11.25.20 OK… We suck at live event blogging

Jokes aside… our intent was to share some of our adventure with you during our trip and we certainly did that through social media, but fell short in the live blogging category. For that we apologize.

There was just so much to do and we also wanted to be present in the moment. I often get ridiculed for spending far too much time working and not enough time living and there is truth to that… so I wanted to keep the work shenanigan\’s to a minimum.

So… let me catch you guys up:

Sunday 11/15 – 120 miles driven

It was time to leave PAC and join the rest of the circus in Port Sulphur at Deep Delta Bowfishing\’s camp. This place will be the Fish Village South Louisiana Scouting Trip HQ for the next five (5) nights. That is a tall order considering our group is 18 strong. Rex, Buddy, the Action Van and the California #roadtrippin contingent loaded up and got back on the not so smooth Louisiana roads. A few short hours later we arrived at camp where some of the team members were already chilling.

Within a few short hours our group was complete with eighteen (18) people… How the hell did this happen? How did we manage to pull off this group of kayak anglers?

NameState
Brian NelliFlorida
Billy CentroneFlorida
Derrick BentonFlorida
Ivy HarrisFlorida
Brooks BeattyNorth Carolina
Jessica BryantMississippi
Ed HornsbyMississippi
Sean RigbyMississippi
Rex DeGuzmanTexas
Robert FieldTexas (but really a vagabond)
Jesse LandryCalifornia
Paul WilliamsCalifornia
Ryan ArguelloCalifornia
Alex CasillasCalifornia

Plus of course my Dad aka Pops, Joseph Martinez (Head of Marketing), Eric Muhoberac (Louisiana Kayak Company) and yours truly.

After all of the unpacking, hand shakes and hand sanitizing… we got straight into the fishing program with a few opening words from me to the group expressing my appreciation for their company and trust in Fish Village. And then Captain Harris, aka Urban Legend aka Ivy Harris was kind enough to give a short speech to the group about his appreciation for being a part of Fish Village… so him and Derrick Benton of 85th Day partnered up to create an incredible fishing rod that looks more like art than a rod. It was an incredible surprise that meant a lot to me. What a nice way to start the week with this group of people.

From here we handed out our tackle packs that were made possible with the support of Z-Man, Matrix Shad, Buggs Fishing just to name a few. These packs were put together with the idea that every angler would be outfitted with the same toolkit. These toolkits were comprised of highly successful lures, spinnerbaits, swimbaits and more providing each angler with the tools necessary to land these redfish. These kits were well received by our group. Seeing everyone go through their boxes and checking out the goodies was pretty cool to see. This paired with everyone rocking their fresh Fish Village shirts and hoodies made me damn proud. Rex killed it!

A special thanks to all of our tackle and accessory partners… without all of you this trip would have failed to live up to the Fish Village name.

As the night progressed we geared up for our first day of fishing in the marsh. We knew we would have to contend with high winds and flushing water… the Cali boys were about to get an education about marsh fishing for reds. Stay tuned to learn how our first day went!

11.17.20 Getting to Louisiana and finally seeing PAC

The haul from California to Louisiana was definitely half of the fun of this adventure… considering we ate our way through the country and visited good friends along the way.

As we crossed through from Houston into Louisiana, we could see the destruction left behind behind from multiple hurricanes and it was hard to see. It was hard to see because we know people are suffering… blue tarps everywhere, trees down, roofs ripped off and rubble piled high.

As we marched towards New Orleans we started getting pretty excited about the notion that this party was about to take off. It is mind boggling that we could assemble this incredible crew during such a challenging time. We have all kinds of fishing talent, photographers and videographers making for incredible content, great Field Trips episodes and so much more.

Our first major stop in Louisiana was PAC aka Point Aux Chene aka PAC Kayak Rental. Within the kayak fishing community PAC is well known for one of the best kayak launches in America. Not just a launch, but a community, a vibe, a place to have a cup of coffee AND a place to call home when travelling through.

We were fortunate enough to spend two (2) nights at PAC before moving to our main destination. This short window was just enough time to rest, learn about an incredible fishery, fish until 3 AM, meet the locals, spend time with Mr. Eddie and Ms. Lisa and enjoy a large community fish fry. What an incredible place… I will remember this place as the first place where I saw the marsh and caught my first redfish and speckled trout. (off the fishing dock). I connected with it immediately, simply said… this place is gorgeous. I will be back (FOR SURE).

More updates coming soon… I apologize for the lack of updates recently. There has been quite a bit to do, long fishing days and ummmm bowfishing from an airboat at night.

11.12.20 El Paso to Houston, Texas is BIG

We have been at it for almost four (4) full days and we are STILL not out of Texas… why? Because Texas is f\’n big. You hear the that Texas is big and that everything is bigger in Texas… well IT IS.

Wednesday 11/11 – 600 miles driven

We knew that we had to put down some miles on Wednesday in order to keep the trip on schedule and to make an impromptu stop. So we decided to start the day early to ensure that we didn\’t have to drive into the wee hours of the night… and we are glad that we did.

So we hit the road at 7:00 AM and started the push… we only made a few stops along the way mainly to fill up the gas tanks. We kept it simple.., snacks, protein shakes and whatever other shit we bought along the way.

Our strategy paid off as we rolled into San Antonio right about 6:00 PM. We had a dinner date with two (2) very special people to my family. We had the incredible privilege to visit my second mother, my after school watcher and one of two of her daughters who was my childhood friend. this opportunity would NOT have been possible if we didn\’t get out there and live. This 2.5 hour dinner was something that I will remember for the rest of my life. This is why we travel… such an incredible opportunity.

Sure COVID is ramping back up and is something that we have to take seriously and we are by no means taking that lightly… but with the right precautions and respect for one and another, we can make this work. The good people of Texas are largely participating in social distancing, wearing masks and following guidelines which is incredible to see.

Thursday 11/12 – 300 miles driven

Today we have a short drive to Houston where we are going to meet Rex DeGuzman @ Blood Bros. BBQ at high noon for some epic Texas BBQ. We have been thinking of Texas BBQ for months and today is the day!

Holy shit!!! We were hooting and hollering about every piece of smoked goodness that touched our lips. This place is FIRE. They have the classics with some twists on cultural dishes and I couldn\’t have been more impressed. The team that works there was nothing but courteous, fun and informative making the visit that much better.

Smoked brisket fried rice paired with some perfectly smoked brisket and ribs plus SO MUCH MORE. Let\’s just say that dinner was not required, but incredible cubano espressos WERE required to remain conscious for the remainder of the day. What a freaking treat! My smoke game ain\’t got nothing on these guys.

I skipped over one key milestone today… we got to see Rex\’s shirt and sweatshirt prints in the flesh. That means we got to see OUR new Fish Village apparel for the very first time and we could not be more happy. The prints look amazing, the new bait school design looks even better in person and the simple logo design shirts make us proud. Soon, you will have a chance to pick up your own Fish Village gear… we just have to get back home first.

So then we headed for Buggs Fishing where we would meet with owner Heath Hippel to learn about his operation, how to fish his gear AND to pick up a personal package of his amazing lures. This guys makes the coolest looking lures (in our opinion). Cool? What does that mean? Well, he basically ties flies like a traditional fly fisherman would, but they are designed for conventional fishing. His baits imitates mimic shrimp, crabs, mullet and more. He took the time to speak with us about how his products work and we will be able to share that with you soon.

From there we took the rest of the day off and did some work, uploaded photos, wrote a blog, started editing, spoke to Rob Field, Ivy Harris, Rex and Brooks about the final details. Tomorrow we ride to Louisiana with Rex and his pal Buddy… PAC, here we come. I will have a hard time sleeping tonight… IT IS ALMOST TIME TO FISH.

11.10.20 CA, AZ, NM and now TEXAS

We have been charging eastbound on I-10 for nearly two (2) days now and we are still not quite half way to our final Louisiana destination… but that is OK because we are having a blast.

Pops aka Mr. Steve Ponce is leading the charge by pulling the 24 ft. trailer with Joe and I shooting anything and everything that looks interesting. Our Canon\’s are getting a workout.

Monday 11/9 – 380 miles driven

We started a bit late due to some unexpected complications, fortunately it was a minor delay and we didn\’t have much of a schedule planned for the first day. So instead of making it to Tucson on night one, we only made it to Phoenix… this is largely due to the massively awesome dinner we had at Bobby Q\’s in Phoenix.

We just couldn\’t help ourselves… and we are so glad we stopped there. All we talked about in the car is where are we going to eat next… if you know my Dad, Joe or myself… then you know that we signed up for this road trip as a means to eat our way across America.

Tuesday 11/10 – 450 miles driven

We started our day around 7 AM searching for quality coffee for my Dad… Best Western had instant coffee and my Dad wasn\’t having that. So Joe found a Starbucks around the corner and the problem was solved… onward.

We traveled thru the rest of southern Arizona and crossed over into New Mexico by noon. We knew at this point that we could make it to at least El Paso before the day was over… we are officially back on schedule.

I spent a tremendous amount of time in Arizona in my twenties… but never anything east of Tucson. This road trip is providing the three of us the opportunity to experience the southwest and parts of the southeast together for the first time. We are thoroughly enjoying it.

Joe is our resident internet finder of things and he has yet to lead us astray. We were initially discouraged because a lot of restaurants are closed in this area on Monday\’s and Tuesday\’s, however this lead to Joe\’s discovery.

We had a very casual dining experience at Chala\’s Wood Fire Grill in the neighboring city of Mesilla just outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico. This dinner was not only fantastic, but light on the wallet.

  • Amazing smoked sausage w/ New Mexico green chili
  • Quality beef (rib eye and NY steak)
  • Compound butter
  • Fresh goat cheese
  • Farm fresh organic produce
  • Crisp, fresh iced tea
  • + cinnamon sweet tea for my Dad

Everything we had at Chala\’s was incredible… from the simple fresh salad with quality greens and a zesty citrus chili sauce to the giant rib eyes that had my Dad singing.

The three (3) California fat dudes went to town and came out on top with a small bill, full belly\’s and a happy driver!

After dinner we drove another hour to finally cross into the Lonestar state with our sights on El Paso. 40+ miles later… I was able to grab a hot shower, share some Basil Hayden bourbon with Joe and write a blog post. Not a hard day, but a long one.

Tomorrow we hit the road hard to try to cover some ground… From El Paso we will easily hit 500 + miles before we call it a day. From there we have to charge to Houston because we have a date with Bugg\’s Fishing and our boy Rex of ActionHat. Rex has some fresh off the presses, red hot, brand new Fish Village apparel that we GOTTA get our hands on.

Lastly, Tropical Depression/Storm ETA… PLEASE GO AWAY! You are f\’n with my vibe!

11.07.20 It is all coming together

Time to pack up the NRS gear bags with all of our gear for our road trip to Louisiana. Hard to believe that we are heading out in less than two (2) days.

We have several packing lists considering we have a lot to take and we are responsible for at least six (6) kayaks, all of the kayak accessories and a whole lot more. Our packing lists ensure that we don\’t leave behind a key piece of equipment. Sure some could argue that I am super anal about organization… however that is precisely why are trips often go off without a hitch. Our attention to detail is what sets us apart.

This is just a tiny smidge of the items on our actual packing lists…

Fishing Gear

  • Kayaks (6)
  • Kayak accessories
  • Fishing rods
  • Fishing reels
  • Nets
  • Fish Village tackle
  • Team Tackle Packs (18)

Electronics

  • Cameras
  • Lenses
  • Tripods
  • Lights
  • Mounts
  • Batteries
  • Chargers

Food/Drinks

  • Breakfast snacks
  • Water
  • Pliny
  • California beer sampling
  • Candy
  • Salty nuts (insert jokes)
  • REDBULL (Psych Juice)

Though this trip is a scouting trip and not one of our polished adventures that we sell to our customers (not yet at least), we still aim to nail the experience for everyone involved. If we have an idea of what success feels like when we scout a location, then we stand a chance to deliver that experience to our customers.

11.06.20 Cedros 2021 schedule is live

About damn time right? Our release schedule is just starting to roll out for the 2021 season and Cedros Island gets to call dibs on the first release of the new season.

The 2020 season was cut short before it even got a chance to start. Fortunately the island never saw a case of COVID and they intend to keep that way. The Mexican government kept the island closed to tourism to protect the residents of the island. Though we were bummed that we couldn\’t run our trips… we completely understand.

We are expecting a different outcome in 2021. Not only do we expect to be able to run our trips to Cedros Island… we expect the fishing to be ON FIRE. The island hasn\’t been getting any pressure because it is closed… the fishing should be silly good!

We are running four (4) groups in 2021 starting in June. You just need to get to San Diego and our trip provider Cedros Kayak Fishing takes care of the rest. We are offering four (4) day and five (5) day packages.

Dates

  • 6/25/21 – 6/28/21 (4 day)
  • 6/28/21 – 7/2/21 (5 day)
  • 9/20/21 – 9/24/21 (5 day)
  • 10/15/21 – 10/18/21 (4 day)

Prices

  • 4 day – $2,100
  • 5 day – $2,500

Deposit

  • $500 due within 7 days of booking
  • $500 due by 1/15/21

If our inbox and social media dm\’s are any indication… we expect to sell out of these trips quickly. This would be great because it means people are traveling again, it means my good friend Jeff Mariani can continue the amazing work he built in Cedros and we can keep doing what we were meant to do.

So get on it! If you need a reminder, check out Rob\’s first visit to Cedros back in Oct 2019.

11.03.20 This Louisiana trip keeps giving back… more contests

You read that right… more contests. This trip has created so many unique opportunities and incredible relationships that we have to share it with you guys. Why… because that is what we do!

When you have support from NRS, Buggs Fishing, Z-Man, Bayou Buck Lures, Line Cutterz, Matrix Shad, Pure Waterports, BerleyPro, Tasline and ActionHat, we can\’t be greedy and keep it all to ourselves… or can we?

Don\’t worry… we won\’t do that to ya.

We have a nice tackle pack, much like the ones our entire team will be getting to giveaway in a contest. What can you expect in this redfish box of wow? A Plano 3600 filled with the same goodies that we are taking with us to Louisiana + a little something from NRS + Tasline + ActionHat. Serious… this is a bad ass giveaway.

Details about this mystery contest will be unveiled shortly before we hit the road. To keep up with our contests and shenanigan\’s in Louisiana… check out the Louisiana Road Trip 2020 page.

11.02.20 So. Florida Spring Fiesta (3 trips in one) dates coming soon

We wanted to create a So. Florida trip experience that hit all the right notes. Some kind of experience that paired kayak anglers with one of the best guides in the country and offer all three unique Florida fishing experiences. I think we nailed it!

  • Freshwater chasing Peacock bass and other exotics
  • Inshore chasing Snook and other famous Florida inshore species
  • Offshore targeting pelagics such as Sailfish, Mahi and Blackfin tuna
  • Lodging included
  • Transportation to and from the fishing zone
  • Lunch included on fishing days
  • Hobie fishing kayaks
  • Fishing guide

Well if you have been waiting for a small group trip like this… wait no more. As usual our Mailing List subscribers will get a first crack at this trip before we offer it to the public. Groups will be limited to three (3) anglers.

If you haven\’t subscribed to our mailing list yet, please do. It is free and we do NOT spam our customers. Subscribe now.

To learn more about this trip, head over to our trip page. To learn more about the South Florida region, head over to our location page.

11.02.20 Now booking day trips in California and Florida

Truth be told… we never stopped booking day trips. COVID certainly played a role in some slow months during the initial outbreak… but business has been booming ever since.

Our Dana Point inshore guided kayak fishing trip saw a big boost in trip inquiries and a respectable amount of bookings too. Brian of Pushin\’ Water Kayak Charters has been reporting full schedules as a result of people wanting to get out of their house and be outside.

So we thought that it was worth a mention that we are day trips are OPEN FOR BUSINESS. We don\’t have to book you for a week long adventure somewhere that requires you to have a passport, luggage and a mask… instead we can offer you simple day trips that don\’t break the bank.

Current Day Trip Offering as of 11/1

LocationDay Trip
Dana PointInshore Guided Kayak Fishing
So. FloridaFreshwater Guided Kayak Fishing
So. FloridaInshore Guided Kayak Fishing
So. FloridaOffshore Guided Kayak Fishing

To keep up with our day trip offerings… simply click on the links in the Current Day Trip Offering table.

If you haven\’t subscribed to our mailing list yet, please do. It is free and we do NOT spam our customers. Subscribe now.

11.02.20 Cedros 2021 season dates coming this week

As most of you already knew or assumed… 2020 was a bust for Cedros Island. COVID forced the Mexican government to shut down the island to tourism in order to protect their fragile community with very little medical infrastructure. Though we were bummed, we certainly understand that the people that call that call Cedros Island home come first. So we set our eyes on the future… that future is about to be released to Fish Village mailing list subscribers first.

This means that our mailing list subscribers will get first \”dibs\” on newly released and expected to sell out Cedros Island + Fish Village trips. The boys will be running a handful of groups next summer and we would love to see you join the party. Groups are small… 5 anglers + 1 Fish Village host.

We will be sending out the 2021 season dates to our mailing list subscribers on Tuesday 11/3. The dates will be public on Fish Village.com on Friday 11/6.

If you haven\’t subscribed to our mailing list yet, please do. It is free and we do NOT spam our customers. Subscribe now.

To learn more about this trip, head over to our trip page. To learn more about Cedros Island, Mexico, head over to our location page.