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Bassfishin
New member
Username: Bassfishin
Post Number: 35
Registered: 06-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2010 - 10:55 pm: | 
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NEWS ARTICLE FROM THE STAR TELEGRAM
By ART CHAPMAN
Special to the Star-Telegram
To most fishermen, especially coastal fishermen, the U.S. Coast Guard is something like the local police. They are there to protect you, and you know that, but they are also there to enforce the law and that can mean an occasional, costly citation. When you pass the Coast Guard on the water, you can't help but quickly run a mental checklist: Do you have the required flotation devices, fire extinguishers, correct lights, etc.?
You might wave, but you really don't want to make eye contact.
Not me, not anymore. The members of the Coast Guard station at Port Aransas are some of my new best friends. I have become one of those people I thought I would never become: I have had to radio for help. I've been the guy in the water who had to be fished out.
I'll spare the little detail and the multitude of denials I've come up with to excuse my actions. The fact is, I was off the Port Aransas jetties, about six miles out. The seas were at 3 feet, which is a little rough for fishing, but doable. My boat is a 24-foot Grady White with a single 225-horsepower outboard on a 2-foot motor bracket.
We were trolling when my line got caught in the prop and the engine immediately shut down, like it is supposed to do. I used the tilt/trim to raise the engine and there was no doubt about the mess I was in.
I should say now that I have towing insurance and I should have simply radioed the service on my VHF radio, arranged for a tow back to Port Aransas where I could have cleared the prop and been back on my way. I should have.
But I think, like most men, that I have a tendency to overestimate my abilities. I have gone in the water on several occasions to clear a prop. I've just never done it offshore in choppy seas with the boat bounding up and down. Still, what's a little bouncy-bouncy to an experienced swimmer and boater?
Well, it turns out, a lot.
With a prevailing 15 mph wind from the southeast, the 3-foot waves are just at the surface. Beneath them, there was a strong current running in another direction, and add to that a pretty good outgoing tide heading in yet a third direction. The water was something like the top of your washing machine with the agitator going full blast.
I didn't understand all of that until I put on my life jacket, tied a lifeline around my waste, lowered my swim ladder and entered the water. Then, I figured it out really, really quickly. I did make it back to the prop, tried to clear it, but couldn't do it with just my hands. I decided I would have to return to the boat and get some tools.
When I got back to the short swim ladder I stepped on the lower of the two rungs, grabbed for the handrail and tried to pull myself up. I've done it dozens of times. But this time, the rail was dripping wet with saltwater and each time I pulled up, my hand slipped back and as the boat rose with the waves, those same waves pulled me backward. I tried and tried, but could not get up.
My wife was at the helm, but she has a disability that won't allow her to move about the boat. I could barely hear her, and couldn't see her at all. She couldn't see me, either. My second mistake was that I should have accepted my fate and asked her to radio for help. I had my life jacket on and was tethered to the boat. I could just lay back and wait for help.
I just didn't want to give up. I didn't want to be one of those guys who had to rely on others. I kept trying.
Finally I reached total exhaustion. Just hanging on to that ladder was about all I could do. She issued a mayday over the radio.
The Coast Guard answered immediately and two fishing boats in the area headed my way. When the first boat arrived, several of the men onboard donned their lifejackets and came in the water to help me. They got me aboard my boat just as the Coast Guard arrived. I was passed the point of being embarrassed; I was relieved, exhausted, sick of drinking saltwater and very appreciative.
The guys in the "good Samaritan" boat were fantastic. They were fishermen, too, and when you fish offshore -- anywhere actually -- you know there might be a time when you'll need the help. You can bet I'll never pass by anyone in need. Thanks to those guys, I have a debt I'll gladly be willing to pay.
And I can't say enough about the Coast Guard. Once they arrived, they stayed to the finish. They called our tow service for us, but when they found out it would take an hour for the service to arrive, they decided to tow us back themselves. They were afraid I was on the verge of dehydration and they knew I was exhausted. After nearly 45 minutes in the water I could have gone into shock. I didn't, but I could have and they weren't going to take any chances. Once back at Port A, they put us in an air-conditioned room and someone stayed with us until the tow service showed up and cleared the prop.
The Coast Guard crew was probably an average age of 20, maybe. There were several teenagers in there, and a couple 25-year-old graybeards. But they were professional beyond description and more than that, they were compassionate and friendly and went way beyond anything they were required to do. These folks, both men and women, were all credits to their uniform.
You can bet that next time I see them, I'll wave; and I'll be sure to make eye contact. They are our good friends.
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/06/2317370_p2/sea-rescue-changes-view-of-coast.html#ixzz0t3UgQV4f
Dont forget what can happen out there. |
Granpafish
Junior member
Username: Granpafish
Post Number: 197
Registered: 04-2005
a woman is but a woman, a good cigar is a smoke.
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 10:07 am: |
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Thanks for taking the time to pass on a valuable lesson and giving an "atta boy" to the CG. |
Tideruner4
Senior member
Username: Tideruner4
Post Number: 508
Registered: 03-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 05:20 pm: |
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I myself was glad to hear that helicopter 3 oclock in the morning. They are the best!! |
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