Been running thru Packery Channel for about a year now, on select calm days. Today was calling for .7 ft swells @ 3 seconds. It had been a while since we went out so my 6 yr old son and I geared up and headed for the rigs to hook up with some winter snapper. Well as I got closer to the mouth of packery, something didn’t seem right. Tide was ripping out and saw some larger waves roll and then kind of die off. Well I sized them up for a moment as it looked ok outside of the wave break. And right when I realized it was too rough, a big wave came and we went over it, slightly air born. Next wave was coming and was much bigger, breaking sharp from the fast outgoing tide. I had no choice but to take it head on as turning my 19ft vessel sideways would mean a certain disastrous flip. We went over with nose in the air and took on a lot of water, and hit the backside with a lot of force from the free fall. Now slightly panicking at this point I knew we were in danger and needed to keep moving forward. Once outside of the breakers at the mouth of the jetties I assessed the situation in calmer waters. My son was very afraid, my boat had taken a pounding and we were now kind of stuck. I knew fishing was now out of the question but I was not prepared to turn around and face the following seas of packery channel on the way in. I needed a plan. I was prepared to wait a few hours for the tide to slow down and try to get behind a wave and stay with it, but my son was fearful for his life and he wouldn’t even consider it. I called sea tow and they eventually sent their 23’ Dargel Kat out to assist us. They came thru packery and met us out there about 3/4 mile out, loaded my son in their boat, and one of them boarded mine. The plan was to follow them in and the captain would help me with my boat. We ended up coming in pretty smoothly just between sets of big rollers and rode it in perfect. They normally don’t do those kind of rescues as they leave it to coast Gaurd but we were just blessed to have their help this time. Was very thankful for the help from Sea Tow and also felt very ashamed of my decision to even think about going out there. Had communication with Coast Gaurd as well, and kept them updated on our status. Also has satellite phone handy but that wasn’t going to save us this trip. Ive had nothing but good luck going in and out of packery so far on calm days, and thought this time would be no different. I shutter to think what could have happened if my boat flipped in the channel near all those rocks in that turbulent water with my son on board. For those of you that have been thru some stuff, what advice would you give someone on getting through situations like that safely? Never again will I trust a weather report, or make such a stupid decision with so much on the line.
SKIPJACKSLAYER
Packery jetties
Many of us have made similar decisions and have faced situations that could have turned deadly with just a slight additional error. You were wise to call for help. I'm thankful you and your son are safe, and will rethink the next time I head out to the big waters in my 17'skiff.
Many of us have made similar decisions and have faced situations that could have turned deadly with just a slight additional error. You were wise to call for help. I'm thankful you and your son are safe, and will rethink the next time I head out to the big waters in my 17'skiff.
Having been there and done that several times at the mouth of the Brazos I know exactly how you feel.
Getting in is always easier than getting out. You can usually time the waves and ride the trough in and breathe a sigh of relief in the calmer waters.
A strong outgoing tide when mixed with the incoming swell from the surf can get scary even on a day that otherwise would be very manageable. Live and learn. Weather forecasting is essentially predicting the future and nowadays before I stick my neck out I make a go/no go decision well inside and I do not go unless it is a "bluebird" day out there.
Getting in is always easier than getting out. You can usually time the waves and ride the trough in and breathe a sigh of relief in the calmer waters.
A strong outgoing tide when mixed with the incoming swell from the surf can get scary even on a day that otherwise would be very manageable. Live and learn. Weather forecasting is essentially predicting the future and nowadays before I stick my neck out I make a go/no go decision well inside and I do not go unless it is a "bluebird" day out there.
The first thing that you learn in flight school is that takeoffs are optional. I try to use the same rule in going out in the boat. I've also had bad weather between me and the ramp on a return. Glad that you and your son are ok.
When I lived in corpus I would frequently walk those jetties with a spoon. My favorite spot was the mess where the breakers hit the outgoing tide.
I’ve seen a lot of boats freak out right there. The craziest was a pontoon not. He basically lost everything on his boat except the folks on it.
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I’ve seen a lot of boats freak out right there. The craziest was a pontoon not. He basically lost everything on his boat except the folks on it.
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I always check when the tides are supposed to be running through there and try to plan accordingly. Sometimes you cant avoid a ripping tide. The standing waves can swallow a boat.
Experience is one of the only ways to learn how to make it safely or know when to pull the plug.
Another thing that's helpful is to adjust trim and slow down coming in or going out. Stay under power but try amd time it to make a safe way.
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Experience is one of the only ways to learn how to make it safely or know when to pull the plug.
Another thing that's helpful is to adjust trim and slow down coming in or going out. Stay under power but try amd time it to make a safe way.
Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
surf conditions were listed as "red flag" yesterday morning... not sure where you saw .7 seas.
the county puts green/yellow/red flags indicating surf conditions every day.
the county puts green/yellow/red flags indicating surf conditions every day.
I have done the same thing going out packery in my 18’ kenner. Once you get to a certain point you have to push through. Turning around in the break is not an option. Luckily the time I made that mistake once I got through another boat was coming in and I was able to get in right behind them and follow them in as they broke the waves down for me. Glad y’all made it in safe.
Ok so maybe we talk some not so good scenarios here. Say the boat does flip, what happens next? With all that tide going out but waves crashing in, do we get stuck in those rollers? Sucked under? Banged against the rocks? Or swept out to sea? What if my son were to fall out in that mess where turning around and scooping him up was out of the question? How would I save him? A lot of scary thoughts went through my mind after it was all said and done, and made me really question myself and different outcomes Water at 63 degrees so freezing wouldn’t happen, but the immediate dangers were severe. Really beating myself up as a father and my sons protector right now and I want to learn as much as I can from this experience. I really appreciate everyone’s input.
That area at the end of the jetties is the worst of a few places in Packary for shoaling ... and we've recently been having really low, low tides that exacerbates the problem ... the water there is pretty shallow ... this only happened rarely before Harvey but the city is not too keen on spending money on the island or Packary for dredging the sand that's accumulated around the mouth of the channel ... most of the sand in Packary used to be the beach on the south side of the channel ... (gets blown in there 24/7) ... glad you and your boy made it through ok ...
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Glad y'all made it back safe and you're learning from it since you're talking about it. Not familiar with that site but I wouldn't use it anymore. I looked a couple of days ago and on Windfinder and there wasn't anything under 3's & 4's. I've found this site to be the most consistant and not under estimate the waves. https://www.windfinder.com/forecast/mustang_island_access_rd_no_2
But as you said don't bank on the forecast. Lay eyes on it first.
But as you said don't bank on the forecast. Lay eyes on it first.
Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from poor judgment.
Glad it turned out ok.
Experience comes from poor judgment.
Glad it turned out ok.
Packery Channel
Glad you made it. I have tried to use swellinfo.com since June and every darned time I try to get on the site it is down. Do not know what the heck I am going wrong but no one on Corpus Fishing has been able to give me any additional info on what used to be a top notch site.
Glad you made it. I have tried to use swellinfo.com since June and every darned time I try to get on the site it is down. Do not know what the heck I am going wrong but no one on Corpus Fishing has been able to give me any additional info on what used to be a top notch site.
Glad you’re okay. I always drive out and visually confirm conditions at packery if I have any notion of going outside in a bayboat and confirm wind and tides favorable. Around here actual conditions are almost always less favorable than forecast.
Good job dad by calling and asking for help when you’re beyond your skill sets.
Recommend making sure your son learns that lesson, it will also serve him well.
Recommend making sure your son learns that lesson, it will also serve him well.
They had a video clip and a small story on the news of the sea tow boat coming out of packery on their way to help us. You can see it on this link. That 2nd wave they hit hard is the one that almost tossed my boat. Apparently they did 3 rescues within a 24 hour period. I’m not embarrassed about it as I don’t have that kind of ego. I am ashamed though bc I put my son in danger. Using it as a learning experience. Thanks to everyone for your input
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ki...cuers-reports-all-parties-are-now-safe/503-e9cd31a3-52a1-4f1d-9b67-d3a3b619f922
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ki...cuers-reports-all-parties-are-now-safe/503-e9cd31a3-52a1-4f1d-9b67-d3a3b619f922
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