Memorial Day Weekend is finally here!  It’s the unofficial (official) start to summer for Eagle Point Fishing Camp and Waterman’s Harbor, along with everyone who owns a boat and wants to be on Galveston Bay.  That being said, we expect lots of traffic on the bay this weekend, and we asked Captain Juan and Captain David to share a few tips to keep you and your loved ones safe.

1. Remember part of Galveston Bay is the Ship Channel.  Large vessels will be coming in, and you shouldn’t let these slow-moving container ships deceive you.  They put out huge wakes and don’t move for small boats.  First, keep a substantial distance, and even if you feel like you’re far away from these large vessels, they can still create large wakes, so be alert. Try to avoid these wakes, but if you do encounter one, point your bow into the wake.
2. Wear Your Kill Switch:  It’s the Law!  A kill switch is a vital safety feature that protects you and your passengers.  If, god forbid, you were to fall overboard, the kill switch will automatically stop the engine, preventing the boat from operating and potentially getting out of control.  This can help prevent accidents, injuries, and even fatalities if the boat runs without an operator.  Make sure to wear yours at all times.
3. Keep Distance from Other Boaters:  It’s Etiquette! Keep a distance from other boaters and avoiding creating wakes that could affect their stability.
4. Alcohol and Boating don’t mix!  Many of us like to have a little fun, especially on a holiday weekend, but limiting alcohol intake, especially in the heat and on the bay is always recommended.

Come See Us at Eagle Point for your bait and tackle needs and fishing advice.  We hope to see you this weekend.

Memorial Day Weekend is just a week away, and at Eagle Point Fishing Camp, we’re ready to help you prepare your boat for a fun summer season on Galveston Bay.  After all, we’re all about fishing made simple, and a part of that is not running into problems!  We can’t say enough how important boat maintenance and preparation are to not only have a safe experience on the water but also an enjoyable one.


Here are our four tips to getting your boat ready for Galveston Bay this summer.
1.  Thoroughly Inspect Your Boat:

• Check for any signs of damage, cracks, or leaks, especially in your thru-hull fittings if they are plastic. Also, inspect the propeller. Make sure to check all of your lights and electronics, as well as your safety equipment.

2.  Service Your Engine:

• If it’s been awhile since you’ve had your boat out, just because you or someone else has performed maintenance, that doesn’t mean the engine will work properly under a load, full of people, gear, and miscellaneous items, such as ice, bait, tackle, etc. in the middle of Galveston Bay.  Each season, you should either have your engine serviced or take care of the maintenance yourself. Change the engine oil and filter, inspect the fuel system, and replace any worn-out belts or hoses. Clean or replace spark plugs and ensure the cooling system is in optimal condition.

3.  Check and Update Safety Equipment

• Before leaving Eagle Point Fishing Camp, make sure you enough life jackets for all passengers. Check your fire extinguishers, flares, and other signaling devices for expiration dates and functionality. It’s also a good idea to to keep a stocked first aid kit on your boat and decide ahead of time how you plan to clean a wound if you get injured on the boat.

4.  Stock Up on Supplies:

• Check your anchor, ropes, and dock lines to make sure they are in good shape.  Don’t go out fishing with last year’s fuel.  Make sure to gas up with fresh fuel.  We currently only sell non ethanyl gasoline at Eagle Point Fishing Camp.  Everyone should have extra outboard oil onboard because your engine won’t run if it’s low on oil.  That’s one of the number one requests we get midday at the marina during the busy months.  Make sure you have yours.  Of course, water, food, and sunscreen are musts.  You can purchase most of these at the Eagle Point Fishing Camp bait shop.

Finally, keep your first trip on the water close to the marina and short.  Make sure everything is working properly during your first trip.  Then, plan on the longer trip after you work out any potential kinks. 

​We’re excited for you to get your boat ready and head down to Eagle Point Fishing Camp this summer.

May 10th is National Shrimp Day!  There is nothing more delicious that cooking up some Galveston Bay shrimp right off the boat, and that's what you can purchase for you and your family at Eagle Point Fishing Camp. 
Below is one of our favorite family recipes Girl With the Iron Cast.  
We use a lot of shortcuts at our house because meals need to be fast with three hungry boys.  We buy pre-shredded cabbage for garnish, and when I'm in a rush, I purchase the bottled dressing to drizzle on top of our tacos.  Our favorites are H-E-B Sriracha Ranch or Bolthouse Farms Cilantro Avocado Dressing, and while the latter is healthier, the first is the real winner!  

Here is the Recipe from Girl With the Iron Cast:
Ingredients
SHRIMP MARINADE

• 1 lb shrimp (uncooked, peeled, deveined, tails removed (see note on shrimp prep))
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp minced garlic 
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• Juice of 1 lime (about 2 tsp)
• 3 tbsp avocado oil 

AVOCADO CREMA

• 1 medium avocado (seed removed and flesh scooped out)
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1 jalapeño (seeds removed)
• 3 cloves garlic (peeled)
• 2 limes (juiced (3 tbsp))
• 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
• 3 tbsp [avocado oil]
• 3 tbsp water
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

TACO ELEMENTS/GARNISH

• 1 cup shredded green cabbage
• 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
• 8-10 small flour or corn tortillas (lightly toasted)
• Fresh Cilantro
• Lime Wedges

Instructions

• In a small bowl, whisk together the marinade ingredients: 3 tbsp avocado oil, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, garlic, red pepper flakes, and kosher salt. Add in prepped shrimp, stir to coat all the shrimp with marinade. Place in refrigerator and marinate for max 30 minutes.
• While the shrimp is marinating, in a food processor or blender add the avocado crema ingredients: avocado, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, lime juice, yogurt, olive oil, water and kosher salt. Pulse until all the ingredients are smooth. If the consistency is too thick, add another tbsp of water. Set aside.
• Using a mandoline or knife, shred the cabbages. Place in a small bowl, add a few spoons of the avocado crema and toss to combine. Save the rest of the crema to drizzle over the tacos at the end.
• You can either cook the shrimp in a cast iron skillet or grill them. Over medium/high heat place the shrimp into the skillet. Ensure they are all laid flat into the pan and not on top of each other, this will allow for even cooking. Depending on the size of the shrimp, they will cook in about 4-6 minutes. Flip halfway through to get a nice char/color on each side. If grilling, skewer them so they do not fall through the grates (see note on cooking shrimp).
• Assemble the tacos: Place the tortilla down, add a few spoons of the cabbage slaw, add a few shrimp, drizzle avocado crema over the top (see note on crema drizzle), garnish with fresh cilantro, serve with lime wedges!

Notes
Prepping the shrimp:

• If your shrimp are whole, remove the head first, then the legs, and then proceed to peel off the outer shell
• Make sure the shrimp are deveined: you can ask them to do it at the seafood counter or if doing yourself, cut a shallow slit in back of shrimp where the dark line is and lift it out with a pairing knife
• When removing the tail, pinch all the way at the back so you do not break off any of the tail meat

Marinating the shrimp:

• Due to the citrus in the marinade, do not marinate the shrimp for more than 30 minutes. The citrus will begin to break down the proteins in the shrimp affecting the texture and causing it to 'cook' similar to ceviche.

Is my shrimp cooked?

• Shrimp cook fast, there are a few things to look for to know that your shrimp is cooked.
• Shrimp will turn from translucent to opaque when cooked through
• They will also form a "c" shape, easy to remember because "c" stands for cooked!

Avocado crema drizzle:

• You can spoon the crema over the tacos, or you can make a pipping bag to squeeze over the shrimp for presentation. In a ziplock bag, add the avocado crema, seal the bag, push all the crema to one corner, using scissors, cut the corner of the bag, then you can squeeze the crema out to top the shrimp.

Nutrition Information
Serving: 1, Calories: 950kcal (48%), Carbohydrates: 173g (58%), Protein: 43g (86%), Fat: 9g (14%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 161mg (54%), Sodium: 935mg (41%), Fiber: 10g (42%), Sugar: 4g (4%)