A big, Round disaster. - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

briansnat · #1 10-26-2014, 08:14 PM

Figured I'd grab a campsite at Round Valley and get in some evening and morning fishing. I arrived there a little after 4 yesterday and decided to set up camp first so I didn't have to do it in the dark. Set up the hammock, stove, etc and just as the sun was setting, I headed out only to realize I left my tackle box in the car, so back to the launch. Got the box and it was dark by now so I start motoring toward my fishing ground when I notice my fish finder isn't working. I look down at it and start playing with the wires and look up to see the shoreline closing fast. I cut the motor, but it was too late, hit it head on going pretty fast and I was pitched out of my seat onto the floor of the boat. I was OK and to my amazement the boat seemed to be fine, though it was most of the way up on the shore. Luckily I hit one of the few gently sloping, gravel sections. I finally worked it back into the water, but too shaken to fish I went to the campsite, built a fire and smoked a few cigars.

I always double anchor my boat at RV a few feet off shore so it doesn't bang on the rocks. I woke up and could see the boat in the dim light about 40 feet from shore. The stern anchor had worked it's way off the chain and the boat was riding the one anchor but the wind was taking it out. Stared at it for a while wondering what to do and finally stripped to my skivvies and went out and got it.

Now the real fun started. I loaded the boat with my camping gear and tried to push off directly into the teeth of a brutal wind. By the time I would get in the boat and start the engine I'd be blown back on the rocks. I tried rowing but could get nowhere. I threw the anchor back out to keep the bow into the waves, but the anchor line snapped (lost two darn good anchors today) so it blew parallel to shore and hung on the rocks at one point almost pinning me between the boat and rocks. I couldn't budge it and the waves were washing over the windward side. I sat there in waist deep, 55 degree water holding the boat trying to keep it off the rocks and also keep it from swamping by tilting it toward me when a big wave came. By this time the strobe lights were going, meaning even if I could get it out there I had to go back to shore and I' be in the same situation again. After an hour in the water and realizing that I could be there all day, I gave in and called the park police. About 30 minutes later they were on the scene.

We spent some time trying to get each other ropes to no avail, then they tried to get closer and hung up on the rocks themselves. I went out to see if I could push them off (the rescued rescuing the rescuer) . I couldn't budge it so one of the cops jumps in gun, boots and all and the two of us get it off, but they managed to bend the propeller in the process. It took us nearly an hour but finally we got a line between the boats and they started to pull. My boat was sitting on some pretty jagged rocks and I pictured the bottom ripping like a tin can.

Finally free of the rocks, they towed me away from shore but I noticed the boat was full of water. Was there a hole or was it just the water that had been washing in throughout the ordeal? I watched the level closely and it didn't seem to be rising so I guess it was the latter. Because the strobes were on they wouldn't let me go in under my own power so I had a Nantucket sleigh ride of sorts, bobbing in two and sometimes three foot waves and getting drenched from head to toe with the spray. For some reason the theme song to Gilligan's Island kept running through my head. They could only go slow so it took us quite a while to get back.

Once I got the car on the trailer I took a quick look at the bottom and it seemed to be OK. Those old aluminum Grummans can take a beating. Ya know 55 degree water isn't half bad once you get used to it. I think I was borderline hypothermic but refused the cop's offer of an ambulance. That heat in the car certainly felt good on the way home.

kmaty · #2 10-26-2014, 08:34 PM

Glad everbody made it out alive when you cant push your boat off the shore line b4 the wind beaches you prob a good time to call it and il leave it at that......no fish?

briansnat · #3 10-26-2014, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmaty

Glad everbody made it out alive when you cant push your boat off the shore line b4 the wind beaches you prob a good time to call it and il leave it at that......no fish?

Never wet a line

GetANet · #4 10-26-2014, 09:00 PM

Glad your okay but what ever possessed you to attempt that type of weekend in the weather we had the last two days???

One Word: GOLF?????

buzzbaiter · #5 10-26-2014, 09:08 PM

Sure your okay? Its hypothermic not hypodermic. lol I'm just needling you.

briansnat · #6 10-26-2014, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzbaiter

Sure your okay? Its hypothermic not hypodermic. lol I'm just needling you.

Darn cell phone spell checker

briansnat · #7 10-26-2014, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GetANet

Glad your okay but what ever possessed you to attempt that type of weekend in the weather we had the last two days???

One Word: GOLF?????

Yesterday was beautiful. Today was supposed to be sunny with 15 MPH winds. They got the sunny part right.

Andrushkin33 · #8 10-27-2014, 09:42 AM

Man,

Glad everyone made it out alright. And that's including your boat.

Andre

Polelock · #9 10-27-2014, 10:31 AM

Glad you were able to tell the story... Place can be tough when that wind kicks in!!!

briansnat · #10 10-27-2014, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polelock

Glad you were able to tell the story... Place can be tough when that wind kicks in!!!

Had I chosen a campsite on the other side I probably would have been fine. I encountered similar conditions last year but my wife was with me and she went in and held the boat until I could start the motor.

When the park cop was taking my info he mentioned he had a bunch of kayakers he had to go and rescue after me. They were also stuck in their campsites, but he was taking a truck around to pick them up. Even they hesitate to use the boat when they don't have to in that chop.

The wind can be brutal there. When I was giving the cop my info when we got to the ramp a few people pulled up planning to put in and he pointed out to them that they couldn't launch because the strobes were going. The cove with the ramps was calm and it was hard to tell how bad it was out there. They were pretty pissed. One guy was a wind surfer and he was livid. "A day like this is what I live for" he kept saying. I told him to give Spruce Run a try, I don't think they have the "clear the water" strobes there.