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 When
Rockport guide Charlie Newton backed his boat down the ramp at Cove
Harbor, he didn't have to tell me he had been doing this for 25 years -
his tanned, leather skin conveyed that message. Had I missed that-tell
tale sign, his boat trailer would have spoken up.
"Suppose to gust to 45 (mph) today," he said. "I guess we will go fishing
anyway."
If Newton decided to stay pinned to the dock every time the ardent wind
blew in Rockport, there wouldn't be rust on his trailer and a creaking
sound coming from its wheel bearings.
"It will probably only blow around 25-30. We ought to be able to find some
redfish," he offered just before we pushed from the dock.
Newton's 24- foot Carolina Skiff is built for skinny water redfishing;
and, on this day, the shallow waters of back lake marshes were the leeward
shores we were looking for to hide from spring blusters. As we eased
through the mouth of a bayou, an oyster reef carved more scars in the
flatbottom.
Newton saw mullet flipping so he eased the anchored overboard and begin
preparing Carolina-rigged Kahle hooks with chunks of fresh mullet. Five
rods then went in standup holders and we waited.
"Many times the first rod goes down before I get the last rod baited," he
chuckled. "Hasn't been like that lately with the wind, but every day is
different."
Newton has arguably put more people on redfish than anyone along the
Coastal Bend. As the name implies, Redfish Charters is all about catching
the bronze-backed fish with the spot on its tale.
"I fish for trout every once in a while during the summer," he said. "But
people fish with me to catch redfish, so I try to put these big-headed
fish in the boat."
A couple of stops had not produced even a sniff, so Newton cast-netted
small perch to offer a live bait approach. An hour later that didn't seem
to matter, either, so we went exploring again.
This time we worked the Tortuga Flat just off the Intracoastal and a
redfish found our offering as Foreverlast's Bradley Grahmann caught his
first redfish ever.
"I have been doing this a long time. I can't stay in one spot if they are
not biting."
One thing I have noticed is Newton always has a protégé in training, and
this trip was no exception.
"My wife told me I needed to help the young guides. I was taught by
someone and I feel I need to help some of the kids learn the ropes," he
said.
Newton still bears the scars from a bout with Vibrio just four years ago.
"I had a small cut and reached in the live well - an hour later I didn't
know where I was and still can't remember how I drove back to the dock. A
few hours later and I would have lost my arm."
As we pulled the anchor and called it a day, Newton smiled and took a sip
from his cup.
It was only fittin'
he was drinking a Big Red!
Bink Grimes is a freelance writer, photographer, author and licensed
captain. Contact him at
binkgrimes@sbcglobal.net.
BJ is crazy
as she displays here
...with a Bonnet Head Shark and 2 perfect 28" Redfish.
Check out
my latest
SEAFOOD RECIPES
for new and scrumptious
seafood dishes
that are easy to prepare and scrumptious at
the table for
your family!
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Capt. Charles Newton Charles & BJ
(Beverly) have been married for 30 years and moved to Rockport when they
got married in 1978, they had their only daughter Chelcie in 1979. Charles
had 2 more daughters by a previous marriage and altogether they have a
total of 10
grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Charles & BJ decided to move to
Rock-port with just a desire to live in Rockport. They both love fishing
and started "hanging out" at the harbor and were always fishing and
bringing in lots of fish. One day Capt. Wayne Lindsey asked Charles to run
his boat and take some people fishing, well that started it. "It" meaning
Charles' desire to take people fishing. He worked and fished with Capt.
Wayne until he knew the waters around Rockport like the back of his hand.
In 1985 Redfish Charters opened for business and has been providing
quality fishing trips ever since. "Capt. Charlie" (as he is
affectionately known to most people), brings over 25 years experience as a
full time fishing guide and boy does he have some stories to tell.
He's one remarkable man with a humor that is simply delightful and
contagious.
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No Complaints Here...
And nobody is prouder of
their grandchildren than Capt. Newton
as seen here with Allycia
and Aerich Oliver - what a great catch! |
