RedactedNarrative: On June 28, 2017 at appx 19:15, the United States Coast Guard was notified from New Hanover County Sheriff's dispatch of a vessel taking on water at an artificial fishing reef number 370 which was appx. 2.5 miles east of Wrightsville Beach.  Wildlife Officers were notified on July 29th, about the incident and completed the following investigation.
  
  Upon speaking to the vessel operator, he stated that himself, his son and three other males were onboard of his Fathers 25' Contender vessel located at the artificial fishing reef #370.  The vessel was at anchor and all the people onboard were fishing.  
  
  Operator noticed the vessel was taking on water over the stern more than normal.  The model of the Contender has a low open transom which normally takes on some water but Operator saw that the bilge pump was running more than normal.  Operator started the boat and attempted to run some of the excess water out of the back of the boat by putting the vessel in gear, but the vessel was extremely heavy due to all the water in the bilge area.  When Operator was going forward, he was not able to steer around the anchor line, the line then tangled in the prop and stalled the engine.  
  
  At this time, Operator told all the passengers to put on PFDs.  Operator grabbed a box with phones in it and the vessel flipped very fast to the port side tossing all the people into the ocean.  Operator used his phone to call his wife, but she was not able to hear him.  Operator then called his father for help and Operator said that he could hear his father repeat what he was saying so he knew that he was going to call for help.  
  
  The US Coast Guard arrived in 45 minutes to rescue the 5 people in the water.  The vessel sank and Tow Boats US was hired to recover the vessel.
  
  Upon investigation of the vessel, I found that the white drain hose from the live well did not have a clamp on it.  The live well was pumping into the bilge instead of the live well, which flooded the boat causing it to flip and sink.
  
  No one was injured in this incident.
  
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