We push off from shore in our kayaks with one goal in mind: land some Spanish mackerel. These toothy speedsters like to put up a fight, and we’re ready for some fast action.
The Gulf waters are relatively calm, with a gentle swell that rocks our boats in a steady rhythm. We paddle toward the towering steel framework of some oil platforms more than 3 miles offshore — not a small task in a kayak. As we approach the large structures, their barnacle-encrusted legs disappear into the emerald-green depths below.
Spanish mackerel often cruise the edges of the structure, hunting baitfish that gather in the artificial reef created by the rig. We quickly gear up and cast. Soon, I’ve got something. The fish takes off in a blistering run, stripping line from the reel in that distinctive Spanish mackerel fashion — fast and determined.
After a spirited fight, I bring a beautiful mackerel to the boat. Its sides flash silver and green in the sun, with distinctive yellow spots along its flanks. It’s been a long journey to get to this point.
I grew up in Corpus Christi. As a young man, I struggled to balance all that was going on in my life — college, a full-time job, a wife with a kid on the way.
To decompress, I fished off the JFK Causeway every chance I got. One of those days I saw a kayak angler gain access to vast spreads of water by simply paddling the beautiful flats of the Laguna Madre. He had much more success than I was having. I started hunting for my first kayak, and I eventually found one buried away at a metal and plastic recycling facility and bought it on the spot.
I had little idea that the sport of kayak fishing would take me from humble beginnings to a national spotlight. I went from using milk crates for kayak storage, to starting a YouTube channel, to becoming a coach and competitive kayak angler.
I started my YouTube channel (Next Level Fishing TV) to document my journey targeting trophy species. I made a splash when I caught a 7-foot sailfish and set the Texas kayak fishing sailfish record. After that, I decided to enter the tournament scene.
I was definitely at a disadvantage. I was going up against million-dollar offshore boats with my little kayak. But it worked. I won my first tournament in 2017 and continued to win tournaments with my kayak beating the big boats. I wanted to show fishing enthusiasts that you don’t have to spend astronomical amounts of money to have a good time catching quality fish.
I paddled for years catching and cooking fish. At times I even prepared fish on the water. Some days called for fresh ceviche, while other days I wanted to try to prepare fish that would be worthy of fine dining. Spanish mackerel quickly became a favorite of mine. I discovered that this fish pairs extremely well with a chimichurri sauce that I had tweaked over the years. My recipe (below) is always a treat for family and friends.
