RedactedNarrative: Vessel grounding south of Aripeka Channel. V1, a 34 foot, blue and white Bayliner bearing Florida registration numbers (FL 5081 KE) was heading south from Hernando Beach channel. The owner/operator was OP1 and he was the only occupant on board. I called OP1 via cell phone because I was unable to get close to his vessel due to the waters being too shallow for my patrol vessel. Via a cell phone interview OP1 stated the following: 
  1.	He is from out of state 
  2.	He left Hernando Beach to head to Clearwater  
  3.	OP1 is unfamiliar with the area and did not know how shallow the water was. 
  4.	OP1 struck bottom. 
  5.	His vessel began taking on water through the seal in the starboard rudder’s stuffing box
  6.	OP1 was making way at approximately 10 miles per hour.  
  	At approximately 1700 hours, I arrived on scene and both Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) were both on scene as well. At approximately 1717 hours, Towboat U.S. arrived on scene and according to PCSO they advised that Towboat U.S. would be taking OP1 and his vessel back to Sterling Marina in Hernando Beach