RedactedNarrative: On 3 February, 2016 at approximately 0830 a 17 foot Cape Horn (FL 9727 LR - Hooked On This) with three persons on board capsized while trolling and fishing near Alligator Reef SPA, Islamorada, Monroe County, State of Florida. 
  
  At approximately 0830 hours, recreational vessel "Hooked on This" (FL 9727 LR) began to take on water over the bow of the vessel while trolling directly into the large seas.  
  
  The water swamped the forward compartments and filled them with water until the hatches broke open. Operator instructed Occupant1 to grab a bucket and begin to bail the water from the forward compartment of the vessel. Operator, who was operating the boat, then turned the boat around. As the vessel was trolling with following seas, a large swell lifted the stern of the vessel causing the heavy water filled bow to dive into the water. Due to the lighter stern and the heavier bow, the vessel pitch poled stern over bow causing the vessel to capsize and ejecting the three occupants into the water. None of the passengers were wearing life jackets when ejected into the water. All three passengers were able to safely climb onto the bottom of the boat.
  
  Occupant1 then attempted to dive under the boat to retrieve life jackets and signaling devices. He was only successful retrieving the signaling devices. The life jackets were trapped inside the center console and the water pressure did not make it possible for him to retrieve any life jackets. Once he was back on the bottom of the capsized boat 3 aerial flares were shot in distress. The USCG was notified by two fishing vessels participating in a fishing tournament off Islamorada that they had observed the airborne flares and a vessel upside down in the vicinity of Alligator Reef. The vessels notified USCG Sector Key West on VHF Channel 16. Neither fishing vessel assisted the persons on the capsized boat.
  
  At approximately 0910 hours the USCG small boat crew arrived on scene. Seatow Islamorada was then contacted by USCG. All three persons, who were uninjured, on board the capsized boat were taken aboard the USCG Safeboat by the USCG small boat crew and transported to USCG Station Islamorada. The capsized vessel was left to drift by the USCG. 
  
  At approximately 1500 hours I, Officer of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), was notified by a friend that USCG had made a rescue earlier in the day. I contacted USCG Station Islamorada and confirmed there was a capsized vessel earlier in the day. I then called the FWC dispatch center and created a boat accident call (S4B) and had an FWC Agency Case number assigned, FWSB16OFF001305.
  
  I then contacted Seatow and requested they notify me when the vessel was retrieved. At approximately 1630 hours on 3 February, 2016 the vessel, still capsized, was located by Seatow at the headpin of Tea Table Channel.