BajaNomad

I Miss Fred Hoctor

Gypsy Jan - 8-21-2011 at 04:34 PM

Today, I was watching a PBS NHK documentary about Japan.

There is a place where a man paints rocks to become "stone kitties" and he places them iaround the city. They aren't for sale.

Now the impoverished village is a tourist destination.

This reminded me of the anonymous rock painter of Baja that Fred wrote about.

In Fred's article, the artist came across as a modest man who wanted only to express himself.

BillP - 8-21-2011 at 05:07 PM

His column in Western Outdoor News was the first thing I'd read every week.

Same with Tom Miller

DENNIS - 8-21-2011 at 05:15 PM

The rock painter wasn't exactly anonymous. I forget his name, but he worked at the Foreign Book and had the job of filling in the chalk board with all the race results. It covered an entire wall and was elevated so all could see it. He walked back and forth on a catwalk.

That place was great before they modernized it. They didn't even have a bar so everyone brought a cooler and it was like twenty parties going on at the same time in the same room.

Desertbull - 8-21-2011 at 07:04 PM

Fred was top shelf! Truly an inspiration:cool:

Paulina - 8-22-2011 at 11:12 AM

I miss him too.

He's the reason for the >*)))>{ on my posts.



P>*)))>{

sancho - 8-22-2011 at 11:35 AM

Fred, One of my first Baja Weekley readings, I can't
remember how long ago that was? The 'stories' that
came out about how he was mistreated by a Clinic out in
the PBanda area, were depressing and made lose trust
in Mex, I figure if a Clinic would do that, who wouldn't.
I did not ever read a full account, but what I remember
it was not pleasant
http://www.mexfish.com/baja/baja/af010727/af010727.htm

[Edited on 8-22-2011 by sancho]

DENNIS - 8-22-2011 at 11:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
Fred, One of my first Baja Weekley readings, I can't
remember how long ago that was? The 'stories' that
came out about how he was mistreated by a Clinic out in
the PBanda area, were depressing and made lose trust
in Mex, I figure if a Clinic would do that, who wouldn't.
I did not ever read a full account, but what I remember
it was not pleasant


Never heard that one.....or of a clinic out here, but my memory banks keep getting damaged in the tumultuous crash landings I have off of Sharky's bar stools.

Anyway, an example of his humor is still available in his book, Baja HaHa. It's a fun read. Find it on Amazon.

jureal - 8-22-2011 at 12:03 PM

Fred was truly a class act. Just like Ray Cannon. I did not meet either of them but have read many of their stories.

baitcast - 8-22-2011 at 12:26 PM

I took WON for years an Fred was always my first stop,first rate stuff.
Rob

bajadave1 - 8-23-2011 at 06:28 AM

His book, "Baja HaHa" is my personal baja favorite. I re-read it once a year.

lizard lips - 8-23-2011 at 08:30 AM

My experiences with Fred are those that I will never forget. My dad who has lived in Punta Banda for almost 40 years met Fred a long time ago and Fred would come by the house often. He would sit down in the living room and always talk fishing. My mom would fix dinner and Fred would talk about his trips all over the world which I could not get enough of. Every time he was ready to leave he did just that and never said good bye or anything. He just would get up and walk out.

When I moved to Ensenada and my dad was not around Fred would call me and ask if i wanted to go fishing. I NEVER refused. Fishing with Fred was a hoot! I would get to his house just prior to dawn and he would offer me a cup of coffee. It was always strong..... Mud..... and would put a kick in your step. He hooked up his aluminum boat to his yellow Chevy Luv pick up and off we went down the hill by his house to the ramp. His PU was rusted beyond belief. The passenger floor board had a very large hole in it so you had to put your feet on both sides. I'm surprised the motor didn't just fall out from all the rust but that truck just kept on going year after year. After launching his boat Fred pulled the truck up a few yards and always kept the keys in the ignition. No one wanted that rust bucket.

We would fish just below Rancho Packard for about an hour that go to the rocks by the point. If there were no bites we would head off for the island where we would always have fish. We never got skunked. When i hooked up Fred would always tell me "Keep tension on the line, reel em in, Don't let em go". Fred would say this like the captain of a pirate ship. In fact he would be yelling at me. He was a different person when he was fishing. It was like Fred against the fish. The fish were the enemy and we were out to kill and eat all of em. I think most people would not enjoy Fred's demeanor when out on his boat but I ate it up. His stories of being in the Sea of Cortez during a storm or with Jacque Coustoe (sp) off the coast of some South Pacific Island were intriguing to say the least.

A few years before Fred died he was driving down highway one when he rolled his truck and was injured pretty bad. I visited him in the hospital and he was the same pirate he always was. Shouting orders to the nurses and complaining about the food. When he suffered his heart attack in Punta Banda and went to a clinic close to Estero Beach he really needed to get to a hospital in San Diego. Thats where we lost him.

Fred was a man. A real man that others looked up to not because he was a great fisherman or a great author but because he was what others wanted to be. A friend you could trust.

I asked Fred why he never said good bye when he left my fathers house. He told me "You never say good bye to family".

DENNIS - 8-23-2011 at 08:37 AM

Thanks, Big D.....good story.

DENNIS - 8-23-2011 at 08:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajadave1
His book, "Baja HaHa" is my personal baja favorite. I re-read it once a year.


http://www.bajanomad.com/columnists/fhoctor/?x=182&y=9

http://q87.com/dancinpig/fwf.htm


.

[Edited on 8-23-2011 by DENNIS]

lizard lips - 8-23-2011 at 11:47 AM

Dennis, Hoctor was a creative writing teacher at San Diego State. When we would go fishing he had me tell him some stories about my investigations and told me to start writing a book and that he would help when it was completed. I wrote about seven chapters and was going to bring a copy by his house and that was the day he died. It would have been great to have him as a mentor with that project!:spingrin:

DENNIS - 8-23-2011 at 12:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
It would have been great to have him as a mentor with that project!:spingrin:


I hope that didn't cause you to shelve it forever, Dan. You have a pile of great books inside your head, I'm sure.

bajamigo - 8-24-2011 at 11:32 AM

And what a great way to pay for medical school tuition, Dan!

lizard lips - 8-24-2011 at 03:01 PM

Ya, It's been a bunch so far. I'll get busy.