'Big Fish Texas' reality TV show to star Galveston family behind Katie's Seafood Market

Katie's Seafood Market on Galveston Island will be the subject of a new TV series on National Geographic Channel called "Big Fish Texas," premiering next week on Feb. 3.

The reality show will detail what goes into being a commercial fisherman running a fish market just off the Gulf of Mexico. The market is located on Pier 19, off Wharf Road. less Katie's Seafood Market on Galveston Island will be the subject of a new TV series on National Geographic Channel called "Big Fish Texas," premiering next week on Feb. 3.

The reality show will detail what goes ... more Photo: National Geographic Channels Photo: National Geographic Channels Image 1 of / 185 Caption Close 'Big Fish Texas' reality TV show to star Galveston family behind Katie's Seafood Market 1 / 185 Back to Gallery

Katie's Seafood Market on Galveston Island will be the subject of a new TV series on National Geographic Channel called "Big Fish Texas," premiering next week on Feb. 3.

The reality show will detail what goes into being a commercial fisherman running a fish market just off the Gulf of Mexico. The market is located on Pier 19, off Wharf Road.

The show’s focal point is bearded Buddy Guindon and his extended family, including his wife, four sons, his brother and his wife, plus his father Greg.

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Guindon says nearly five years ago he was contacted by a producer wanting to do a reality show about a family in his business, which strives to protect the sustainability of the seafood business in the Gulf.

“In 2011 the discussion began to put the family on television, but I didn’t want to jump into it lightly,” Guindon says.

Above all Guindon said that he wanted to show what it takes to be a Gulf fisherman in this day and age, working on sustainability. He’s even spoken before Congress as a founding member of the Shareholders Alliance, telling lawmakers about the importance of seafood conservation.

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Guindon thinks that they captured that over eight episodes, but he has high hopes for many more seasons to come.

The two clips on the NatGeo site show the family in a reflective mode and also in search of a 15,000 pound pull of red snapper, starting with gearing up and baiting the massive lines of hooks.

Filming started in April 2015 on “Big Fish Texas” and the show documents two months of life with the family at sea and at the fish market, which opened in the late ‘90s.

“Having the crew in our lives was a pleasure,” he says, noting that there was about a dozen crew members hanging out most of the time.

How was diving into reality show territory?

“It was a fun experience,” he says. “I would love to do more but it all depends on how show is received.”

He thinks that “Big Fish Texas” is much different than most other reality shows that people have seen previously. He’s only seen the first episode so far, but he lived through the other seven so he knows what happens.

The first episode is titled “King of the Gulf” which sounds very promising.

“The producers did a great job of highlighting the best parts of Galveston Island, like Bishop’s Palace and the Strand area,” he says.

He’s excited to see how the producers depict the Galveston lifestyle and the drama and excitement that comes with being a commercial fisherman. The Minnesota native has been on the island since 1978 when he moved to Galvestonat age 22 fresh out of the Marine Corps.

There is drama, he promises, the kind that of course comes with running a business with a family whose livelihood is pulling red snapper, grouper, golden tile fish from the Gulf to bring back to the market.

His four sons, who range in age from 15 to 33 years old, play prominent roles. His wife Katie, the namesake of the fish market, is a major player on the show.

With his big beard, Guindon looks like a long-lost nautical member of the Robertson clan on “Duck Dynasty.”

Guindon’s father Greg passed away not too long after production on the first season wrapped.

“He fished with me all last summer until the end,” Guindon says.

Guindon says he’s ready for the influx of business that could come with the show’s success. He just hopes his fellow Texans love the show.

“If we do well there will be more,” says Guindon.

The production and the Guindon family are throwing a premiere party for the show at the 1894 Grand Opera House on Sunday night at 6 p.m.