RedactedNarrative: Operator told me he had been fishing on the 8th in the Miles. He was in the area known as Cabbage Top when he went to the front of his boat to pull in his trolling motor. While attempting to pull the motor in he lost his balance and fell over board. Operator was wearing an inflatable life jacket and it deployed when he went into the water. He swam to the back of his vessel and tried to climb in. While trying to climb in he cut his leg on the prop. Operator continued to try and pull himself back into his vessel without any success. At some point Operator let go of his boat and became separated from it. He was unable to reach his boat again due to the wind and current. He drifted in the bay towards the mainland. He told me at some point the tide changed and he started drifting away from the land so he started swimming. Operator finally reached land shortly after dark in the 9 mile area. 
  
  After reaching land Operator could see his boat down the shore approximately 1/2 mile from his location. He went to his boat and got his dog and started walking the shore in the direction of Apalachicola. He arrived at Lombaridis Boat ramp at approximately 0500hrs. He stated he went into the bathroom and cleaned some of the mud off and starting walking to his residence. He arrived at the residence at approximately 0600hrs. His family then transported him to Weems where he was treated for the laceration to his leg.  Operator cut his right leg in the groin area on his prop trying to climb back into his boat.