Mont
03-10-2006, 10:37 PM
a few years back, Easter Sunday was predicted to be a blowout offshore. I had friends coming to town to fish, but looking at the forecast, we opted for San Luis Pass and some shore fishing. Events of that morning will remain with me forever. This is the account I posted of it, back then.
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I met with some dear friends this morning, at San Luis Pass, which is one of the premier beach fishing venues in my area. Dan and BJ drove down from Dallas and we all hit the sand at 9:30. Dan and I scope the beach, I pick one area to put the kayak in and he wants to fish another area about a mile up from shore. Fishin' was decidedly slow, but it didn't matter.
About 11:00 or so, I see a big blue beach ball heading out across the pass and for some reason, decided to chase it down in the kayak. This was my first time in the surf with the yak, and I had already filled the boat a couple of times with water getting used to working the wind, waves and current. I manage to chase the beach ball down, and planned to head upwind to find the owner. It was stowed behind me in the back well, and I put the paddle to the water and head up wind.
After about 10 minutes, I hear kids yelling "HELP ME!". The yak is a very low vantage point in the water, and in particular, in 2 foot waves. I head towards the voices and start seeing heads bobbing. I come upon two kids, who between them have only a small boogie board to hold them up. We are well into 11 foot deep water, with a good solid 2 knot current and plenty of wind and over a mile from shore. Then I see the rest, there are 3 more kids with one adult holding all three on top of the water. This guy has swam from shore, is winded, and is holding 3 kids ages 4 and up, above water in spite of the fact he is going in and out of the sea.
I removed my life jacket, hit the emergency inflate, and thank God it works. I hand that off to the 2 kids with the boogie board and plant the paddle upwind to the 3 boys in the water. When I get to them, they are so scared and wet, all 3 climb onto the boat on the same side, all at once. Thankfully the adult who swam out to save them, listens to me, and gets on the other side of my yak, and helps me keep it upright. With the boat now mostly underwater, I keep the bow into the waves, and paddle backwards to shore, where several dozen folks have waded neck deep to help us. I hand the boys off to the adults who waded out, and then head back to the boy and girl I left with only a life jacket.
Upon arrival, the girl is going under water and I see her go down twice. I managed to catch her with my paddle, and it gives her enough lift and startle her enough that she makes it to the boat. The boy has already made it there. and helps her onto my bow. Once again, my boat is underwater, and I paddle hard backwards for shore. All the while, everyone is yelling there are two more still out there. About this time, I see a boat that was anchored, heading out to get those two still in the water. As it happens, my bud, Dan has stolen a boat to make the rescue. Dan plucks the last two out of the water, gives me two thumbs up as I head closer towards shore with my two. Finally, some of the folks that have waded out, help pull the last two ashore, along with me.
We all hit the shore knowing that a bullet had just be dodged, and it didn't miss by much. But, it missed. All 5 of the kiddos I pulled out are safe, Dan has 2 more, and the life guards are now on scene, and pluck 3 more adults up. In a matter of a half hour, 10 lives are spared. EMS, the PD, and just about everyone else is now on scene. They asked me to write my name and address down, which I can't do, thanks to my shaking so badly. Our Sheriff asks me if I need a blanket to warm up, and I thank him for the offer but explain it's my nerves and not the cold.
I don't know why I went fishing this morning, or why I decided to chase down a big blue beach ball, but I am glad I did both. I am glad Dan decided to liberate a boat, glad the beach patrol guy got there in time to help with the adults, and am very sure I will never forget Easter Sunday at San Luis Pass.
Happy Easter!
Mont
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This part has never been posted before, but was easily the most amazing part of the whole experience. Walking Jack put together a pier gathering shortly afterwards. Work duties made me get there after Jack had left. I had a short conversation with the guy that runs the pier, and walked down to the T-Head. Not finding WJ, I walked back, and as I did, noticed virtually all of the rods take a strike as I walked by. That don't happen every day.
__________________
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I met with some dear friends this morning, at San Luis Pass, which is one of the premier beach fishing venues in my area. Dan and BJ drove down from Dallas and we all hit the sand at 9:30. Dan and I scope the beach, I pick one area to put the kayak in and he wants to fish another area about a mile up from shore. Fishin' was decidedly slow, but it didn't matter.
About 11:00 or so, I see a big blue beach ball heading out across the pass and for some reason, decided to chase it down in the kayak. This was my first time in the surf with the yak, and I had already filled the boat a couple of times with water getting used to working the wind, waves and current. I manage to chase the beach ball down, and planned to head upwind to find the owner. It was stowed behind me in the back well, and I put the paddle to the water and head up wind.
After about 10 minutes, I hear kids yelling "HELP ME!". The yak is a very low vantage point in the water, and in particular, in 2 foot waves. I head towards the voices and start seeing heads bobbing. I come upon two kids, who between them have only a small boogie board to hold them up. We are well into 11 foot deep water, with a good solid 2 knot current and plenty of wind and over a mile from shore. Then I see the rest, there are 3 more kids with one adult holding all three on top of the water. This guy has swam from shore, is winded, and is holding 3 kids ages 4 and up, above water in spite of the fact he is going in and out of the sea.
I removed my life jacket, hit the emergency inflate, and thank God it works. I hand that off to the 2 kids with the boogie board and plant the paddle upwind to the 3 boys in the water. When I get to them, they are so scared and wet, all 3 climb onto the boat on the same side, all at once. Thankfully the adult who swam out to save them, listens to me, and gets on the other side of my yak, and helps me keep it upright. With the boat now mostly underwater, I keep the bow into the waves, and paddle backwards to shore, where several dozen folks have waded neck deep to help us. I hand the boys off to the adults who waded out, and then head back to the boy and girl I left with only a life jacket.
Upon arrival, the girl is going under water and I see her go down twice. I managed to catch her with my paddle, and it gives her enough lift and startle her enough that she makes it to the boat. The boy has already made it there. and helps her onto my bow. Once again, my boat is underwater, and I paddle hard backwards for shore. All the while, everyone is yelling there are two more still out there. About this time, I see a boat that was anchored, heading out to get those two still in the water. As it happens, my bud, Dan has stolen a boat to make the rescue. Dan plucks the last two out of the water, gives me two thumbs up as I head closer towards shore with my two. Finally, some of the folks that have waded out, help pull the last two ashore, along with me.
We all hit the shore knowing that a bullet had just be dodged, and it didn't miss by much. But, it missed. All 5 of the kiddos I pulled out are safe, Dan has 2 more, and the life guards are now on scene, and pluck 3 more adults up. In a matter of a half hour, 10 lives are spared. EMS, the PD, and just about everyone else is now on scene. They asked me to write my name and address down, which I can't do, thanks to my shaking so badly. Our Sheriff asks me if I need a blanket to warm up, and I thank him for the offer but explain it's my nerves and not the cold.
I don't know why I went fishing this morning, or why I decided to chase down a big blue beach ball, but I am glad I did both. I am glad Dan decided to liberate a boat, glad the beach patrol guy got there in time to help with the adults, and am very sure I will never forget Easter Sunday at San Luis Pass.
Happy Easter!
Mont
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This part has never been posted before, but was easily the most amazing part of the whole experience. Walking Jack put together a pier gathering shortly afterwards. Work duties made me get there after Jack had left. I had a short conversation with the guy that runs the pier, and walked down to the T-Head. Not finding WJ, I walked back, and as I did, noticed virtually all of the rods take a strike as I walked by. That don't happen every day.
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