[munchkin]

We were fishing down in Seadrift this past Sunday
and were on the South Shoreline running toward
Panther Point from Pat's Bay. Pam and my brother
were with me and we noticed an old Gray shrimp
boat about 100 yards from the shore line anchored.

He had fishing lines out and was motioning us to
come over toward the boat. He was not in trouble
or hailing us but just kind of motioning us to come
over to the boat. Something looked fishy (pun) and
I didn't stop. This reminded me of an article that
was written by the guy Peter(crs last name) and he
had stopped in San Antonio bay and was attacked
by a so called shrimper.

This just looked suspicious. Has anyone noticed a
boat like this? It was painted Gray and had a make-
shift canopy on the back. Chris Martin help me out
here if you can. I think the person was up to no good.

 

[Capt. Lowtide]

By law you are required to stop and render assistance if a vessel is in danger.

A good buddy of mine was thrown out of his boat last year and was incoherant from blood loss. He motioned to other boaters as they passed him by without anyone stopping. He finally stood up and a passing boat saw blood everywhere. He is lucky to be alive after that incident.

The shrimp boat you saw was definately fishing with lines out, at this point I would have considered him another angler.

I would of stopped to see what the problem was, maybe he was in some fish and wanted to share his good luck. If I was feeling paranoid, I could have had the flare gun handy.

Then there is the old saying "curiousity killed the cat!"

 

[troy merrill]

My guess

He was probably going to try to sell you some of his catch or see if you had any booze!

 

[[email protected]]

This is a most unusual story. I know a bunch of the shrimpers around Seadrift. I do not believe any of these people would do you harm... hence, I hate to see them collectively dragged through the mud.
Having said that though... there is no guarantee that every man who operates a vessel that appears to be a shrimp boat is a shrimper or even a local. If the vessel or occupants would have been distressed they likely would have made a more vigorous display in hailing your boat. You probably did the right thing to keep moving.
You may want to contact TPWD or Calhoun County Sherriff Dept. if you seriously believe the guy was up to no good.
EJ

 

[Capt. Chris Martin]

Boats, Towing, Good People, and Barkett's Restaurant

I have run into several shrimpers and drum liners, crabber’s in the area via gas pumps, car wash, picking up last minute items at the store, post office, boat ramps, church, and while wade fishing the back lakes and shorelines.

It is with my personal experience, each time we cross paths, it’s a pleasant and informative conversation.

Just the other day, with customers on board, I was making way down the Victoria barge canal back towards the lodge. Right outside the drum hole, sitting in the middle of canal was an El Pescador with the engine cover missing. There was a man bent over on his knees working on the motor.

I made a sudden turn with the Majek and went back to assist. The gentlemen’s name was Lary Seydler (who has fished with us before). I asked him if he needed a tow. He replied, yes if you don't mind.

We towed him in and I refused to take a tip or money. (You just never know when you’re going to be on the other end)...What happened two hours later is a complete class act.

My wife and I decided to have a late lunch at Barkett's Restaurant. Shortly after making our order, Larry Seydler approaches out table and slides an envelope across the table. Larry said THANKS, we shook hands and he slowly walked away. You see, Larry saw my truck and boat out in front of the restaurant. Later on we opened the envelope to find a $100 gift certificate for Barkett's Restaurant.

There are many good people in the area.

Thanks

Chris Martin

 

[Capt. Lowtide]

Thank you Everett for your insight, I agree to your thinking of the shrimpers. I know many of them myself and respect them dearly.

This is a most unusual story. I know a bunch of the shrimpers around Seadrift. I do not believe any of these people would do you harm... hence, I hate to see them collectively dragged through the mud.
Having said that though... there is no guarantee that every man who operates a vessel that appears to be a shrimp boat is a shrimper or even a local. If the vessel or occupants would have been distressed they likely would have made a more vigorous display in hailing your boat. You probably did the right thing to keep moving.
You may want to contact TPWD or Calhoun County Sherriff Dept. if you seriously believe the guy was up to no good.
EJ

 

[InfamousJ]

a complete class act.

......

There are many good people in the area.

Not all, but many.

 

[Junebug]

I've stopped and helped many times. Towed folks so far I've used almost a full 70 gallons of fuel. I've missed entire days helping folks get boats unstuck. Never have taken a penny for any of it. You just never know when someone is in danger. Of course you never know when you're the one thats going to need some help. I was actually the one who stopped and helped Capt. Lowtides friend. He was in and out when we got to him and wouldn't have made it much longer. Again ALWAYS STOP! You're in a boat, if someone was trying to do harm you would know it, always check it out.

~Jb

 

[[email protected]]

Junebug.... Amen! Good on ya brother!
EJ

 

[Argo]

Junebug, I feel the exact same way.

 

[munchkin]

Seadrift

Boy did I open up a can of worms. Maybe I should have
made myself clearer. I was born and raised in POC, and
believe me I know a lot of people and have many many
relatives one who ran for constable there in Seadrift
Buster Nunley. But my intuition is usually right on and
this looked suspicious. Of course i know the law of assist-
ing people I pulled one poor guy in from moses lake when
his motor conked out and was trying to get in by trolling
motor.

 

[texasflyfisher]

I saw these guys and they were waving a flag at me as I was passing by. I didn't think twice about stopping. I had some people stop and help me out of a jam just a month ago and if they hadn't I would have been stuck out there all night with my elderly mother in law and my grandson. Whoever it was that stopped and helped me, (they never told me their names), I want to say thank you very much. I made a promise to myself right then and there that I would never ignore someone in trouble on the water. I didn't know about a law that says just that then but if you think about it, that seems right. There were three guys on the old shrimp boat. They weren't financially blessed to put it nicely, but they were fishing. I don't know where they got that old wooden shrimp boat but I hope they didn't pay any money for it, it was pretty ragged. I'll be honest with you, I was concerned about their looks at first too but I figured I would at least pull up close enough to evaluate the situation. If something didn't seem or feel right to me I figured I could at least send back help if nothing else. Besides, my wife and son in law who were both with me have their "carry" license and we almost always pack a persuader of some kind. Anyway, they were nice fellas. The Captain was a mexican man and he had two anglo friends with him. They said they just liked to stay out on the water over the weekend and see what they could hook. They had plenty of food and beer and you could tell they really enjoyed what they were doing. Their problem was that their battery was dead. I tried to jump it off for them but my battery wasn't strong enough to turn their old motor over. I think it was a diesel which would probably require two batteries or 24 volts anyway. There was no way I could tow them or do anything else so I offered to send back help or let them use my phone. They said no thanks that they had a phone and if need be they would call for help. Of course paying for it may have been a problem.

 

[Capt. Lowtide]

Glad to see someone stopped, good job Texas Flyfisher!

 

[texasflyfisher]

Thanks Capt. Lowtide. Someone wise and famous once said something like "if you will do this for the least of these you have done it for me."