Outshined Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 (edited) Last Update: 11:18 am CLEARWATER, FL -- The Coast Guard is searching for a missing fishing boat about 50 miles off-shore in the Gulf of Mexico. According to Coast Guard officials, the 21-foot fishing boat left from a boat ramp in Clearwater Pass Saturday about 6:30 am with 4 people on board. A dispatcher told ABC Action News 3 of them are NFL players. One of the plays for the Detroit Lions, and one plays for the Oakland Raiders, the dispatcher said. The boaters were supposed to return sometime after dark but never did, officials said. A friend called the Coast Guard at about 1:30 am and reported them missing. Officials say the waters in the gulf are extremely choppy and they believe the boat is in distress. Air and marine crews from the Sand Key and Clearwater Coast Guard stations are searching a 750 square mile area west of Clearwater Pass. Link Edited March 1, 2009 by Outshined Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Waffle Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Who did the 3rd play for???/? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Didn't this happen a few years ago but on a lake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Prayers sent for their safe return Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czarina Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Didn't this happen a few years ago but on a lake? Yes, jet ski accident, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Waffle Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 rotoworld says it was 1 Lion's player and 2 Raiders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Prayers sent for their safe return No kidding. Hopefully they are just lost. It's Clearwater so they aren't in Bermuda Triangle territory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ts Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 (edited) PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- The Coast Guard is searching for a missing fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico that may have NFL players aboard. According to officials, the 21-foot fishing boat left from a boat ramp in Clearwater Pass Saturday about 6:30 am with four people on board. According to one official, Victor "Marquis" Cooper, Nick Skyler, Corey Smith and a possible fourth person did not return from their fishing trip as expected. Smith has played the last three seasons with the Detroit Lions. He played with the Buccaneers from 2002-04. The boat, which was about 50 miles out in the Gulf, was supposed to return Saturday evening. The boat was reported missing at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Edited March 1, 2009 by ts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Waffle Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Hmmmm....21 footer at 50 miles off, that's 100 miles running there and back, plus the fishing time if they were trolling, they very well could have run out of gas. That milage on a 21' is risky to say the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Hmmmm....21 footer at 50 miles off, that's 100 miles running there and back, plus the fishing time if they were trolling, they very well could have run out of gas. That milage on a 21' is risky to say the least. That's a pretty small boat to go in choppy waters. I have gone from West Palm to the Bahamas in one not much larger but it was in very calm seas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackass Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Prayers sent for their safe return +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Waffle Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 That's a pretty small boat to go in choppy waters. I have gone from West Palm to the Bahamas in one not much larger but it was in very calm seas. Yes, also, a boat burns more fuel in choppy/rough water opposed to calm seas (I commercial fish). 100+ miles range is out of most 20-22' range, especially if it was a center console with an outboard. I hope they are just adrift and scarred pooples oppossed to capsized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 scarred pooples oppossed to capsized. What? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Waffle Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 What? They are apparently lost at sea, it is better to still be afloat aka adrift and out of gas/fuel, than the vessel being capsized aka turned over with the passengers in the water, either way they still would be scar/terriffied to be in either situatuion, but adrift and aloat would be the lesser of two evils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Waffle Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...mp;confirm=true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outshined Posted March 1, 2009 Author Share Posted March 1, 2009 Not good - 7 foot waves in a 21' boot. I hope they are ok and they find them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Not good - 7 foot waves in a 21' boot. I hope they are ok and they find them. The Coast Guard is very good at this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forever in debt to mo lewis Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Yes, jet ski accident, I think. yep...patriot marquise hill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'canes2004 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 A major front has moved through Florida beginning late last night until early this morning. It's going from 82 on Sat. to the low 30's by tonight. Whenever a front that strong moves across the Gulf like that, it can get rough very quickly. It is no place to be on a 21 foot boat that far out into the Gulf. I wonder if any of them did any kind of weather report scouting before they took off Sat. Right now the wind is still cranking 25+ MPH and if they are drifting without power, they are in big trouble. We go offshore all the time. From mid fall until late spring, you always have to pay close attention to any fronts moving across the state because conditions can change on you and fast. If the Coast Guard hasn't received a mayday from the boaters and they are searching blind, it does not bode well. I hope they can find these guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I'm fearing the worst on this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Waffle Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 It's highly unlikely the boat is still under power after all this time, as if the sea's did turn on them, they would have had to turn the bow into the waves, which possibly would have taken them further out to sea. I still see fuel as the main culprit, even for an experienced Capt., which it sounds like this crew did not have to begin with in the first place. I agree, it looks bad, but the waters in the Gulf should be warm enough to keep hypothermay off them for awhile, if the boat did capsize and indeed sink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'canes2004 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 It's highly unlikely the boat is still under power after all this time, as if the sea's did turn on them, they would have had to turn the bow into the waves, which possibly would have taken them further out to sea. I still see fuel as the main culprit, even for an experienced Capt., which it sounds like this crew did not have to begin with in the first place. I agree, it looks bad, but the waters in the Gulf should be warm enough to keep hypothermay off them for awhile, if the boat did capsize and indeed sink. Gulf temps are running about 60 degrees. Here is a chart: IF THE WATER TEMPERATURE (F) IS: EXHAUSTION OR UNCONSCIOUSNESS EXPECTED TIME OF SURVIVAL IS: 32.5 Under 15 Minutes Under 15 - 45 Minutes 32.5 - 40.0 15 - 30 Minutes 30 - 90 Minutes 40.0 - 50.0 30 - 60 Minutes 1 - 3 Hours 50.0 - 60.0 1 -2 Hours 1 - 6 Hours 60.0 - 70.0 2 - 7 Hours 2 - 40 Hours 70.0 - 80.0 3 - 12 Hours 3 Hours - Indefinitely OVER 80.0 Indefinitely Indefinitely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furd Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Let's hope they just ran down to Cuba for some cigars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackass Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 not sure that's completely appropriate for this thread, but pretty funny nevertheless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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