Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Charter boat capsized out of Sitka

https://share.newsbreak.com/3zoq3o73

Any details? Was it a halibut charter?

Well Kingfisher Charters called in the over due boat and this is what their web site says they have for boats..

The boats in the Kingfisher fleet are ideal for fishing in the Sitka area. They're fast cruisers of 28'-32' that have enclosed cabins with heat and private bathroom facilities.

A wide beam makes these boats very stable fishing platforms, with a deep V hull for a comfortable ride.

https://www.kingfishercharters.co/

Kind of a gut punch for the fleet. I was out Sunday and it was nasty.

RIP to the 5 souls. Terrible tragedy.

Some more info here.
Sounds like they were anchor-fishing and whatever happened, happened fast.
https://sitkasentinel.com/7/2012-05-10-22-08-10/22189-charter-boat-sinks

Bad, bad deal.

Just from the cursory and unofficial internet reports I have read, including those linked here, this isn't making sense. There's more to this story.

+1

Low Island is a long way from where they were last seen fishing. I’ve only spent limited time out there but there can be some nasty rips and big waves with the wrong current and wind.

“Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?”

.

4h ·
The Coast Guard suspended its search at sunset Monday for four missing individuals in the water near Sitka, Alaska.

The Coast Guard recovered one deceased individual Sunday evening and located the vessel partially submerged off Low Island approximately 10 miles west of Sitka.

The search for the four unaccounted for individuals was suspended at approximately 9:30 p.m. Monday.

Watchstanders at Sector Juneau received a phone call Sunday evening from Kingfisher Charters reporting a 30-foot aluminum charter vessel overdue with five people aboard, including one master and four passengers.
The vessel was last seen underway Sunday afternoon.

Involved in the search were:
· Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center
· Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 helicopter aircrew
· Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircrew
· Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Sitka 38-foot Special
Purpose Craft boat crew
· Sentinel-class fast response Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Denman
· Sitka Fire Department
· Several good Samaritan vessels
· Hanson Maritime

Anyone with information is requested to contact Coast Guard Sector Juneau at 907-463-2890.

Coast Guard crews searched a total of approximately 825 square miles over the course of more than 20 hours utilizing both air and vessel search crews.

"Despite our best efforts and those of several partner agencies, we were not able to find the four remaining individuals, " said Capt. Darwin Jensen, Captain of the Port Southeast Alaska. "Suspending a search is never an easy decision.
We extend our deepest sympathy to the loved ones during this difficult time. Our sincere thanks to community partners and the good Samaritan vessels who rapidly responded to help in the search."

Absolutely terrible. With no witnesses I hope they have some way of piecing together what happened. My heart goes out to the victims and their family members.

That’s a commonly fished area.

If I had to guess it would be the boat got one of the engines wrapped up pulling the anchor in heavy seas and rolled. If you say anything on the radio in Sitka on Memorial Day weekend 500 boats will hear you. Had to be fast for the Capt to not get off a call.

No EPIRB in a float free location?

No PLB on anyone?

Nobody wore PFDs?

Typically people don't wear PFD's on fishing charters, they are on the boat but not required to be worn. That said, the water in AK is typically so cold unless you have a survival suit on, you have maybe 30 minutes.

I don't believe EPIRBs are required for 6 pack boats.

Just because something isn't required doesn't mean that it's not a good idea. Manual inflatable belt PFDs are so comfortable that it's easy to forget you have one on. EPIRBS and PLBs cost $350.

The cold water is a real deal. It's possible that with an EPIRB alert and PFDs, they'd all still be with us. With PFDs, even if they didn't survive, their families could have closure.

No Epirb but I expect some new regs to come out of this.


Bigger issue is going to be why the lodge waited so long to call it in. That area is well within radio range and should have good cellular service. But to be fair I don’t recall a charter boat ever going down before.

Which is why on my own personal boat everyone wears a pfd and I carry cold water survival suits. While inflatable pfd's are comfortable, they don't always work. I need to add an EPIRB.

The real question is if conditions are really nasty, why go out fishing? No fish is worth dying for.

Yeah, it was something that happened real quick.

If they'd found themselves really challenged by the winds and waves most likely they'd have put on the PFDs.

Of course I've not read anything that stated they weren't wearing PDFs just yet.

But we all know they don't save you from cold water.

From what I read, is they contacted the coasties at 6pm. All charters I know come in no later than 4pm if they depart at 6am. 2 hours is a long time to wait if you can’t raise them in the radio or phone on a [bleep] weather day. I am sure the lawyers will sort that all out.

Another life lost on Birch Creek out of Central.