hr with Capt. James Wheeler.
4-9-17 Ed Faurie from Leander, TX stands by his 102# Black Tip Shark while aboard the KingFisher 8 Hr with Capt. Marvin Horner.
Stay tuned next week to see what new catches there may be!
Report by Marsha Walker – DSH
Did you come to Port Aransas to fish? Great! But now you have your catch of the day, and you need a good, quick recipe, right?
We think the recipe below goes great with all the common fish that you might catch here in the Gulf Coast waters. It pairs well with a White Pinot Noir wine or even a Margarita! For the sides- roasted garlic potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, and a fresh warm roll.
INGREDIENTS
- 6 red snapper fillets with skin on one side (or whatever your catch of the day is)
- 6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup finely chopped cilantro
- 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 ½ tablespoons finely grated fresh lime zest
- 12 Lime wedges
PREPERATION
- Preheat broiler and lightly oil a shallow baking pan (1 inch deep).
- Pat fish dry, then arrange skin sides up, in 1 layer on baking pan. Brush both sides of fish with 3 tablespoons of your olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Squeeze some lime juice from 2 wedges and sprinkle some garlic and lime zest, leaving most for after it is cooked.
- Toss together the cilantro, rest of the garlic and lime zest in a bowl.
- Broil Fish without turning over, until just cooked through for about 8 to 1o minutes.
- Transfer fish to a platter with skin sides down. Then sprinkle the cilantro, garlic and zest mixture- and drizzle with remaining oil if desired.
Let us know if you try this recipe! It’s so easy, it’s almost impossible to mess up!
ENJOY!
So, have you found the time between spring and summer break to be an absolute bore? Are you counting down the days until your kids are off of school and you can take a vacation to Port Aransas, Texas? Well I’m here to say, me too!
I may live locally, but this time is so confusing for my family. It’s almost like our bodies are going through the motions and our brain and heart are in beach mode. So- why not just visit Port Aransas on the weekends?! It’s almost like a pre-party to summer time. I’ve found so much to do that doesn’t necessarily involve going to hang out at the beach. That being said, the beach is also amazing. I sit in my shade and take a nap, while my kids play nearby and my husband watches them so that I can relax. But if you are looking for some fun activities to do for the weekend, here are a few things I have found that our family loves to do, and yours might too!
1.)The Red Dragon Pirate ship. We’ve mentioned this before, but just in case you’re wondering- it is GREAT for ADULTS and children. My husband and I have a great time and so do the kids. They have a bar for the adults and their drinks are very cold! Seriously- it’s awesome.
2.)Painting with a Twist in Corpus Christi. I’m sure you’ve seen Painting with a Twist or a similar ‘paint and sip studio’ around. This is such a fun time! They have kid’s classes, adult classes and lots more to offer than just a painting class. Bring the kids or your wine and get ready for a fun, entertaining time!
3.)Texas State Aquarium. Now this is almost a given. The aquarium has a new addition, and it is awesome. So much to see and with their splash pad for the kids, you can make a day out of it.
4.)Hiking. There are many places to explore and hike in the area, but our favorite is Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond. Such a beautiful spot to just enjoy the birds, butterflies and flowers- as well as the water.
5.)Fire it! Ceramics. This place is so fun- you get to paint your pottery however you’d like and they will send it to you once it is fired if you live out of town!
So, why wait for summer to have a fun little getaway? I know we won’t be waiting for June to do some of the activities mentioned above!
JZ
This week’s fishing report from the docks of Deep Sea Headquartes, Port Aransas:
8 Hr Trips had nice catches of King Mackeral, Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks.
12 Hr Trips hauled in King Mackeral, Mahi Mahi, Ling, Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks, Vermillion Snapper, Amberjack and Barracuda.
30 Hr Trips hauled in nice catch of Amberjack, Black Fin Tuna, Yellow Fin Tuna, Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks, Vermillion Snapper and Barracuda.
Bay Fishing Whiting, Sand Trout and Gafftops.
1-21-17 Kelley Green from Austin, Texas hauled in a nice 52# Kingfish aboard the Kingfisher with Capt. Marvin Horner on a recent 12 hour trip.
Stay tuned next week to see what new catches there may be!
Report by Marsha Walker – DSH
Donuts have been popular for centuries, but do you know how they came about?
In the mid-19th century, a New England ship captain’s mother, Elizabeth Gregory, made a wicked deep-fried dough that used her son’s nutmeg and cinnamon spice combination. It is thought that she made this dough so that her son and his crew could store a pastry on long voyages. Mrs. Gregory put hazelnuts or walnuts in the center, where the dough may not have cooked through, hence the name doughnuts.
While Elizabeth created the beginnings of a doughnut, her son was actually the one to put the hole in the now traditional donut. It is rumored that he gave the donut this shape when he skewered his donut on a spoke of his ship’s wheel because he needed to keep both hands on the wheel. How convenient! Later, however, Captain Gregory stated in an interview that he cut into the middle of a donut with a round, tin pepper box. For what reason, we don’t know.
Donuts didn’t actually become popular until World War I when millions of American doughboys were served millions of donuts by women volunteers who even brought them to the front lines to give soldiers a tasty reminder of home.
The first donut machine was built in 1920, and boy are we thankful! While there are a variety of donuts to choose from now, the original will always be one of our favorites!
The history of donuts is special to us because every week our lovely Winter Texans enjoy hot, fresh donuts in our meeting room. We love getting together over coffee and a sweet treat and sharing about the beach treasures we found that week. We love our Winter Texans!
Winter Texans will find that Port Aransas and nearby towns, including Corpus Christi, offer a variety of recreational activities, events, attractions and other exciting things to do. Snowbirds enjoy golfing, shopping at local outlet centers and malls and visiting the many exciting Corpus Christi attractions. Some local businesses offer low daily rates for Winter Texans. The Corpus Christi Medical Center is a member of the nationwide Senior Friends organization in which offers Winter Texans day trips, extended travel opportunities, exercise programs and facilities, healthy living classes, computer classes, as well as arts and crafts, table games and more for Winter Texans. Many other fairs, auctions, festivals, and other special events including health fairs, a home and garden expo, Ranching Heritage Festival and the annual Mr. and Mrs. Winter Texan contest are available to Winter Texans in Port Aransas.
The Botanical Gardens, the Wildlife Refuge, the Texas State Aquarium, and San Jose Island are great places to visit for those snowbirds that love nature. The Art Museum of South Texas, the USS Lexington, the Museum of Science History, and multiple state parks give history and art lovers a place to learn about Texas History and appreciate the talent of Texan artists.
Not only does the city offer activities for our Winter Texans, but at Casa we have Coffee and Donuts every Tuesday, bingo night, card night, and more fun events!
Don’t let Valentines Day be your only date night! Do you have plans yet? If not, we’ve got a few ideas to ensure that you have a great date night!
Of course, there is the classic horseback riding on the beach. Stop by Horses on the Beach and take a guided horse ride down the shoreline of Padre Island! They have horses for beginners and experienced riders, making it a great experience for everyone!
Another classic, but with a little more privacy, enjoy a nice picnic on San Jose Island! You can kayak to the island or take a scheduled boat that goes to and from the island throughout the day. With 21 miles of an undeveloped island and no way to drive a vehicle on the beach, it’s the perfect place to lay back and relax or walk the shoreline and search for keepsakes that will give you a great memory of your special date!
For a little more action, check out Woody’s Sports Center. They offer parasailing, jet ski rentals, and boat rides where you can see the dolphins and whooping cranes. No matter what you choose here, you’ll have a great time!
Go sailing with Padre Island Sailing Charters! Take a nice relaxing ride through the water and watch the dolphins at sunset with the one you care about most! You’ll have a romantic night out for sure!
For any kayakers, take your date out to the Lighthouse Lakes Trail! You’ll have so many trails to choose from, it is a great experience, and amazing bonding time!
For something more laid back, check out Charlie’s Pasture. You’ll have a nice, quaint area to sit together and watch the sunset and enjoy nature. It is truly a beautiful view.