Corpusfishing.com

[Towboat Trash]

"This is a very desolate place. There is no one living within forty miles of me that I know of. Even the sea is particularly lonesome. We do have plenty of sand, rattlesnakes, and coyotes."

--R.E. Halter, surveying Padre for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, correspondence with Washington, December of 1876

"I have found it necessary to purchase a rifle for protection against coyotes, wolves, and panthers, which have become increasingly more plentiful as we go down the Island. The nearest neighbors from the northern camp are an old hermit living in a hovel without even a dog."

--R.E. Halter, surveying Padre for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, correspondence with Washington, December of 1876

"I have just returned from the Laguna Madre and have the means to submit the following report in reference to the same. The country is nearly uninhabited and the waters are almost unknown and unfrequented. I left here on the 6th in a small scow rigged with sail, with two men, these men have gathered salt in the vicinity and are likely to be better acquainted than any others in the country-Padre Island I found to be a long narrow Island varying in width from one to two miles and partly covered with sand hills or dunes about ten to fifteen feet high, the general characteristics of the Island and hills is the same as most of the Islands on the immediate coast south of the Corpus. The mainland on the west side of the Laguna Madre I found to be an ininhabited prairie about five feet above the waters of the bay-as a general thing level and flat but in all places undulating the whole devoid of all vegetation except grass.....Baffins bay has boating room for six or seven feet but sunken rocks on either side of channel that have to be avoided. ..."

--R.E. Halter, surveying Padre for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, correspondence with Washington, December 14 of 1875

"In reference to danger from the Mexican raiders I don't think there would be danger of molestation, though for an encampment south of Baffins Bay on the mainland side I think a watch at night with an armed crew would be safer-in fact no one travels in this country even for a few miles without a revolver or rifle. On Padre Island I do not think there is the least danger as the Island is seldom visited and is almost uninhabited."

--R.E. Halter, surveying Padre for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, correspondence with Washington, December 14 of 1875

"I left here on the 25th of May and made another attempt to go through Laguna Madre, with the new flat boat....I found it impossible...in the cental part of the Island southerly winds prevail and where I previously found nine inches of water it was perfectly bare and so dry and hard that I readily walked from the main land to Padre Island. On my way back I camped on Padre Island and met a Mr Griffin who has lately returned to the Island and who used to live about ten miles below the shoal....I could not find much fresh water or carry much with me and for that my party suffered considerably in consequence of the bad water we had to use and for which at times I had to send two miles or more. On Padre Island I could get water by digging in the sand but of very inferior quality-wading in the salt water was very severe it blistered my legs very badly and caused my feet and ankles to swell so much I could not wear my boots for several days. Rattlesnakes were very plenty and so hard to see in the grass that we were often very near to them, one was between my feet before I saw it. A wolf about the size of a medium size dog, here called "coyote" are also very numerous. They are not dangerous but very annoying, one night they carried off the shoe of one of the men and another night actually cut two of the tent ropes so neatly as could have been done with a knife.

--R.E. Halter, surveying Padre for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, correspondence with Washington, May 9 of 1876




"You're so dumb you look like Elton John," my middle brother exclaimed. "Oh yeah, well you WISH you were Elton John," I quipped back. "Oh yeah, then you ARE Elton John!" my brother loudly replied. "Oh yeah?! I don't think so, YOU'RE ELTON JOHN!" I yelled.

Off we went. "NO YOU'RE ELTON JOHN!" "I DON'T THINK SO! YOU ARE ELTON JOHN!" "NO YOU ARE!" "NO WAY JOSE, YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ELTON JOHN NOT ME!"

Then from somewhere on other side of momma a loud voice came thundering through the church, and it was no other than daddy. "I'll give you BOTH AN ELTON JOHN WHEN WE GET HOME IF YOU DONT CUT IT OUT, THIS IS CHURCH YOU TWO ELTON JOHNS!!"

--just another Sunday morning coming down in a Baptist Church in South Georgia, ages 14 and 11







Dear Elton John, I quite seriously apologize for all the wisecracks with my brothers about being/resembling/or otherwise duplicating your character, looks, clothes, or otherwise. To everyone else, howdy!! I hereby have made amends to the great Piano Man by taking Elton's greatest hits album down the beach and totally rocking out to each and every song on it for the last 5 days. All while remaining or attempting to remain at least somewhat manly. And R.E. Halter? I know if you were in my shoes you would drink ice cold Gatorade while covered in sunscreen and chasing pomps while jamming to the Crocodile Rock through 8 truck speakers if you could have as well. But there was no way you could have, and there's no way you could have known someone like me would read your every letter and study your every word. But I do, and you and I share something. The kinship borne by spending time on such a wild sandbar named Padre, and the pain that it inflicts on each and every soul that tries to conquer it. Where you fell and struggled, I do believe I may have gotten some of that medicine as well. Where you set out to conquer the world, but fell short and settled for disappointment which eventually transformed into the realization that ten small victories over time can become one large one over time, I too have felt those ups and downs. I too have realized Rome just wasn't built in a day. And like Elton says there, "Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see...don't let the sun go down on me..."

And with that quite eloquently ridiculous placement of Sir Elton, off we go to another trip in the books...

But first! The first drag off the beach! Nothing but hardheads for miles under those dusky anchovies out there turning the waters black and brown with their numbers...


With shrimping put on hold, it was time for a beach trip....


Excited as a kid on Christmas over the pomps starting to show up, I began at Whitecap beach and fished my way south...


And even the Samidan rigs off Bob Hall beach were crystal clear on this flat day...








And I worked my way past the Bowl area, where the driving over the dunes continues in spite of the signs that are quite literally all over the highway, the beach, you name it.


They've destroyed this over the years to the point that it's an active blowout and the first big storm we finally get is gonna tear right through here first thing...


Even driving up the side of the dunes..


Hmm.


And I noticed the trashcans out there now and thought...really? How bout these apples. You come...you bring out what you brought with your arse. But...sigh....we all know that doesn't happen round these parts.


But the birds were staged up and ready for fall!






And I stopped and visited with Stan and Bruce for a while, and then it was time to head south to the most beautiful beach I've ever known.
And little did I know I would see this guy in a few days, or at least one of his cousins! Juvenile yellow crowned night heron.


And seeing this, I got there a lot faster!!!!!


With only a few small pomps from Bob Hall beach, after a quick stop at Headquarters to visit, I was off to the races.


And greeted by Turkey vultures! Munching on someones thrown away fish bait.


Still chasing pomps only, I kept fishing my way south, but they continued to elude.


And a replacement boat for the yellow contraption was discovered.


Oh, the glory that could be someone's from such a glorious vessel....

And I got into some pomps, although still rather small.


And they slowly got larger as the day went on!


POMPANOOOO!!!! Best eating fish off that whole beach!


And after 5 or 6, it was time to set up camp.


Out went a rather large Jack head and mid portion, a Jack tail roast, one southern ray marinated in menhaden oil and trimmed to perfection, and one large fresh ray recently caught. And on the casted bait rod, a few pomp heads.


And I got up on the foredune ridge and thought about Halter and his struggles on these hallowed grounds almost 200 years ago.


And about how just about everyone hates T. Boone Pickens, and how the Island grapevine has rumored there's already plans in the works to develop the old GLO land from the park to the Padre water tower/bob hall area. And ya know...we always knew that money talks, and little rules like no structures over so many feet "walk." Big money finds a way around everything. And how that big money put up the money for the county to "buy" that land instead of it going to the National Seashore. How long will it stay wind turbine or well or structure free? Only time will tell....


But on this night I was about to put the "T Boone Pickens" on some fish...




And I laid down in the warm sand and watched the beach evening primrose open up all around me as the night grew.


If one sits still long enough, you can see them open. Just gotta take the time.




And my buddy Pirate Eddie showed up late, and set up camp a little further down and got some baits out. Pirates band together and all, ya know?


And dinner's ribeye was delicious!



And as the night grew late, not a sound was heard from the reels.


Except for, or course, some good old Elton John.


And all was well in the Devil's Elbow that night while Eddie and I stood guard over the old Green Hill line camp's early beach exit.


And the night sang, "Levon...."



And the morning came eventless and said Mini Wheats!


And two of them broke off in the night on the bar, but I got a lil solution for that.



And as a public service, I pronounce the CURE FOR ALL CHUB RUB! YEP! For those without kids or a nursing wife...well.....take a guess....


And I went out and retrieved my wounded.


Untouched.


But out back some fresh jacks and rays went. And more pomp heads.


And it became time for a swim!


Orographic lift again!


Time for a trip to the other side!








The view from down below...


Pomp land.




Snorkeling the Devil's Elbow...






And soon enough the ladyfish showed back up in force!




And I packed up camp sharkless and hit the road for pomps.



Dusky Anchovies!






Come to daddy lil pomps!


And when I got to Green Hill I paid my respects to ole Ralph and like I always do, missed him a bit. Don't give much of a darn about the difference in age between us, if I wanted the wisdom of some dummy my own age I woulda went and found some dummy like myself to look up to.


Rest in peace my friend.




And I'll try and catch a few for ya.


And pretty soon thereafter, fishing my way south, I ran into ole Reynaldo, one fine fella with good graces and a gentle way. And I would just say my friend, I've thought about what you told me and how far you have come, and I only wish inner peace and fish and good days for you. And you know anytime you see me to stop by and visit.


And the blow picked up and you and I baited up over the bar and waited for fish.


And I went up on the dune to talk crap about T Boone Pickens again, and all these wind turbines destroying the view. And how do you erect all that crap in the middle of the Great Migratory Flyway for so many birds anyways?? And again...big money talks, you and I walk....


And the remains of the speckled crab invasion from this summer lived on in the backbeach...




And who could that fool be?



And miles later, I had taken my leave and left Reynaldo alone to find his own place for that night, and went down south to pay Captain Hardee and the Army of Occupation my respects. I absolutely love to camp near their old fortification and I love the Indian ghosts that roam it's back island prairies.




And as I set up camp, in floats.....a Red Snapper!!!


Not good. Red tide being on South Padre....and knowing it was moving north this wasn't a good sign.


And I went ahead and rerigged my 3 day ray and ran em out.


And like Sir Elton would say....GET BACK HONKEYCAT!!!!!


"Aw change is gonna do me good".....


And ya know what....I honkeycatted these double baits to make a double drop, and out their booties went.



Out we go. READY....SET.....HANG ON LIKE @#$#!!!!!


Aw, is that all ya got? Lol!






And with a kiss on the forehead of said Jack....out he went!




And again.


And the water was so clear I watched them float to the bottom and come to rest down there in no man's land. And I crossed some fingers and toes.


Bye bye!


And back in I came.


And the Island was so full of freshwater. This railroad vine lives off of it! If you follow it's roots, it will take you right to the source, as the fresh floats on top of the layer of salt water underneath.


And I looked out over the mid island prairie and thought about those US Soldiers of Captain Hardee and Zachary Taylor and their time down here. We'll get to that another day, but it's quite the story and a great tale.




And I sat I the railroad vine and sang Elton John.


And I knew like I always have that I don't wanna be cool, I don't want 200 friends, and I don't want to be elected most likely to be amazing. Lol. Just wanna be me. However that may turn out.






And I realized that I've never really taken the time to watch the beach evening primrose open up before, so I took the time once again.


And I sat and watched the railroad vine close up for the night....and I thought about how it's seeds float, it's salt water tolerant, and it's seeds are even unaffected by the salt!






And dinner was served. Ribeye, Ramen chicken flavor, and pintos!


And "Saturday Night was alright for fighting...." Lol!



But strangely enough the night passed eventless again, even on casted baits.





But the tropical low circling out there in the middle of the Gulf had been pushing the water higher and higher, and up it came, even to the point I had to move the truck in the night.


And behind me I found another one of these holes. A badger hole? On the beach? We've all seem them before, but why here and why now?


Dug clear down into the salt water.




And with this, I hereby initiate the brand new, never before seen, "Wall of Shame."


20 plus miles north of Mansfield, running wide open down the 1st and 2nd guts, between 5 different sets of neon orange buoys marking my drops, I congratulate you! And as I waved my arms in an X, they waved back. Well howdy!






Positively unbelievable and totally worthy of Wall of Shame-ness.


Satisfied that they had seen whatever it was the red truck was doing, they turned and wend straight offshore after running over EVERY LAST ONE OF MY LINES.


Time to go pull floats. It's now breakoff city.


And my friends in Black saw it all.


But tie em all back in I did, satisfied that old boys might be going home with a gearcase full of saltwater and a fun propshaft seal replacement job to do.


More orographic lift!


And aw heck, who can stay mad when this is going on!





I started really getting into em!




In fact, I put the "Bennie and the Jets" on that arse!!!!




Hahahahaha


And they started stacking up on the beach!


Over and again!


And duskies began beaching themselves.


And this would be why they are sometimes called glass minnows.


But I didn't care, I was filling the cooler!


Even some more little guys.


And as all this went on....a juvenile yellow crowned night heron arrived!!


And kept sneaking closer!


Hey old friend! You need a shady trailer to rest under on your migration?


And I swapped out baits around 11 and kept right on sharking.



And pattied up some burgers with some unbelievably awesome ground sirloin from Moody's Meat Market!


While my beautiful friend rested.




YES!!!!!


Smoke that evil coon right outta those dunes!!!! Take that you evil animal!!




But sharkless by 1530 hours, it became time to relocate, this time to the land of Fransisco Vasquez again, like I have been all summer.





And on my way south, I began to come across the wounded from the red tide bloom on South Padre and spreading offshore my direction.


One SOLID Tripletail....sad....




And in the midst of the red tide aerosols it was too late to turn back now....so I set it on up.








And ran out two fresh jack bodies and roasts, and some rays and pomps. And then took the time to study a new book of mine from years back.


This a good one, from my merchant marine school days.


And then I went to sit on the dune, all alone, no one on Island now but Pirate Eddie over at the Shack.




And it was pork chop night!


Complete with mustards!!!


And I sat and watched the moon.


And I changed up the playlist on my headphones, because I had a problem and couldn't stop singing Bennie and the freaking Jets. One of my favorite Merle albums here. Really is. Over and above his better known hits.


And I just love it when there's an empty jetty and no one for 25 miles north and there we sit.


And I refuse to read any doggone fishing magazine in the whole world including this one, but darn have they done a lot with it. Great reads and tons of ads and writers too. I just have such a problem with authority, that I can't even be told by somebody how to FISH. Guess I'm just an "Elton John."


That's the sauce!


And just look at all those accessories! Wow! Back in the day we had to make everything ourselves because it just wasn't being made or sold!


And gosh did I laugh....has anyone else wondered why women kiss fish?


And doggone, SLAP YA MAMMA IT'S TIME TO EAT!!!!


And whatsup with all of the rob a bank masks!!!


There it is again!


Gottangit even on the back page! I'm ugly enough without that nonsense over my noggin!


I hereby promise to wear the Elton John glasses before wearing the strange death head cigar in mouth thing! At packery!


Realizing I was flipping out over a fishing magazine, I used it to clean my grill off...lol....and picked up something more appropriate.


And the morning brought thunderstorms and rain....and no sharks all night....





All I caught was a nasty old fishing pole on a weight leg.


I packed up and headed north, and away from the aerosols which were worse than the night before. And soon ran across a one mile strawberry grouper kill.


And the eels were starting to wash in as they had at camp that morning.


And it was sad...maybe 100 odd grouper, no other species than an occasional eel or mullet or red snapper.




And I stopped at the old Coast Guard Beach Patrol station.




But it was hot as Hades and not ready yet for my return over the dune.


But the ghosts of yesteryear called to me, and I knew....soon, very soon, the first front will arrive and I'm back in your midsts again.


And the tropical low pushed the water higher and higher, but with this new truck, nothing sticks me anymore and I never run out of torque and pull.


And the pelicans began to stage up like they were earlier in the week.


And sure enough...my heart skipped a beat when I saw the first casualty. Broken wing, just a bloody stump where the bone broke.


And my heart just went out to him and the human side of me hurt, for as much as I dream about putting the whoop on someone like the white Chevy who the night before who was up to no good at Mansfield at 1 in the morning complete with almost running into my truck after his misdeeds were almost complete, I hate to see anyone or anything suffer.


It just ain't something I can see. Should I have picked him up? Should I have carried him to Headquarters? To Tony Amos? I have made myself learn how to remove fishing line and simple hooks in feathers without being bit by their hook but this is more than I can do. Injured at the 17 mile marker, I chose to leave him and call Tony down at the Animal Rehabiliation Keep on the way off. I can still see him in my rearview mirror hurting and alone in the rising water....


And I left that place, worried about leaving our wounded behind, which we do NOT do...



And 7 miles from the blacktop, THIS. Figured I would share this as a public service announcement so if someone has their kids with them they can avoid them seeing. You can guess. One NASTY...do they call it a voyeur? Exhibitionist? Or just butt nekked?



What I saw that day on the other side of this creature shall haunt me for the rest of my days and sleepless nights....





And with that, I share this in hopes that you all can see the resemblance as well and share questions, comments, or concerns. Justin Beiber....as Sir Elton?


Photo courtesy of David Sikes. Thankyou David. You seem like you would jam out with me to some Benny and the Jets so you're good in my book. Lol.


With that, I better be about done. Think I WILL go ahead though and call up my brother in Atlanta...and let him know...he's STILL Elton John, not me. LOL. It's good to have family. And it's good to have such a wonderful island to enjoy. And sometimes it's good to know you ain't the only that struggles in the face of Mother Nature's brutality-old R.E. Halter there did many many moons before we ever did down yonder....

There wasn't a shark to be seen, but oh well, we're all eating pomp around here. And I still got three nights of straight 100% solid baits run out. And I got to see Jeff and Si again over at Green Hill and visit. Thanks for the breakfast guys. Been 10 years since my last one with you all, and it was just as good. Good seeing you too Marshall and Dorinda. Good solid folks. There's reds out there, but they were only wanting cut mullet over the bar or live mullet on the bar. Skipjack wasn't doing it. And for that matter, neither was shrimp. If you want a pomp, don't do like me and put a shrimp behind that fishbite or you'll be pulling a hardhead off your hook! The ticket seemed to be a fishbite alone. Now-about that-a certain old buddy caught a solid surf trout right in front of me on a white fishbite while I joked and guffawed and hooted because when he cast his shrimp flew off. So! I tell ya'll what-throw white fishbites too I guess! For trout!

Ya'll take care, I'm gonna go vacuum the house while singing Bennie and the Jets. And then I think I'm headed back down Island.

--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

[nacskins]

Thank you thank you!

[Nicolas]

I appreciate the work you put into this post, thanks for taking us along.
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never compromise what's right and uphold your family name

[Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm]

great report, as usual, unfortunately with some bad news in it.....thanks for sharing....

also, you might want to look at the juvenile yellow crowned night heron; especially the color of the eye....admittedly, those two are hard to tell apart, but once you see a few of them and especially after you start seeing them on the beach year after year around the same time, you'll catch on....
becky
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[Towboat Trash]

[Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm]

[HungerBuster]

Glad you stopped by camp on your way out. It was great to meet your better half later in the week too. We ended up scoring some blues on spoons, a handful of pomps, two reds and two heartbreaking break offs for my son--right in front of us, so we saw the fish. But we called it incidental CPR and were glad he got to feel the rush. I'll post up a report sans pics here in a bit. I don't have the patience you do. Tight lines my friend.
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Fish ON!

[Gotta Catchem All]

Great report sir. Funny bit about the magazine, the kissing picture went pretty far haha.

[ironmanstan]

I think Saturday Nights all right for Fighting.....Great report and glad to meet you.
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I LIKE MINE FRIED.

[ALPHAHOOK]

No doubt in my mind that you are the reincarnation of some ole surf fisherman back in the day! I'm sure "the ghosts" are as happy to see you as I am! What a treat it is for me to see my truck and yours in the same picture!!! Til next next time my friend...
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ALPHAHOOK

[deputydawg]

Beautiful pictures and story! As usual I hate to see your reports end. Thanks for putting the time into bringing us along!

[fishaddict]

Nice to finally meet you Tow Boat. We were glad to meet your wife Cathy. Quite a rig you have there. You were right about the shrimp. Guaranteed hardhead. Bought a lb of fresh dead, used 5 and gave the rest to the birds. Caught just about everything on fishbites. (orange). My rookie friend who came beach camping for the first time caught a 24" spec on a fishbite. I did pretty well with a gold spoon. It caught bluefish. pompano, whiting and a trout. No hardheads on the spoon. With the NE wind blowing we decided to head back north to the mini-shell area for the higher ground. Glad we did as the wind pushed water to the dunes on Thursday. We caught 2 black-tips.(released). 3 nice blue fish 2 nice spec's. 26 pompano, and some small whiting. Never seen so many hardheads running after the anchovies. Something I thought odd. Didn't see one ghost shrimp hole the entire time. I don't expect to see them in the shell area but usually there are thousands on the sandy beaches at low tide. Makes me wonder if they were killed out by something. Till next month.

Marshall & Dorinda
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lifesabeach

[fishaddict]

Forgot to brag about my rookie camper. They saw a pelican wrapped up in fishing line with a lure in it's leg on the way down. Couldn't get close to it walking so my friend drove by the bird and jumped out like a cowboy steer wrestler, told his friend to grab the wheel as the truck kept rolling. He caught the bird and they removed the lure and all the fishing line binding his wings. The bird flew only 10 feet away then started testing out his mobile wings. He also picked up 3 trash bags full of beach trash and took it with him. He can camp with me any time. Earned his sand badge.

Marshall & Dorinda
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lifesabeach

[Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm]

[Towboat Trash]