RedactedNarrative: On August 28th, 2019, I, Officer of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Officer (also FWC) was dispatched to a distressed vessel taking on water on the Gulf of Mexico, in the Cross Florida Barge Canal Channel.
  
  We went to the given location of the call and found a vessel partially submerged with the port side stern under water and one subject attempting to swim to a nearby spoil island. The subject was wearing a life jacket. Officer and I was able to recover SUBJECT out of the water, and onto our patrol vessel.  After confirming there were no injuries, We attempted to right the distressed vessel by tying to the starboard side's bow and stern cleats. We were unsuccessful in doing so and moved the vessel onto the nearby spoil island for SUBJECT to recover later.
  
  We took SUBJECT by water back to his vehicle and boat trailer located at the Cross Florida Barge Canal boat ramp, located off of N. Suncoast Boulevard, in Crystal River. Once there, we assisted SUBJECT with getting off of our vessel and safely onto the floating dock. SUBJECT had forgotten his truck keys on his vessel. Officer and I returned to the vessel, recovered his truck keys, registration, and glasses, and returned them to SUBJECT. No further action was taken this day.
  
  I met with SUBJECT on September 5th, 2019, to go over the accident and what had caused it. He explained to me that he had hit something under water, heard a bump, and could not put his vessel in forward gear. He attempted to return to the boat ramp in reverse, but was only going in circles. While attempting to reverse, he took waves over the stern and the bilge pump was unable to keep the vessel afloat. No further action was taken.
  