It was a beautiful afternoon in the California Delta today. No fog - finally! Quiet day at the marina. I was suprised and pleased when the local Marine Patrol stopped by to say hi. We had a soda on the porch in front of the store and caught up on things. Haven't seen my favorite officer in awhile. His radio sat on the table - spewing out what was going on in the next county. I asked my friend - did they just mention bikers with guns? Yep. sigh. So glad I'm out here in the country a few miles geographically but a million miles mentally from "town". The radio crackled to life again. A bass boat was reported adrift about a mile from our location. No one aboard. My friend jumped up and radioed that he was 10 minutes away and would be responding code blue. He exited the marina with the lights and siren going. I said a prayer.
Got out the portable VHF. The Coast Guard has a training station in Rio Vista. Lots of coastie kids get trained in the Delta. My friend secured the drifting boat. I heard the chatter - the trolling motor is down. Likely not underway. Lifejackets? A bunch under the seats - looking like not used for awhile. Any alcohol? NO. The tide was incoming at the time. Looking to figure out a likely search area. Coast Guard is responding with boats and a helicopter.
Search grid was laid out based on where the boat was found and the direction and speed of the tide. The next thing I know I'm seeing and hearing a Coast Guard helicopter - looking for a man in the water. Listening to the radio, I hear my friend state that the subject in question launched from a marina across the river from us. Called his wife about 12:30pm - told her he hadn't launched yet. She told the officers that he was an experienced fisherman and fished the area frequently. OES was trying to triangulate the cell phone. I heard my friend radio the marina owner to go to the subjects car and listen for a cell phone. The helicopter radioed that that they had about 15 minutes before they had to get fuel. Discussion ensued - go to SF to hot gas or Concord to cold gas. Cold gas was decided. They were making loops in the helo trying to check out every nook and cranny. This area is much like the bayous in Louisiana minus the alligators!! Then they started circling big loops right in front of our place. They thought they saw something. For another 30 minutes - I watched this Coast Guard helo circle right in front me, trying to direct the Coast Guard boats. So close I could almost see their faces.
My friend radios that divers can't respond because it's too close to dark. They will start at 8:00am tomorrow. The wife is on her way from the city. He will tow the boat to the marina and put it on the trailer. Everything I could do not to cry. I cannot imagine the heartbreak his wife is feeling right now.
A young guy wanders down the ramp to the store. The VHF is on the table - things are being said. What's going on he asks. I tell him - lost fisherman. He buys a few things in the store and asks me about the campground. I give him the info and a card. And tell him that my next monthly newsletter will once again harp about how life jackets are important. Especially ones that automatically inflate. He turns very somber. He tells me that he's going duck hunting tomorrow and he just replaced the cartridge in his inflatable. I told him that's great - coz we wives love ya so much more when you're alive.
The Coast Guard kids showed up at the dock with their cool boat. They thought that I didn't know anything about what was going on. I assured them that I did and sympathized with them that it was going to be a long night. As I write this, the helo is back. They will spend all night searching for this fisherman. I pray that he is alive clinging to the tule weeds. But the chances of that are quite slim. The divers will start at 8am tomorrow. The Delta will give up a body when she is good and ready.
Please, Please people. When you go fishing wear a life jacket. Preferably an automatic inflatable. When the water temp is 45 degrees - you don't have much time to respond. Your loved ones will thank you. Do not for one second think it can't happen to you.