On January 11, 2012 I, Officer of FWC received an e-mail requesting that I follow up on a possible boating accident that reportedly occurred on the morning of 4/30/11. According to an online news source reporting on 5/1/11, five subjects were rescued from a vessel just prior to it sinking approximately 10 miles west of John's Pass off of the coast of Pinellas County. A vessel registration number of FL 3192 HY was provided with the request to follow up.
On 1/12/12 I attempted to contact the owner and was unable to make contact but did leave a message asking for a return call on an answering machine. I called two more times later, also without getting an answer. I had dispatch attempt to locate an alternate number and they were unable to do so.
On 1/23/12 at approximately 1500 hours I again called and was able to contact Owner.
I asked Owner if he was involved in the boat accident in question and he confirmed that he was.
Owner described the accident as follows;
Owner and four passengers were onboard Owner's 26' 1994 Offshore center console vessel the morning of 4/30/11 fishing in the Old Salt King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament about 9 or 10 miles west of John's Pass when Owner noticed that the boat was filling up with water. Owner realized that the vessel would soon sink and activated an epirb emergency signal device that was kept onboard the vessel.
A good Samaritan in the area who could not be identified due to time lapse took Owner and his passengers onboard his vessel at about the same time that a United States Coast Guard vessel arrived in the area in response to the distress signal. Owner and his crew were then transported back to shore escorted by USCG. Owner stated that no law enforcement agency was present at any time nor was contacted after the accident. 
Owner stated that he thought that a hose connecting to a through hull fitting at the waterline had come loose allowing the vessel's hull to quickly fill up with water as the sea conditions were rough. This incident was closed 1/23/12 as report taken.

MADEIRA BEACH                 