Oh $#&t! Moments

General Fishing Discussion
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Thread on a Tx forum was a fun read so thought I’d start one here. Fun to laugh at own mistakes and maybe others can learn from them.
I’ll start with a few of my own.

Early morning trip with my father in my late teens to go flounder fishing. Seems we always had trailer problems in those days. A bearing buddy comes off and we spend a hot morning repacking wheel bearings on the side of Hwy 17. Job done, anxious to make up fishing time, my father tosses the grease rag and near empty tub of bearing grease in his truck bed under his plastic tool box. My father was a smoker and in those days had the habit of tossing his butts from the open window of his truck. Finally at the landing, he backs me in the boat in the water and just as I clear the trailer, I look up to see smoke and flames pouring out of the bed of his truck! The grease has caught fire and burned through the truck box. To this day the ol’ man swears it was spontaneous combustion.

Late to afternoon bass tourney where all other boats already launched. Put in quick and run miles to my chosen spot. Get up on the trolling motor and start casting and notice my keys are not in my pocket?!? Start thinking about it and don’t remember parking the truck/trailer. Left the trailer on the landing, truck still running & tide coming in! Made matters worse by calling a local friend at a boat shop to see if he could help me out. Turns out he was out of town but made sure to tell everyone that came in the shop about my little mishap.

Fishing just outside the surf zone in Nov. with wife in my little 16ft. flats boat when she gets a 40"+ Bull Red on light tackle. I shoot a cell phone video complete with dialogue of the struggle and final landing of the fish. Very proud, I step onto the front deck to get a good photo of her sitting on the cooler holding this big red in her lap. Backing up further and further, I manage to walk right off the front of the boat into the ocean. First reaction is to catch my Tilley Hat and Costa glasses but I drop my $300 phone in the se

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Good read. I got a good laugh. My Oh s$!? moment happened when I first got a boat. Was meeting some friends at the landing and when I got there they were waiting for me. So I rushed to put the boat in the water. I backed my jeep down the ramp, put the parking brake on and got out to launch the boat. I was on the boat getting ready to put it in reverse when I looked up at my jeep and I found it strange that my reverse lights were on. At first I thought maybe they always come on when I open the door but then it hit me the only reason they would be on is because the jeep is still in gear. Thank goodness my parking brake held or I would have been that guy at the ramp that swamped his car. Lesson learned.

2014 Wilderness Systems Ride 135

1995 Searay 175 Series

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I can’t think of any of mine right off the bat. But my good buddy was going to test out a sweet v-hull mckee craft last summer. He had the cash in his pocket to buy it on the spot. The owner of the boat unhooked the bow cable before backing the boat in, and of course he had rollers instead of wood bunks. :dizzy_face: The sum-***** slid right off of the trailer as soon as he started backing. It didn’t even get close to the water. The hull was cracked. My buddy put his hands in his pockets and said I’ll think I’ll pass on this one, and walked away.

1971 NEWPORT DAYSAILER 21’
1970 MAKO CC 22’

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This is the only one I can think of off hand. I was living in Fla. & had a little 12’ jon boat with a 6hp. motor. Since it leaked a bit, I had the habit of pulling the drain plug while under way to drain water from the boat. While cruising in the ICW near Daytona, I was pulled over by the man in the green uniform. He informed me that my registration decal was missing. After checking that my paperwork was in order, smiling, he said " I’d better let you go now, it looks like your taking on a little water."
Well, I was a little nervous when he pulled me over, I had a few beers (both in me and the cooler) and a little herb in my tackle box:wink:. I had totally forgotten to put the plug back in. I looked down and I was up to my shins in water. The gas tank, tackle box, and life jackets were all floating.:frowning_face:
I politely said thank you & have a nice day and hauled butt to drain the 50gal. of water out.

Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069

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quote:
Originally posted by Happy Bob

This is the only one I can think of off hand. I was living in Fla. & had a little 12’ jon boat with a 6hp. motor. Since it leaked a bit, I had the habit of pulling the drain plug while under way to drain water from the boat. While cruising in the ICW near Daytona, I was pulled over by the man in the green uniform. He informed me that my registration decal was missing. After checking that my paperwork was in order, smiling, he said " I’d better let you go now, it looks like your taking on a little water."
Well, I was a little nervous when he pulled me over, I had a few beers (both in me and the cooler) and a little herb in my tackle box:wink:. I had totally forgotten to put the plug back in. I looked down and I was up to my shins in water. The gas tank, tackle box, and life jackets were all floating.:frowning_face:
I politely said thank you & have a nice day and hauled butt to drain the 50gal. of water out.

Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069

Bob that’s funny. I am cracking up. Best part is that he would rather let you go and possibly sink somewhere else than give you a ticket and have to help you. Funny stuff.

2014 Wilderness Systems Ride 135

1995 Searay 175 Series

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quote:
This is the only one I can think of off hand.

I wish I could only think of one :smiley: Got more stories than time to type right now.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

7
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry
quote:
This is the only one I can think of off hand.
I wish I could only think of one :smiley: Got more stories than time to type right now.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

Good to hear that at least a few of you have had similar experiences. I was starting to feel like a complete spaz. Me and my family have more than a few.

Here’s another that I’ll never forget. My father wearing his glasses is standing on the front deck of our little jon boat casting a net for bait while I maneuver a small creek. My young sister is sitting on the middle bench, when a larger boat wakes us causing my father to stumble and adjust his footing. Should have been completely recoverable, but my sis, trying to be helpful, decides to grab the old man’s ankles to steady him. Flips him right off the front deck head first into the mud! Will never forget the mud caked on his glasses.

16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90,
Wilderness Ride 135
Wilderness Tarpon 120

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Here’s another one. Same jon boat, same ICW. A buddy & I were out fishing & cruising and I saw a boat with a tower on it that I had built. The owner was out, so I pulled up to his dock to talk to him. I got out, buddy stayed with the boat, holding on to the dock. After a couple of minutes I noticed that my buddy was standing right behind me, listening to the conversation. “Did you tie up the boat?” I asked. We both turned around to see my jon boat about 50 yards from the dock, heading out with the tide. After a few choice words from me, he dove in & swam to the boat, with wallet, keys, everything in his pockets. Needless to say, all got soaked, but he did manage to save my boat from going out Ponce Inlet. He (and I) learned something that day. Him: tie up the boat before leaving it at the dock. Me: Don’t trust anyone to tie up the boat.

Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069

9

Glasses reminds me of a good one :smiley: This is a little long, bear with me.

A few years back I took a couple of local farm boys (brothers) out red fishing. They are both young, strong, big guys, and country as possum and grits. They’ll wrestle alligators in a blackwater swamp, but are scared to death of saltwater, sharks and being more than 50’ from a river bank.

I wanted to take them into a Native American fish trap I know and we needed at least 1/3 tide to get in there. Tide was low at 0800 and we planned on an 0500 departure. They showed up an hour early, so we got a good early start.

Got to ramp at Bolen Hall, the only truck there and it was pitch black dark. No moon, no stars, black. I get the boat ready, turned on the battery switch and cockpit lights so we could see, put in the key, turned on the fuel, loaded my day bag with cell phone, wallet, pistol, and all other essentials. Tied on a bow line. Ready to go.

I explained to them the procedure. They’d hold the bow line, I back up until the boat floats, they holler when it floats, I drive away and they tie the boat to the dock. Simple right? Tide was outgoing hard and the current was real strong.

I back down to the water, asked if they were ready. We got it Mr. Larry, come on back. So came on back. They holler… she’s floating Mr. Larry, go ahead on. So I did. Park the truck up on the hill and I could hear them arguing like crazy about something. I take my time, secure the truck and trailer, walk around to the front of the truck and drain the early coffee. That’s when I heard a huge splash. Oh Sh@t! One of them threw the other in the river I figured. I knew neither of them swim very good, never in salt. The water was in the 50’s, current too strong to swim against. Not good at all.

Run down to where I could see the ramp and the first thing I see is my boat drifting down the river, about 500 yards away. Oh sh@t! Couldn’t see anything in the water but could hear somebody swimming.
Got back down to the dock where Ricky was standing. Poor fell

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^^^Great One^^^, I knew we could count on you Cracker Larry.
Here’s one about listening to your elders:

I was young and dumb and full of…energy. I’d been duck hunting the GTown area for at least a year with my buddies and finally talked my Dad in to going with me so I could show him what an expert I’d become. My Dad thought I was crazy for wanting to go at 2a.m. so we didn’t leave until the late our of almost 4a.m. already running late in my mind. I put my father in the front of my 14’ Jon boat with with overpowered motor at S.Island Ferry. When I bought the rig, my Dad had complained that the motor was too big for such a small boat, but I knew it was always a race to get to my spot and more power is always better! He volunteered to run the Q-Beam to scan the water for obstructions, but the tide was rising and it was a very dark morning with fog on the water. I knew the old man would be blazing it the whole time. “Don’t worry dad, I got it.” So we blast off from the landing with no lights as was my usual on foggy mornings. I can see the treeline on either side of the ICW and I know this water like the back of my hand. But, there are other boats already out here and the spot I’m going is a popular one. So, we’re running hard with Dad sitting in the front like a vulture head scanning constantly completely at the mercy of his young son running this cold river in the dark.
I swing into Minim creek around the first two bends into a long wide straightaway and I open her up. I can see the occasional flash of Q-Beams in the distance from other hunters setting out decoys. Gotta hurry! We’re really flying now.
Suddenly Dad screams WHOA! WHOA! STOP!!!
I hit the kill switch immediately and the motor dies. All is completely quiet and I’m wondering what the h@ll has panicked the old man as we drift forward on my receding wake and the bow of the boat gently bumps into something. I turn on the Q-Beam and see nothing but a massive hull! There’s a 25’+ sailboat anchored in the middle of the creek with no anchor light s

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I’ve got lots. I’m a dummy.

iPhone 1: I’m at North Charleston Fishing Club ramp. Whaler is on a high trailer and the ramp is not steep. Always gotta get out and push the boat off the trailer. Go to do that and notice iPhone is in front pocket where I wanted to push with my leg. Go to move phone to other pocket, fumble, splash. Hosed in 1 ft water.

iPhone 2: I’m with a friend who bought a new boat and I offered to show him a few spots. This is about 3 weeks after #1 above. I’m joking about my dumassedness with him and being very careful with the phone since its raining. Caught a few nice reds, had a good day. We get back to the landing and I set my phone on his console (he has a T top) and go to get his truck and back it down. We trailer the boat and I go to get my phone. Its SOAKED. Water must have run off the T top when it went on the trailer and was like a bucket dumped on it. #2 gone.

I get smart and buy an $80 lifeproof case realizing this would have saved both phones. Some time later I get upgrade to a 5 so the case is no longer any good.

I’m good for a year or 2, then go fishing with friends and I’m tossing a plug. My other rod is in the vertical holder on the console. Being the nice guy I am I take the middle boat spot. I reach back to make a cast and hear a clank. My treb hooked in the eyelet of my other rod, a $400 rig. Just thought I clipped it but then I hear “splash”. Its my rig sinking away fast. I go to my knees to swipe at it and just miss. Without thinking I dove in after it. With otherwise good OTHER rig still in my hand. I did save my rig, but as I’m under water I realize my iPhone is in my pocket. I come up, 2 rods in hand, soaked to the bone, bricked phone in pocket. #3.

I’m now on #4 iPhone. And both reels are pretty much hosed.

Told ya I’m a dummy.

2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
Pr

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In the 70s I would come home on leave from the service and fish the Chesapeake with my dad. One day I leader boated a 17-18# bluefish before my dad could get to it with the gaff because I didn’t want to loose him. That sucker bit onto my calf and wouldn’t let go! It was Keystone Cops and Three Stooges combined. My blood, the fish blood, me punching the darned thing with my fist and dad trying to wack it with a billy club. He almost ham strung me with the billy club and put a big ol’ knot on my knee but finally stunned the fish enough to get him to let go. We were all rolling around the deck cussing and laughing. After boxing the fish and applying first aid we laughed so hard that we couldn’t stop. Now that I think about it, we caught lots of BIG blue fish back then on those aptly named surgical tubes!

Parker 2320DVSC F225

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Love these ^^

I’ll never forget one of the first times my buddy and I were allowed to take his Jon bote out…we were both 15 3/4…excited as heck to say the least. Take boat to gas up, pumped gas, got in truck, drove off, 10 feet later we realize the nozzle is still in tank…no problem, we realized early enough. Get to remleys point, had the genius idea to go cat fishing near Nucor on the cooper. Rode for an hour or so to a spot I’d been before with my dads friend, got to said spot, anchored up…oh Sh#t, tackle box is sitting in the truck…bad feeling. We found some stray hooks on the boat and tied our non-essential keys/ knives/pliers on for weight…lol, didn’t lose any rigs and caught a few fish. 15 years later that was still the biggest argument I’ve ever had with my buddy…wtf, I thought you had it…no, I had the bait, thought you had it,…etc.

'a stranger is just a friend i havent met yet’jt

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Love these ^^

I’ll never forget one of the first times my buddy and I were allowed to take his Jon bote out…we were both 15 3/4…excited as heck to say the least. Take boat to gas up, pumped gas, got in truck, drove off, 10 feet later we realize the nozzle is still in tank…no problem, we realized early enough. Get to remleys point, had the genius idea to go cat fishing near Nucor on the cooper. Rode for an hour or so to a spot I’d been before with my dads friend, got to said spot, anchored up…oh Sh#t, tackle box is sitting in the truck…bad feeling. We found some stray hooks on the boat and tied our non-essential keys/ knives/pliers on for weight…lol, didn’t lose any rigs and caught a few fish. 15 years later that was still the biggest argument I’ve ever had with my buddy…wtf, I thought you had it…no, I had the bait, thought you had it,…etc.

'a stranger is just a friend i havent met yet’jt

15

Two years ago, was launching my canoe down near Folly. Bent over to push the canoe out, and my GPS (which was in my shirt pocket) slid out and fell into 2" of water. That’s all it takes to toast a GPS in saltwater. It was in there for all of 1.5 seconds, might as well have been an hour.

The following week, I did the exact same thing, in the exact same place, with my cell phone. And again, toasted. Saltwater does a very quick job of blowing the electronics. My normal distilled water soak/flush followed by denatured alcohol soak/flush did nothing to save these two.

Also learned the hard way, if you get ticked off for any reason whatsoever, make sure you roll your truck window UP before slamming the door like an angry toddler, unless you particularly like nuggets of tempered glass in your face.

… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.

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Here’s another one. Back when I ran charter boats I sometimes did yacht deliveries in the off seasons. Fly or Amtrack to somewhere north in the late fall, pick up a boat, deliver it somewhere south and fly home again. Bring them back again in early spring. Good living until you have kids. That ended that. Power boats, sailboats, no matter to me. I’d take any boat almost anywhere.

My wife and I picked up a 36’ sailboat in Marco Island, taking it down to the Bahamas somewhere. Georgetown, Exuma I think. We passed between the Marquesas and Tortugas about midnight and into the Florida Straights and well off soundings. Chart said 600 fathoms. Depth finder couldn’t read bottom. I set the depth alarm for 200’, just in case, and went to sleep with Mrs. Cracker at the helm. Somewhere between Cuba and the Bahama Banks. She has standing instructions to wake me if anything seems out of order. About 0300 she woke me up, told me the depth alarm was going off and bottom showed at 100’! I get up, groggy from 24 hours of no sleep. She says 70’ now. I check the LORAN to verify our position and check the chart. We should be in 4,000’ of water. She calls out 50’. I say stop the dang boat, right now. When in doubt, stop the boat.

She turns it into the wind and stops it. A minute later she says all is good, no bottom reading. I chalk it up to a thermocline or some kind of anomaly, we get the boat underway and I lay back down. About 10 minutes later she wakes me up again and says it’s back, 50’ and getting closer. No way, I think. Then she says 30’ and you better get your @zz out here. I check the LORAN and chart again, we are 40 miles from any shallow water, so I figured it was either a whale or big ray under the boat. Couldn’t be bottom. 20’ now she says. Stop the boat!!

I come up and grab the spotlight and shine it down, water is bathtub clear, and there is a huge submarine 10’ below our keel[:0] Don’t know much about submarines, but know if she comes up 10 more feet we will be laying on her deck. Don’t know what kind it

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Wow! I think that qualifies as a holy $#!T story Larry! Lol a freakin submarine are you kidding me! I bet you wife was tripping out.

07 Scout Winyah Bay 221 Yamaha F150

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Great story Larry, you are a man of many talents. I imagine that sub was practicing maneuvers shadowing you. If you and the misses would’ve made the right noises you probably would have made some young sailor’s evening.

16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90,
Wilderness Ride 135
Wilderness Tarpon 120

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Adam, I’m just getting warmed up for the good ones :smiley:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

20

Larry, you could write a book… Dang!

2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
President, Summerville Saltwater Anglers