Fishing Safely

[crankybait]

Well, I'm sure many of you have heard about the horrible accident involving 2 NFL players and 2 friends who went out fishing in the Gulf on saturday. If not, breifly, the four had gone deep sea fishing in a 21 foot boat around 35 miles off coast with 10 foot waves all around. The coast guard never got a call, and they did not return. Theyre still searching, and Nick Schuyler was found clinging onto the overturned boat. I just thought this would be a good time to say, use your head and fish safely. If the conditions are real bad and the boat cant handle them, save the fish for another day. Always wear life vests and make sure the radio is working properly. I'd hate for something like this to happen to anybody on this site, or anybody at all really

[cassidyta]

Thanks for the post Cranky. I would add one thing to what you said. If the boat OR THE CAPTAIN can not handle it. I know there are conditions where the boat may be okay with the right person behind the wheel, but don't ever consider it a right of passage to make it through your fist storm.

[doc]

This is gonna sound bad, but common sense should tell you to not go fishing in 10ft waves if you only have a 20 ft boat.

[aikenyounggun]

pray for their families and please be safe on the water

[3dkicker]

Two quick lessons learned - Never leave the boat (unless it sinks of course) and stay together.

[Bassboss]

That's for your concern, I'll use my head!

[Christopherkeene9]

Biggest thing these guys didn't have going for them was experience and safety equipment. Weather was fine when they left. I would've easily operated their 21ft. vessel with the weather they had on Saturday.

My observation and guess is they didn't have enough scope for the weather they were in (inexperience), decided to leave to late (inexperience), and then did not have an EPIRB (safety equipment/inexperience).

[zooker]

i agree with you chris..taking a 21 foot boat out in 10 footers is something experienced anglers do alot... in-experienced anglers end up like that drowned and missing...


remember guys,you all who fish lakes and ponds the big water of the ocean would seem scary in chop-2 footers- .to guys who have like chris and myself played on the big water many miles off the hill. 10 foot seas are "a bit bumpy" but handled with skill.

a cenutry boat like that does not just flip over sideways. my guess is in-experienced driver behind the wheel tried to breast a wave not crest a wave.. in other words he tried to go over the wave side ways instead of bow first.. the wave in turn swamped the boat and it rolled..

zooker

[Christopherkeene9]

The story that the lone surivior is giving is that they capsized when they were pulling anchor leading me to believe there wasn't enough scope out or they were improperly pulling anchor.

Also, an Everglades boat is well made and would have no problem in that stuff.

[flbassman]

Boats are made to float. In those size seas with that size boat, you'd be ok if you stayed on your toes, and had some experience. After flipping, an epirb, life jackets, and clinging to the boat might have saved everybody. Still a tragedy though, my condolences to anyone affected. And thanks cranky for bringing this up.

[Christopherkeene9]

Just read the FWC report. The inexperienced had:

1. The anchor tied to the stern.
2. Tried power pulling the anchor with it attached there.

Completely STUPID!

[MississippiBoy]

He tried dragging the anchor tied to the stern? No wonder the boat went under...21 ft boat in 10 ft seas, with the stern underwater

[flbassman]

Man, that's a shame.... Totally avoidable. If any of yall ever have any boat questions, ask somebody. Whole lot better to have the guys at west marine make fun of you after you leave than to drown....