Late at night a recreational boat was swamped by waves, then capsized and beat against rock jetties capsized until several hours later.  Its five passengers had been recovered without injury.

The boat operator explained his group had left Froggie's boat ramp around 12:30 a.m. to go flounder fishing.  They proceeded northbound and outside the Little Jetties near Port O'Connor.  There was "a little bit" of a swell.  Then the water spray increased, so they turned around and headed back in (southwards).  They made it about 300 yards when a swell hit from behind and the boat pitch-poled to the front.  The boat then capsized.  "I guess a swell hit us from behind and we hit a swell in front.  It rolled at the same time," explained the operator in an in-person interview.

The boat had capsized in the north side of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway just inside the Little Jetties.  This had apparently occurred between the middle of the channel and the red bouys (North half of the Intracoastal Waterway).

The operator self-reported having PFDs onboard for everyone, but nobody was wearing them.  He self-reported having worn the safety lanyard.  PFDs were found in the center console seat when the investigator arrived to examine the vessel in person two days later.

Shortly after the capsizing a good samaritan reportedly approached and requested help from the US Coast Guard.  At 02:42 a.m. Coast Guard boat #25404 arrived on scene, recovering the five individuals by 02:55 a.m.  All parties were returned to US Coast Guard Station Port O'Connor.  No medical assistance was sought.

TowBoatUS recovered the vessel later that morning around 11:13 a.m. as salvage for a reported fee of $1,800.

The investigator took six color digital photographs of the boat while on the trailer.  He was not notified of the accident until 14 hours after it had occurred.

END OF REPORT

Port O'Connor                 