Headed out this morning, with FUBAR, Gary Weeks of 2W Diving, and his neighbor Tommy to do a little bottom fishing and spear fishing. 22 mi out, driveshaft on the motor broke, leaving us stranded. Could not reach Coast Guard or Sea Tow, and heard no radio traffic on the normal channels. After about 3 hrs, Ramblin Rooster stopped tried to help us but was also unable to raise any assistance. Dirty Work stopped by with a satphone and got hooked up with Sea Tow. While waiting for them, we managed to spear several nice grouper and caught several more on squid, along with some other bottom dwellers. Sea Tow arrived at 1430 and got us to the hill at 1700. Thanks for all the help! Really nice day on the water, understanding crew, and neither Rooster or Dirty Work would leave until Sea Tow put the line on. Great job by Sea Tow and our fellow fisherman; makes it all worth while.
Glad you got in safe. Look into getting an EPIRB. Worth the money for sure. We got stuck with the same problem last year on a friends boat with a single engine. I swore I’d never leave the dock without one again. Did you troll while sea tow was pulling you back???
Bug Catcher, Sorry to hear about your problems with the Merc. That must have been a long day! I managed to take one buck and two does on that hunting trip I invited you to. It turned out to be an eventful trip. Had planned on a trip out this weekend for some grouper with some friends, but the winds dont agree. Looks like another trip to the woods. Nice fish.
GuyA, I have an EPIRB that I carry offshore as well. But, to my understanding it can only be used in the event of an emergency. Distress calls such as a MAYDAY and EPERB are to be used when there is a life threating situation. Not for a breakdown. At least that is what I was told by a coastie.
This may be a dumb question and/or comment but…you went diving with a boat that was not working while waiting on assistance? Wouldn’t you be worried about those who are down and current, drift, etc. and possibly not being able to retrieve them due to the condition of the dive boat? seems foolish to me.
Those are some nice fish though but…just sayin’
*edit…I did just see the part where the other boats did not leave…but still…
That kind of got me thinking also, not saying i wouldnt do it but what are the currents like offshore? ive dove in the Caribbean but nothing around here. Do yall use a tag line from the boat or just make sure you are extra aware of where that anchor line is.
we do use a tag line off the stern, and we would normaly not make the dive with any current & no way to retreave the divers, but that day there was no current, great vis. and could see the divers bubbles the entire dive, and could see the bottom of the boat in 70 ft. most of the dive. we happend to break down over live bottom and with the fishfinder showing 2ft. relief & fish we could not stand it! I trust Garys judgement and he mine as we dove commercially togeather for many years. we had 3 U.S. Navy trained divers and one healthy U.S. Marine trained by me since he was 6 yrs. old and he has dove around the world. ( I dove night shift for most of 13yrs. at the shipyard) we all have a healthy respect for the sea! better chance of getting taken out at I-26 & ashley ph on the way to the landing!
