De fw2291 , 18-01-2017

Tobago 1975 - I walked from Black Rock every morning excited to see what Mt. Irvine had to offer. I would stop some mornings to help pull in the massive hand line nets of Back Bay. Back Bay kicked my ass!
My hands were bloody and my back was done. These people worked so hard just to feed their families.

I walked through many small towns full of shacks on stilts. Many families had nothing more than an open faced room on stilts. Open to the environment and the elements. It was poverty, the most chilling example of poverty you will ever see in any part of the world,but they were all happy and most generous!

Most of us would never survive in such a primitive environment? We are too weak to endure these sacrifices.

I do remember a Tobago that was not corrupted by selfish surfers. It was an amazing time in history. My friends Michael Baker and Gideon George would rather go fishing on the North end of Buccoo Reef and watch the amazing spectacle of giant waves and offshore spray rising 20-40 feet above the horizon. I still Believe that Buccoo Reef is one of the Caribbean's potential big wave venues.

Kirk " Shark Bait"

P.S. Where are all the surfers from the Tobago 70's?

De fw2291 , 03-01-2017

Tobago 1975 - I gazed at Buccoo reef for weeks. At that time in history Buccoo had the mystery and the intimidation of any big wave on the planet. I witnessed gigantic lefts reeling off the reef.

Gideon George from Black Rock and I use to troll the deep water north of Buccoo for Bonita. I witnessed massive "Mavericks" surf on Buccoo Reef. Gideon would marinate the Bonita in coconut milk and it was the best fish I have ever had.

I miss my good friends Gideon George and Michael Baker, they will forever be my Tobago friends.

Kirk "Shark Bait"

De fw2291 , 03-01-2017

Tobago 1975 - Does anyone know where my good friend Michael Baker might be? He was the Mt. Irvine Bay lifeguard in the 70's. At that time he was the only surf local on the Island. He was a kind and generous man. Toni, Paul and Margie, and the rest of the Montauk crew, including myself from California had soo much respect for this man. We all shared waves, their was no hassles because we all respected the one local Mr. Baker. We went out of our way to make sure that the line up never became corrupted as many line ups are today.

Tobago and Mt. Irvine in 1975 was an amazing place. Imagine looking for someone to join you in the lineup. Many early mornings and late afternoons I surfed alone or with that nut Toni from Long Island. Anyway, where is Michael Baker and where is that nut Toni Geridono?