On August 26, 2023, I, Game Warden (GW) received a call at approximately 0315 hours regarding a capsized vessel in the mouth of McQueens Inlet with two occupants in the water. Corporal (Cpl) and myself responded by vessel out of Demeries Creek. We located the two individuals on St. Catherine's Island and got them into our vessel. 

Neither of them required aid and were both transported back to their vehicles at Sunbury boat ramp. Operator stated that he and Occupant had gone flounder gigging on the beach. They had gotten back into the boat and were leaving. They were heading towards deeper water and the wind blew the vessel into a sandbar. 

Once on the sandbar Operator threw out the anchor and tried to face the bow into the waves but couldn't get it to turn. Waves swamped the stern of the vessel and they couldn't get the water out faster than it was coming in. The hull filled up and was listing to the side. The vessel then capsized. Operator and Occupant stayed with the boat for 30-40 minutes before leaving it. They both made their way to the island and were later picked up by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The closest buoy is the green C 9 in the mouth of St. Catherine's Sound. The vessel was not insured.

Tidal Cree (VI)
SUNBURY                       