Two confirmed dead from over turned boat in the Westport river. One transported to the hospital.
http://www.turnto10.com/story/24383578/police-searching-for-missing-hunters

today .???? I,ve been out .with this wind ,its worse than the last cold /

P&T

But last Sunday I saw someone hunting in the lower bay in a [CANOE}:confused:

Can I comment here about poor decisions and how people need to think before they go hunting in boats, canoes and kayaks when the temps are near zero and the wind chill well below that???:smash:

Yes tragic but man.........

If you want to survive capsizing and falling into the water in this cold you had better be dressed for immersion. A good rule is , a combined air and water temperature of less than 100, means you should wear a wetsuit or better a drysuit. Even then there is an involuntary gasp reflex that starts the drowning process.

Prayers for families.
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my thoughts are with their families.. :(

Its terrible and I do feel badly for all involved. I hope the survivor can pull through.

Use to hunt the Bay for Bluebills and Canvasbacks in this weather. Had a Barnaget Bay layout boat and came in more than once covered in sea ice. Tough weather to do anything in.

I had a few days trying to get out of Nauset inlet where we would look at it and say " It's not worth it , it's only fish. "
Would've thought today would've been one one of those days.
Real shame. Another preventable tragedy it appears.
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I can't imagine why anyone would go out on the water today, between the wind and the cold, its just crazy!

I heard (rumored) one of the guys was the president of the Boston Big Game Fishing Club.

steve james? from Marshfield?

steve james? from Marshfield?


A spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney's Office said the two victims were 53-year-old Steven James, of Marshfield, Mass., and 55-year-old Robert Becher, of Cromwell, Conn.

steve james? from Marshfield?

Yes and president of Stellwagen bank charter boat association.
Unreal.
Rip Steve.
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Yes unreal.
Such a well known and liked person.
A true leader in the fishing community
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What a sad day for his family, friends and our fishing community. Between his founding and operating the shark tournament, the Boston Big Game fishing club and his more recent service with Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association, Steve is one of our true community leaders. Sad day indeed.

Thoughts & Prayers out to their families. I had heard earlier one had survived but 2 did not make it.

GodBless
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The 3rd member was likely not in the boat that capsized. Still unknown whether Steve's dogs were in the boat or back at his home in Marshfield. Although the boat was located near the mouth, it likely capsized up in the west branch and rode the drop to the mouth. As in the story about the Montauk lobsterman,sometimes experienced outdoorsmen run into situations they have not planned for.Rest in peace.

So sad...huge loss to the entire fishing community...what a shame.
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Such a sad tragic day for those families, my prayers go out to them.

That sucks. Wonder how close they were to my step-son's house. He's up by the head of the west branch.
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Thats too bad . Feel sorry for his family. I was on the docks most of the day. Have not been that cold since I lived n Kodiak, AK. Cant imagine being submerged on a day like today.

Rest in Peace...

RIP Steve

Very sad, T's & P's to family and friends.

The 3rd member was likely not in the boat that capsized. Still unknown whether Steve's dogs were in the boat or back at his home in Marshfield. Although the boat was located near the mouth, it likely capsized up in the west branch and rode the drop to the mouth. As in the story about the Montauk lobsterman,sometimes experienced outdoorsmen run into situations they have not planned for.Rest in peace.

High was at 12:41 today, not sure they were inside.
wind was NW gustin upper 20s wouldn't think anyone would be in the West branch in that

tragic regardless.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REGARDING THE WESTPORT BOATING FATALITIES: Bristol County District Attorney's Office C. Samuel Sutter District Attorney Press Release January 7, 2014 The preliminary investigation into this morning’s fatal boat capsizing in Westport has revealed the following information as of this hour: This morning at some point shortly before 8 a.m., a River Road resident noticed a capsized boat in the waters of the Westport River. The resident immediately notified the Westport Harbor Master. The Harbor Master then notified Westport Police and Fire officials, who immediately began a search of the area. The Harbor Master located the boat, which has been described as a skiff, and brought it to shore. Police and fire, meanwhile, searched the area for any vehicles that may have previously had the boat attached to it. After finding such a vehicle, police went to the home of the vehicle’s registered owner and confirmed that this individual along with two others had gone out on the river to duck hunt early this morning. A search of the river and surrounding areas immediately commenced, and was conducted by Westport Police, Westport Fire, Massachusetts Environmental Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Massachusetts State Police Dive Team, the State Police Air Wing and State Police Detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office. Two men who were on the boat were found deceased a short time later at the town’s Cherry and Webb beach. A third man was rescued from the river by a U.S. Coast Guard Jayhawk Helicopter crew. The helicopter immediately transported this lone surviving victim to Rhode Island Hospital for Hypothermia-type symptoms. At this time, this incident does not appear to be suspicious in nature. However, State Troopers assigned to this office are investigating, along with a number of other agencies listed above. The two deceased victims’ identities are Steven James, 53, of Marshfield, and Robert Becher, 55, of Cromwell, CT. The surviving victim’s identity is Gregg Angell, 51, of Westport. Mr. Angell remains hospitalized at this time, but is expected to survive. District Attorney Sam Sutter asserted that without the rapid communication and collaboration amongst local, state and federal agencies, it is unknown whether the third victim’s life would have been saved. He praised the members of all the agencies involved for acting quickly and working together to save a life despite the difficult circumstances and brutally cold conditions.

As an avid (and obsessed) duck hunter I will say these are the days I live for. Sea ducks and diving ducks move in this weather, and thats why we are out there....to shoot ducks. I was supposed to be out there today but had a late change of plans and stayed in. These guys are seasoned duck hunters and knew what they were doing. We dress for the weather with proper head gear, foot wear and clothing. We take every precaution to make it a safe hunt. My main objective is to make it back to the ramp at the end of the hunt. Shooting ducks on any waterway is a challenge in this weather. Today could have been any number of senerios, took a wave, hit something in the water, illness, who knows? Everyone is asking why they were out there? What were they thinking? Are they crazy? Well, we go out because its what we love, I am thinking this is going to be an epic day of wing shooting, and NO I am not crazy....just passionate. I feel bad about what happened today but it will not change the way I feel or hunt. I will be out the Saturday morning with my hunting partner.

In 1997 I capsize on Thanksgiving morning, and the outcome was in my favor. I know what went through their mind as it all happened, and it isn't a pleasant thought. God bless Dr.Angel, may he have a speedy recovery. Godspeed to the two others.

A bad accident can happen to anyone at any time.. even the most experienced... we all take risks with out sports.. even if we do not see them as risks....it's the nature of the game.. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the two men who died tragicaly doing wht they loved.

Amen. Those that go out when others stay home are those that truly enjoy the sport. I have been there, and we plan for the worst, just that mother nature plays a trump card now and then, and people die doing what they love, knowing the risks. Most of us will not be that lucky, but on the other hand, we need to think about those left behind.

Tragic. T&P's to the families.
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niko found the vid from the cg helo

http://www.dvidshub.net/video/319266/coast-guard-rescues-hunter-after-skiff-overturns#.Usx8W426Tf5

Also consider putting at risk the people that may have to go find you....the moonies used to chase bluefin in little center consoles on days the whale watching boats would stay in port.
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As an avid (and obsessed) duck hunter I will say these are the days I live for. Sea ducks and diving ducks move in this weather, and thats why we are out there....to shoot ducks. I was supposed to be out there today but had a late change of plans and stayed in. These guys are seasoned duck hunters and knew what they were doing. We dress for the weather with proper head gear, foot wear and clothing. We take every precaution to make it a safe hunt. My main objective is to make it back to the ramp at the end of the hunt. Shooting ducks on any waterway is a challenge in this weather. Today could have been any number of senerios, took a wave, hit something in the water, illness, who knows? Everyone is asking why they were out there? What were they thinking? Are they crazy? Well, we go out because its what we love, I am thinking this is going to be an epic day of wing shooting, and NO I am not crazy....just passionate. I feel bad about what happened today but it will not change the way I feel or hunt. I will be out the Saturday morning with my hunting partner.

In 1997 I capsize on Thanksgiving morning, and the outcome was in my favor. I know what went through their mind as it all happened, and it isn't a pleasant thought. God bless Dr.Angel, may he have a speedy recovery. Godspeed to the two others.


Thank you for this explanation. I thought it might be along these lines.

Could the wind have contributed to the capsizing? The duck blind might have caught one of the gusts of thirty to forty mph
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Buzzards bay buoy recorded a gust of 42 mph at 8am
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Interview of the harbormaster on the news this morning speculated that the water froze in the bottom of the boat causing someone to slip and cause a capsize

What a tragedy thoughts and prayers to the families involved. In some respects it reminds me of some of the tragedies that the surfcasting community has suffered over the years. I know that the majority of us have fished in areas and at times when the fish are calling us and we know that maybe we should not be out there. The weather impacts the ducks similar to our beloved bass apparently. I hope they are resting in the great duck blind in the sky with no plugs in their shotguns having the best wingshooting they ever dreamed. Similar to the surfcasters who have passed and went to the land of blitz's we only see in our dreams.

In 1971 I was hunting the Palmer River with my hunting partner Norm Proulx. Norm took the canoe to retrieve a duck and capsized on an outgoing tide. I went after him in a a little 8' pram. Got to him but couldn't get him in the boat. By then someone on shore had called the rescue so I rowed us over to shore with him clinging to the side of the pram. He survived but was in the hospital with hypothermia for a day.

I gave up duck hunting for goose hunting in corn fields. It was dryer, safer and there were a lot more Canadian geese than Mallards and Black ducks.

In any event, we always took the proper precautions but as the saying goes, "@*&$ happens".

http://www.mvtimes.com/2014/01/07/monster-shark-tourney-organizer-dead-duck-hunting-accident-18547/

We all know this is certainly sad and grief filled for thier survivors and friends, but I can't help thinking that if your married, and have children as well, then this dangerous day of shooting in such inclement weather isn't just a little selfish. I used to go surfing in January at Coast Guard Beach, Newport, and a few other places, just to be able to say I did it. But I was a stupid kid. These guys were adults, probably married, with children still living at home, who are now without thier father. Just to shoot a #^&#^&#^&#^&ing duck or two. Sad.
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Getting past the initial shock of the tragedy....as many have said they were doing what they loved to do? Its what we do! We all have passions in life and we try to chase those passions and fulfill our joy for being able to feel this way about something we love! The sad reality is that thought these men died hunting ducks...many are hit by buses, in car wrecks or just plain trip over their own feet and go down a flight of stairs doing something as simple and mundane as walking. "There but for the grace of God go I" is the saying. Lets hope that as we move forward we just do our best to come home again. Lets just be careful out there no matter what or where our passions may take us.

A message from the Secretary of the Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association...

"January 8, 2014

It is with my deepest sympathy that I bring you the following information about our friend and colleague Steven James. Steve's family will be coming to Marshfield, tomorrow, January 9th. They have decided not to have a wake or funeral for Steve (Steve was not married and did not have Children). The family along with Frank Papp are putting together a celebration of Steve's life which will consist of a slide show and video. The Celebration of Life will be held at the Ocean Deck Restaurant 239 Dyke Road, Marshfield, MA this Sunday, January 12th at 1:00 pm. Anyone who knew Steve and would like to speak will be asked. Donations should be made out to the Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association.”

We all know this is certainly sad and grief filled for thier survivors and friends, but I can't help thinking that if your married, and have children as well, then this dangerous day of shooting in such inclement weather isn't just a little selfish. I used to go surfing in January at Coast Guard Beach, Newport, and a few other places, just to be able to say I did it. But I was a stupid kid. These guys were adults, probably married, with children still living at home, who are now without thier father. Just to shoot a #^&#^&#^&#^&ing duck or two. Sad.
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Not sure about the 2nd victim from Conn but Steve James was NOT married, NO kids.
He's hunted all over the world.
Yesterdays weather wasn't all that out of the ordinary for these guys to hunt, just a tragic day.
The fishing community lost a HUGE asset being commercial, charter & recreational & not someone just looking out for his own agenda !