Two men jointly purchased a used recreational fishing boat the day prior to the accident.  They took it out that evening to fish around the western-most Matagorda Jetty.  While at anchor about 40-50 feet Nortwest of the jetty rocks, a sizeable thunderstorm moved into the area.  "We couldn't have anticipated the storm," explained the boat operator, although he had also explained he had consulted the weather forecast.

As the boat washed up upon the granite rock jetties, the four men had donned their life jackets and scurried onto the land for safety.  "It [the boat] was way up on the rocks at an angle," explained the operator.

The US Coast Guard (CG25833) rescued the four men (Case #593068) at 2:32 a.m..  No injuries were reported.  Alcohol was not noted as a factor in the incident, although the four men admitted to having had beer in their boat's ice chest (now missing) and had consumed a limited quantity prior to the storm rolling into the area.

The four men also self-reported having life jackets board.  They were not being worn prior to the storm, but were donned as the storm entered the area.  One occupant explained that the storm approached in, "30 to 60 seconds."

The boat was found upright later that morning, around 7:20 a.m., about two miles north of the original incident.  It was towed into Port O'Connor by a commercial shrimper, who then contacted the US Coast Guard and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

Written sworn statements were obtained from each of the four men later that day.  A written sworn statement was also obtained from the commercial shrimper who had towed the boat into Port O'Connor.  Eight color digital photographs were taken of the boat after it was placed onto the trailer.  Its engine had started and it was placed onto that trailer under its own power.

END OF REPORT
Port O'Connor                 