Vessel found capsized bayside of Rachel Key in Marathon, FL. 
On 08/10/23, I was on duty and in uniform in Monroe County, Florida. At approximately 1056 hours I responded to a call of a capsized vessel near Rachel Key on the bayside of Marathon, Florida. 
I met other FWC officers and USCG Marathon and responded to the scene by water. 
When we arrived on scene, the captain of the vessel, OP1 and the passenger, were on a good Samaritans vessel. Vessel was capsized and floating nearby. 
Upon speaking with OP1, he stated that the vessel had been operating normally throughout the night. When they were began operating in the same direction of the wind and waves, they noticed water was coming in the vessel between the transom and motor. As they vessel was on plane water was going up the back of the boat between the motor and the transom and was then being blown into the small vessel by the wind. He stated that they attempted to pump the water out but were unable to before it ultimately capsized due to the extra weight. 
OP1 stated that he recently purchased the vessel. The vessel had an after-market jack plate with the motor mounted farther away from the transom than originally installed.  
OP1 father arrived on scene and recovered both passengers and assisted with removing the vessel from the water.

Florida Bay
MARATHON                      