Bad Scare at Gooseberry-Turns out good

[parker23]

I fished Gooseberry this morning before work. Fishing and walking the west side up to the Nubble.

At 0415 I encountered a young woman looking for her boyfriend. He had swum out to a rock 100 yards off the point. At 0300 he called her and said he was swimming in and would be back at their campsite shortly. Needless to say she was pretty freaked out. She called the Westport Police around 0445.

We met the officer in the lot and headed out in search for her 25 year old boyfriend. After 2 laps around Gooseberry to no avail I had to leave and get to work. The Coast Guard helicopter was on its way and the Harbormaster was searching for him.

I prayed for both Andrew and his girlfriend Kate on the way home and have been at my desk feeling sick to my stomach thinking about them.

The reef he was fishing has a tremendous rip current and with the wind blowing offshore from NE and the changing tide; I did not think the chances of finding him alive were very good.

Well, today was Andrew’s lucky day. The Harbormaster found him floating in his wetsuit; alive and well. The Westport Police called me at 0910 and gave me the good news. I am so grateful that this near tragedy turned out well.

Stay safe
Bruce

[Jackbass]

Lucky guy. Glad he is ok
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[piemma]

CG was broadcasting a PAN PAN all morning for this guy. We were way south in narr Bay and it was blowing 20 to 25knts. Unfishable.

[niko]

there was a pretty big swell down there yesterday afternoon. glad he is ok

[bloocrab]

Good news indeed! A valuable lesson learned, I'm sure...

I'm guessing most people don't realize that if ill-prepared, and fully geared, you're not going to be swimming as if in swimming shorts. The boots drastically affect your ability to swim (most that I've seen don't use any type of fins) and most (that I've seen) aren't going long distances. They simply want to get to a rock a little further out. If he was on the rock I'm thinking of, at the right stage, that currents' taking you for a ride. I've found myself semi-floating around thinking I was making progress in getting to shore when in fact, I was simply moving parallel with the shore due to the current, having to use my rod as a staff...to simply catch my breath. When you think it out before-hand, you think you'll know what to do AND do it....ie: drop gear, remove unnecessary weight that's affecting your ability to swim, whatever the circumstance...you've thought about it and how you'd react. However, as the #^&#^&#^&#^&z hitting the fan (we don't actually realize it and we aren't about to drop a $1K setup in the drink> because we know we can make it.

I think too many people unfamiliar with the many conditions that the ocean can quickly bring upon us are hopping into wetsuits and taking things for granted. I'm not saying that's what this person did....just sayin' is all.

I have a strange feeling that we'll be seeing more and more of these types of incidents. Hopefully, they all turn out as this one did.

[bassballer]

Originally Posted by piemma

CG was broadcasting a PAN PAN all morning for this guy. We were way south in narr Bay and it was blowing 20 to 25knts. Unfishable.

It was much better all the way out front.

[Liv2Fish]

Scary Stuff for sure.

I've started fishing with my handheld VHF attached to my bag strap. I carry it in a modified pork rind holder and it sits right in the middle of my chest where the on knob and mic key are easily accessible while floating on my back. It doesn't impede my fishing at all. Best value per $$ worth of gear I own.

After reading about JAKK's experience last year, and seeing how the hand held paid off, I couldn't not add it to my rig.