RedactedNarrative: On April 20, 2017 Senior Agent was notified via email that a boat had taken on water and was grounded on Elmer’s Island WMA off of Camanada Pass in Grand Isle, LA.  The email provided the operator’s name and his phone number.  Agent contacted Operator via cell phone.  Operator informed Agent that he was going to go surf fishing on Elmer’s Island.  When they went to anchor out the waves came over the stern and swamped the boat.  Operator stated that everybody on board was out of the boat and they made it back to the marina without any injuries.  Operator stated that the boat is stuck on the bottom and you can still see the center console and the motor above the water.
  On this day there were strong winds and large waves, especially in the pass.  Due to lack of experience on the water, the operator improperly navigated the boat by facing away from the waves instead of into the waves.  Therefore by this action the boat took on water from the stern and flooded the boat.  There was no indication that alcohol or drugs were a factor, therefore no tests were done.  There were at least three type-III PFDs aboard the vessel.  The boat was a small 15’ aluminum boat that had remote steering.
  