Report Boats in Distress

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Upper Bay
Location: below the Susquehanna Flats

My uncle started out around 6 AM this past Saturday to fish below the Susquehanna Flats. As we approached our fishing spot I noticed a boat looked to have beaten us there. As we got closer I noticed the boat had a mast and as I motored up to the sailboat my fears were confirmed. A sailor had become stuck on a rock jetty. We tried to pull him off but the sail boat did not budge. It was high tide and we informed the sailor that he was on huge rocks and boulders, not sand. He indicated he had been stuck for the night and was going to wait until the next high tide (2 AM according to him). We encouraged him to call a tow company given his keel was likely stuck between rocks and it was already a high tide. We fished the area for about 2 hours and no tow boat showed. I had a bad feeling he was going to wait for the tide.

By the time we left the approximately 30 foot sailboat was a foot out of water with the bow curve showing as well as half the rudder. It was not listing which, to me, indicated the keel was stuck between two rocks.

In hindsight I wish I would have called DNR police just to alert them to the situation but they cannot force the sailor to call a tow, could they? I also felt at the time since he was not signaling distress I would be overstepping calling DNR. Hindsight says I should have called DNR because I felt the sailor may have been unaware of the seriousness of his situation.

As for the fishing, my uncle caught a 20.5 inch rockfish. At Sandy Point there were hundreds of very small (5 inch) rockfish feeding off the top water which was nice to see. I caught at small bass in the Susquehanna River. There were areas of the flats and river that were clear to the bottom. Other areas were chocolate milk. Not a lot of action but always good to be on the water.

DNR Response: Thank you for your report and as you surmized - always report boats in distress, the Natural Resource Police will decide whether or not it's necessary to intervene. Here's the Chesapeake Bay hotline to call along with situations to report:
Call 1-877-224-7229 to report any of the following:

Boating accident or reckless activity
Fish kill or algal bloom
Floating debris that poses a hazard to navigation
Illegal fishing activity
Public sewer leak or overflow
Oil or hazardous material spill
Critical area or wetlands violation
Suspicious or unusual activity