Vessel 1, a 16' Alumaweld powered by a 40 hp Yamaha (remote steering) was in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately one (1) mile West of the mouth of Headquarter Canal on Rockefeller Refuge in Cameron Parish.  This vessel was operated by Operator with two (2) other passengers.  The vessel was facing South approximately thirty (30) feet away from the rock jetties as the three (3) passengers fished.  The 4-6 (four to six) foot waves began to breach over the bow of the boat.  The three (3) passengers noticed water collecting near the stern of the vessel.  The operator attempted to start the motor, however his anchor line got caught in the prop and he could not start it.  The waves caused the boat to spin toward the rock jetties eventually grounding the boat into the jetties.    When at the scene there were two (2) Type II PFD's utilized and one Type IV PFD.    The operator was unsure if there was another Type II onboard and said it could have floated away during the flooding of the vessel.  Operator inexperience was the contributing factor regarding this incident.
Gulf of Mexico
Grand Chenier                 