Corpusfishing.com

[Towboat Trash]

"Too many teardrops for one heart to be crying...
Too many teardrops for one heart to carry on...
You're gonna cry 96 tears,
You're gonna cry 96 tears,
You're gonna cry, cry, cry, cry, now
You're gonna cry, cry, cry, cry
96 tears"

"96 Tears," by "? and the Mysterians," 1966

The clock had just struck 5 in the afternoon, and the sun's burning rays were finally beginning to wane out in the yard behind the car lift and the 2 parts trucks, 2 project trucks, and one bare frame. All four by four of course, and Chevrolet ONLY. Wasn't a Ford allowed in behind the gate. The oldies from the radio in Hayward's shop never shut off, and at that very moment in time, it was currently playing, you guessed it, 96 Tears. Now Hayward was a long, tall, cool drink of water. And one cool, cool hand. Never seen anyone so cool in my life. He never took an old welders hat off, and he kept to himself behind double locked 8 ft fences and gates, with a car lift and a shop out back. I suppose I knew about his history, in and out of South Georgia prison several times for several stints, and he was almost my daddy's age, but when it came to engines and rebuilding carburetors and trucks and the rest there was nobody better. Some folks back then learned about life in Vietnam and some learned it from the streets and the jails. Hayward was the latter. He had sent me back in the shop for a gap tool, and at 14 I knew where and what everything was, coming out of a mechanic's household and all. Hayward and I met after he took under his wing my best friend William, who's daddy left William and his 4 brothers and sisters and momma to fend for themselves and had been gone for as long as we could remember. All I knew was, if you were under Hayward's wing, it meant something in the 3rd poorest county in Georgia. He could get anything you ever wanted just give him a day or two. I guess I always knew he sold more than car parts, I saw the way people respected him, spoke about him, and honored their word to him. But at that moment, I was looking for the gapper tool. It was then that I heard Haywards switchblade. He was never ever without it, and it was sharp as a razor. The blade pointed somewhat down and it shined in the shop's fluorescent light at the back of the shop where the engines stands were. "Boy. I know you done seen something you wasn't supposed to. Now don't say nothing. Just listen. You seen that mechanic's degree paper there in the house. And you was asking me about it. Here's what you're gonna do. You ain't never gonna tell a living soul ever about me getting that degree you understand? You ain't never gonna tell a peep to nobody and you and me are gonna get along real good you understand? But if you do, I swear to the Lord above I'll slice you down to the bone marrow and nobody won't ever know who done it." And that's the day that I became more than a hangaround to Hayward, and the day he took me under his wing. I never said a word about his prison degree, and I guess I overlooked the drugs, the stealing, the random people coming around giving "gifts" of this and that to Hayward like that was normal, and I guess I told myself I wasn't a lookout or cover or otherwise when I was. Wherever Hayward went, I was in the passenger seat of that truck with him. And the oldies kept on playing, and the years went by, I became a young man and grew a few inches, and we kept rebuilding old Chevrolet four wheel drives from the frame up and hanging Chevy small blocks from engine stands. And Hayward taught me more than I've ever remembered about valves and timing chains and pistons and carburetors. And he taught me a thing or two about street life and a code among cons that I just don't know if exists anymore. And I'd slip out the back screen door of the house, "Be over at Hayward's daddy." And I never ever did say a thing about anything he earned while behind bars and in turn he kept an eye on me until the day I left McIntosh County and went out into the world.

-Early 90's in South Georgia, McIntosh County, Georgia

"Boy why do you keep coming AROUND here!?? Why don't you just leave and don't come back!! This place ain't no good for anybody and you done been gone so why don't you stay that way and quit coming 'round!"

-after one year away in Boston at military school, and one year before Hayward died. Rest in Peace my friend...we'll see you again God willing...


Howdy everybody. Been real busy lately, with moving and all. Other than charters, ain't had any personal time on the sand. Just thought I'd share a few pictures of the other day. Guess I couldn't get the thought out of my mind about not coming around anymore. That old beach feels like that sometimes, but when you love it, when you truly miss it and have to feel it's soft breezes on my your face in the early morning's pre dawn darkness, you will always return to it. Ralph Wade used to say to me, "Boy, ten years. Ten years, most folks are done with that beach. One vehicle wears out, and now the 2nd one is tore up, and that's it. They hang it up. But if a man lasts ten years, he'll stick." I miss old Ralph and I miss Billy and I miss Cliff Wilson and I miss being the dam* young man on the island. There's not a soul around anymore from the old school lure crowd and I sometimes stand alone and look north and look south and wonder if I can make those old timers proud or do their memories justice. But we've still got Frankie Eicholz and we've still got Lure Man Dan, and we've still got Chris Sessions and a few more so I guess there's that.



And the Indian Blanket is in bloom, and it's spring.


The early morning's silence. Waves in the distance, calling.




Hello, old friend. Firewheel.








I just love beach combing in spring when the longshore currents swap up.


And By-The-Wind-Sailors were arriving and by gosh, it was spring alright!


The birds of spring.


And Yarbrough was closed dunno due to rains or more @#$#$#$# idiots that went out at 2am and tore up the mud flats, got stuck, and abandoned their truck out there.




Welcome to the war zone. I love it. I love spring and I love this island and this water hyacinth and the seaweed that I hope will come and fire these trout up.




And I didn't hardly fish this day. I sat and took the time to remember.




But I did fish a lil bit.


And I scouted a few trout holes.


Yessir...gonna need you to come on with it, get a little deeper...one more month with these new currents....


And I've gotten to meet a few great people from the old school. Meet George Marsh. Vietnam combat veteran. Wife Wanda.


And avid shellers. They lived for 27 years on a tiny island in the Caribbean Sea, more or less alone.


And George stood at one of the old hurricane blowouts and I walked to him, but stopped short. And watched him. He stood looking for minutes and minutes. And I realized, this is what I'm supposed to do. To bring folks like George and Wanda here to love what I love, what we all love, Padre Island. God's creation.




God bless my friends, and take care of the resource and of eachother.

-Colin
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Protect Padre at all costs for future generations to use and enjoy and never forget our freedoms aren't free.

www.padreislandexpeditions.com

[BayFly]

Glad to see you back. I enjoyed the ride and especially the smell of the salt air!

[bulldog1935]

always enjoy your photos - exceptional quality

we're going to try kayaks on Estes tomorrow (and Sunday)...

[TexasJim]

About a week ago, the empty lot where the Rockport Art Center was, pre-Harvey, was covered with bluebonnets. Nice to see signs of Spring! TexasJim
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TexasJim
"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"

[ratherbefishing]

Thanks Colin for taking us on your trip with you!
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[deputydawg]

I needed these pics this morning. I'm going to try and make it down next week.

[ziacatcher]

Thanks for sharing as always, Colin.

[bd0202]

Beautiful, and perfect place to be right now.
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All things will pass. Have a Blessed day.

[awesum]

^^^^^ What they said ^^^^^

[texancare]

Thanks Colin ,Hope you and the Boo Boos are well as well the wife! Be safe and thanks for your info. God Bless Billy.
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Danny

[captfrankie]

Thanks for the mention. I miss those days. I was fortunate to enjoy PINS before everyone stated calling it PINS. It has changed tremendously since my youth. Driving isn't even near the challenge, there are a ton more people, and the gear people have is amazing. There was a handful of dedicated fisherman that took on the challenge. James Mikulencak, Ernie Butler, Scooter Douglas and Billy Gill are the only pluggers I know that are still around. They along with Poncho Brundidge, Ralph Wade and Billy Sandifer and my fishing partner Paul Stallings might have been the only ones sometimes on the other end of the shell at times. I'm referring to when between the 15 and 30 the beach driving was treturous. If we were fully loaded for camping we'd take the backroad unless it was flooded. There was a high road next to the dunes. It was the safest but sometimes the powder made it too tough on the truck. The middle road was shell and sand. If you went too much over 5mph it would beat you to death. If you were lucky enough and the tide was out you could take the low road. That's pretty much what the entire length of the beach is now. I did take quite a few pictures but photography was nowhere near what it is now. The experiences I've had are worth every penny I spent and then some. How many of you have a live , wild Whale story? What a massive beast. I'll save that for another post.
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Life is Good

[Hook]

Thanks for sharing Towboat trash. Your pictures make me feel like I can hear the waves.

[Towboat Trash]

Frankie

Thanks for chiming in. Have not heard those names in a while since maybe ole Ralph. Hope you and yours are doing ok. We did get moved out to Padre alright so the move is done. If you will still have me I still wanna get together when all this mess ends and visit some. Maybe hear that whale story and bring my old Poncho rod we talked about. Got a few Ralph versus Billy stories to tell you that still make me laugh. Of course Billy never won depends who told those stories. Some days it feels like we are still chasing the old wild days down there and others it feels like we are all just older. On a boat and darn thankful for the income. Get with ya when I get back again. Until then take good care and thanks again.

[ziacatcher]

Hey Frank r u talkin about being bounced around in your old army truck? I never have an opportunity to go down there with you but I remember the truck.

[saltyhook]

Viva Colin and the Hayward's of our lives . Another great Colin story and a reminder that some of our greatest life mentors comes from the most unexpected people in our lives .

Carry on Colin ,
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Fishing is not a matter of life or death it is much more important then that !
Saltyhook