Sergeant Major Jamey Caldwell

Michael Medrano is the author of Stilt Houses of Texas and an architect by trade who has documented hundreds of fishing camps scattered across the Texas bays from Galveston down to Port Isabel. In this episode, Tom reconnects with Michael after meeting him at Christmas Island, where Michael introduced Tom and his boys to the addictive challenge of targeting triggerfish on the fly. Michael reveals why he spent years building trust with stilt house owners to photograph their private structures, how Hurricane Harvey destroyed a significant number of these historic camps, and the regulatory pressures threatening their existence. This conversation dives into Texas coastal culture, the multi-generational family traditions tied to these structures, and why Michael felt compelled to document them before they disappear forever.

Meeting at Christmas Island: When Triggerfish Became the Only Target

Tom's first encounter with Michael happened in a Hawaii airport, where three groups of anglers were all sizing each other up, wondering if they were headed to the same remote destination. Michael stood out as the big guy checking out his fly box, but what really caught Tom's attention was what was in that box: only triggerfish flies. Michael hadn't just brought a few patterns for variety—triggerfish were all he planned to target. Tom admits he hadn't really put triggerfish on his radar as the quarry for the trip, but Michael's single-minded focus changed everything. By the end of the week, chasing triggerfish had become one of the most fun challenges Tom had experienced on the flats. The story of how that obsession developed and why Michael was so committed to that one species reveals something about the way passionate anglers approach their time on the water. Michael explains his triggerfish obsession starting at 00:01:38.

The Architecture of Fishing Culture: Why an Architect Became Obsessed with Stilt Houses

When Michael first saw the stilt houses scattered across the Texas bays, he was fascinated by what he calls the intersection of necessity, creativity, and fishing culture. As an architect, he saw these structures as something more than just fishing camps—each one told a story. Some families have owned their stilt house for three or four generations, passing down not just the structure but the traditions, the stories of how they survived hurricanes, and the self-sufficient fishing lifestyle they represent. Michael describes these camps as incredible Americana, and his mission became documenting them before they disappear. The way he talks about gaining access to these private structures and the years he spent building trust with owners reveals the depth of commitment behind this project. Michael discusses what drew him to document these structures at 00:05:40.

Hurricane Harvey and the Disappearing Camps: Why This Book Had to Be Written Now

Michael makes it clear that these stilt houses are under serious threat. Hurricanes are the biggest danger—Hurricane Harvey alone destroyed a significant number of them, and not all of them get rebuilt. Beyond the weather, there's regulatory pressure from the state, which controls the bay bottoms and complicates the permit process for these structures. Every major storm takes some out, and Michael knew that if he didn't document them now, an entire piece of Texas coastal history could vanish. The urgency behind this project wasn't just academic or artistic—it was about preserving something that's actively disappearing. The clusters of 20 or 30 stilt houses together, the solitary camps way out in the middle of a bay, the families who still fish all day and cook their catch right there on the platform—all of it is threatened. Michael describes the threats facing the stilt houses at 00:07:00.

Self-Sufficient Fishing Lifestyle: The Families Who Still Live the Stilt House Tradition

Many of these stilt houses remain active fishing camps where families go out on weekends, fish all day, and cook their catch right there on the structure. Michael describes an amazing self-sufficient fishing lifestyle that still exists on these platforms—some have grills, running water, and generators. It's not just about nostalgia; these are working camps that represent a way of life centered around fishing the Texas bays. The photographs in Michael's book capture these moments and locations, showing the stunning variety of structures from simple roofed platforms to essentially full houses on stilts. Michael explains that accessing all these locations required a lot of boat time and a lot of relationship building, because you can't just roll up and start photographing someone's private fishing sanctuary. The trust he built over years is what made this book possible. Michael discusses the active fishing culture at the stilt houses at 00:09:00.

Final Thoughts from Tom

Meeting Michael and his boys at Christmas Island was one of those moments that made the whole trip memorable. We were all headed to the same place, but I had no idea that this guy with the fly box full of triggerfish patterns would completely change how we fished that week. His single-minded focus on those fish was contagious, and by the end of the trip, we were all hooked on the challenge.

When Michael told me about his stilt house project, I knew it was something special. These aren't just fishing camps—they're pieces of Texas coastal history that most people will never see. The fact that he spent years building relationships with the owners, documenting structures that are disappearing with every hurricane, shows real dedication to preserving this culture. The book is stunning, and the stories behind these camps are incredible.

This conversation covers everything from triggerfish tactics to architectural history, family traditions to Hurricane Harvey's impact on the coast. If you care about fishing culture, Texas heritage, or just appreciate great stories about unique places, this one's worth your time.