thank GOD for PFDs

[jonserfish]

went out in my 7' featherlite sit in side kayak tonight because i was too LAZY to take my 14' sit on top yak. Was out for about a half hour as the sun went down and scored a couple of 8 lb blues on top water. then i switched to eels. I hooked up with a nice 25-30 lb fish. when i got her boat side i tried to pull her up onto my lap but due to excessive gear and what nots i leaned a little too far towards the fish. the water found it's way in. I realized it and leaned back..... way too far back. now water is filling up the cockpit superfast but yet slooooow motion at the same time. I did the slow roll and watched all my gear disapear(leashes were home in the s.o.t.yak.) after collecting myself i realized i could not find my bailing bucket. so i tried to hold the yak above water and swim.. my line was still connected to the bass and to a plug and around my legs. i managed to grab my dive knife and cut myself free before dropping the knife out of sight. so now i am free of lines trying too figure out what shorline is closest???? can't really tell so decide to swim towards my parents house. All of a sudddon i realized my phone should be ok in the zip lock baggie. i reach for it but it was gone. so i'm swimming for maybe 45 miinutes trying to hold the nose of my yak above water so i don't lose it as well. getting colderr and really having trouble controlling my breathing and swimming as well. now i kick off my sneakers but it didn't seam to help much, than my rain pants came off. it helped a little i finally made it to a mooring or conch pot or something and wrapped the line around my yak handles as i could not tie a knot. limbs were'nt working as they should. THE COLD IS DEFINATELY TAKING IT'S TOLL ON MY LOWER BODY so i hang on to the bouy for a few minutes to catch my breath. when i decided it was time to swim on i realized that my legs were cramped up and would not do what i told them to do.. so now i bite the bottom eye of my lami, rest my cabo on my groin and do the back stroke for what seemed like an eternity with the wind and fuLl moon's current controlling my progress. finally well over an hour and a half into it i can touch bottom. as i walked up the bank i soon figured out that my legs were barely under me and hypothermia is setting in. i walked about a half mile to my parents house and woke them up. they through me in the shower and gave me dry clothes. i lost MY DAUGHETERS BRAND NEW PENN SQUALL, HER BOAT ROD, ALL MY GOOD PLUGS, EVERY BIT OF TERMINAL TACKLE, MY KAYAK AND OAR, MY PHONE, WALLET, AND MY TWO BLUES I SAVED FOR THE SMOKER. BUT BECUASE I NEVER YAK WITH OUT MY LIFE VEST I WAS ABLE TO BACK STROKE LONG ENOUTH TO HIT THE SHORELINE. .........................I LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS THE HARD WAY TONIGHT.....
NEVER YAK AT NIGHT ALONE, SIT INSIDE YAKS DO NOT BELONG IN THE OCEAN WITHOUT A SKIRT, pfdS ROCK! AND MOST INPORTANT

I AM NOT INVINCIBLE.


Later i called the police to report my yak out there so they do not call for a search and rescue at sunrise when someone sees my stuff out there.

SORRY FOR THE LONG WINDED POST BUT THOUGHT IT MIGHT HELP SOMEONE OUT OF MAKING BAD DECISIONS JUST FOR A FISH

[Sea Dangles]

Glad you are safe!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[BigFish]

Glad you are ok first of all and most importantly! Second of all ditch that death trap! Sit insides were not made for fishing!

[jonserfish]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Glad you are ok first of all and most importantly! Second of all ditch that death trap! Sit insides were not made for fishing!

i knew that when i left.. just an idiotic decision on my part

[piemma]

Near death experiences tend to make us remember how precious life is. Just glad you didn't die because you certainly could have. Water is still cold enough for hypothermia to have killed you.

Thank God, man.

[massbassman]

Wow, scary stuff... Glad you're ok Jeff!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[numbskull]

Wow.

[BigFish]

As much as I hate wearing my PFD it is always on! You never know!

[Guppy]

Geeeees! Be careful will ya! I'm scared just reading this .
Would have been much worse if you lost her Dad.

[spinncognito]

Wow, that is crazy. Glad to hear you made it out alive and thanks for posting as it will certainly make folks think harder about their choices.
Everything you lost can be replaced but your life could not have been.

[jonserfish]

Wow, still can't believe it happened. I . i usually have my whistle with me but didn't. there were two boats that came within a (guestimated) mile or so just after i capsized. they might have been able to hear it if i had it around my neck. I feel like i got dragged home. every muscle is tight and legs feel like i have been mountain climbing all night. gonna take a boat ride and see if i can find any floaters in mt hope bay this am. gup, believe me that thought kept going through my head. defiantely woulda put a damper on her father's days for while

[niko]

Scary story, glad it ended ok
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[wdmso]

glad your all right and you are correct never fish at night alone

we have been trying to get out together to fish . I love going at night so no need to go alone I'll PM you my Number its easier

[JFigliuolo]

WOW.... when I yakked I never went out w/o my pfd. Dude. it saved your life.

2. more things:
1. ALWAYS wear your rape whistle.
2. ALWAYS have your cell phone in a aquapac ATTACHED TO YOU. they are cheap and EXTREMELY effective.


So glad to hear this was autobiographical, and not in the paper....

[blondterror]

Thank god you had a PFD on and did what you needed to save yourself. I bet the yak shows up and maybe some gear as well.

[Dick Durand]

Wow! What a scary experience. Given the water temperature,you were certainly endangered. Thankfully, your survival instinct prevailed. Your account captivated my interest and should serve as a warning to others.

[puppet]

Glad you made it in safe... Wow!

You saved yourself, and in sharing this you may have saved someone else.

Solo or not epirbs and waterproof vhf handhelds might be good things for the checklist.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[fishrick]

Thanks for sharing, it may save someone, as we all have to make those decisions sometimes to go "less than prepared", and sometimes make the stupid choice instead of the wise one....God was with you last night!

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by puppet

Glad you made it in safe... Wow!

waterproof vhf handhelds might be good things for the checklist.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

good point... forgot that on my list of necessities.

[fish4striper]

Wow,scary, glad it worked out!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[thefishingfreak]

nice outcome. We are all responsible for our own safety.

[JohnR]

Wow - you caught a few breaks last night and the PFD being the main one. I am thankful I am tuping this response rather than a heads up - Kayak Fisher missing thread linked to the news.

Originally Posted by Guppy

Geeeees! Be careful will ya! I'm scared just reading this .
Would have been much worse if you lost her Dad.

Yes

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

nice outcome. We are all responsible for our own safety.

BRAVO!!!

[PaulS]

Thank God you are alright.

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

Even with a skirt they don't belong in the ocean. I had one with a skirt and they can easily slip off. Glad u made it back!!!!!!!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[piemma]

Originally Posted by puppet

Glad you made it in safe... Wow!

You saved yourself, and in sharing this you may have saved someone else.

... waterproof vhf handhelds might be good things for the checklist.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Bought one last year from Back Beach. It's always in the ditch bag. Floats, waterproof and glows in the dark.

[BigFish]

I have the whistle that came with the PFD.....but I invested in a couple of those small air horns you can by at any marine supply store. They are small enough to fit in the pocket of my PFD and my Wife has one also! They cost about $10 each....good insurance!

[afterhours]

Thank God you're ok. Things can turn bad in a heartbeat.

[bobber]

glad you made it out, and can look back with some constructive criticism. that was close one, huh?!?

[Rockfish9]

Happy to read this as an happy ending..lost gear can be replaced...loss of life cannot... glad to see your able to tell your tale..

[Raven]

glad your ok.... buddy up
post this to other yak forums
cool beans pontoon idea comes to mind...