I ran across a disguised post on my forum the other day. I know the guy in which this happened to. Know his Uncle real well he runs the bay all the time and his a fishing guide.

This all occurred on opening day in West Bay Galveston, TX.

The individual chose to run a 14' 25HP jon boat across West Bay (North from the South Shoreline). The trip (3-3.5 MI across) was uneventful and apparently he was able to bag a few ducks before starting to head home.

I hunted very close to this young man & never saw him on the opener, never saw his boat even while I was fishing. I called it a day and went in having never seen him. Come to find out he capsized on his way back, I guess we just missed each other. He lost his gun, dekes, boat, motor EVERYTHING! He was picked up & was heard shouting for help by a fellow boater in the area. He was rescued & soaked freezing cold. After arriving back home they went out to salvage what they could. I don't think much made it. I know his pride is sitting low too.

On Sunday after my hunt I went back out into the bay & got on some reds (still oblivious as to what had happened the day before). I noticed a bag of dekes floating & tossed them in the boat. I looked around and saw nothing else it was quiet & the winds pushed even me in my 1860 with flotation off the water. I never saw the thread until this weekend when everything that happened just fell into place.

I alerted the Uncle yesterday that I had his dekes, no gun was found no shells or bags. He knows his nephew made the mistake of traveling across a rough bay with a boat incapable of the conditions & load it was carrying. He was even instructed to stay & hunt the protected shoreline.

This situation could have been a lot worse if it weren't for an angler that happened to hear the cries for help. Remember to wear those life jackets & keep your emergency gear in a ditch bag ready to go at a moments notice! The boat owner lost all communication devices when the boat sank. It took two waves and he was going down. This is also a reason why I carry a SPOT (PLB) with me on the boat.

Be safe out there guys!

thats why I have a ditch bag at the ready. May loose everything, but I will be alive and able to replace them.

Also a good reason to carry your cell phone in a zip-lock bag and on your person! Another vote for a ditch bag. I use a big soft-sided cooler, so it is water tight, padded to protect my safety gear, and floats!

Good reason to have a whistle tied to your life jacket. Not a dog whistle or pintail whisle but a rescue whistle. The sound carries much better than a yell.

I have an EPIRB in my life jacket pocket and a boat with lots of flotation.

been there done that,

100' of rope with a crab buoy. always find my boat, floating gun cases along with like mudd said a throw bag, flares-space blankets-torch lighter-. those items saved my ass many of occasions run waterways by myself during week days.

and Carolina skiffs do sink.