boat fishing trips littlehampton

Starfish Charter Fishing

Come Fish with Us On One of Our Fully Equipped, Skippered Charter Vessels sailing from Littlehampton, West Sussex.

Experienced or Beginner - Come and Fish

Whether part of an experienced team or trying your hand at fishing for the first time, we offer a relaxed and enjoyable day out. Our vessels are fully equipped and, most importantly, skippered by experienced fishermen who have worked boats for decades and acquired a wealth of local knowledge.

How We Can Help

FISHING MADE EASY

We are happy to help with your fishing trip planning.  We can book local hotels, advise on travel connections, even provide a complete weekend package if required.   Our boats are moored beside plentiful free car parking on a secure site, which also includes a cafe and toilet facilities.

Dawn to Dusk trips

Simply love fishing?  Try a dawn till dusk trip, complete with onboard catering.  It may not be gourmet but the fishing will keep you entertained, as will the skipper with his wealth of local knowledge.

Corporate Days Out

Provide an unforgettable day for your home team or customers, starting with hospitality as soon as they arrive.  We will listen to your requirements and our skipper will work with you to ensure it is a great experience for all.

Inter-boat Competitions

Spread out between two boats and create your own competition!  We get involved in local competition events and happily take individuals participating in regional competitions.  Whatever the occasion, win a Starfish cup by being the luckiest fisherman on board.

Littlehampton Marina Ferry Road Littlehampton West Sussex BN17 5DS

[email protected]

01243 830456 or 07944 214826

Thanks for submitting!

Sea Fishing Trips

We specialise in deep sea fishing trips on She Likes It II. My home port is Shoreham Harbour in Brighton. Or to be precise, “ Hove Actually “. Fishing trips made up with individual anglers are called an “Individuals Day”. When chartered by one party that is called a “Whole boat booking”. If you are looking to go Fishing in Sussex — look no further than Sussex Fishing .

If you are an experienced angler, or just beginning with this sport you are welcome aboard. Anglers of all levels of experience can come fishing afloat. If you require some help or tuition, this is freely given. If you require a rod and reel I can hire this out to you for a small charge. Tackle and bait can be purchased from the Lagoon Bait and Tackle Shop which is a five minute walk or one minute car ride away.  Or, alternatively I do stock frozen bait in the freezer which is right next to the boat and a selection of fishing tackle that I can sell.

Deep Sea fishing trips – Spring to Autumn – On the ground

Depending on the ground fished and time of year you can catch the following: Bass, Bream, Smoothhound, Spur Dog, Tope, Bull Huss, Plaice, Dab, Ray’s, Garfish, Mackerel and even Conger on the ground and reefs from Brighton to Littlehampton.

Winter Cod Fishing

Then you sit back with a hot drink wrapped up to keep the cold out, listening to the radio and chatting with your fellow anglers, waiting patiently for the tell tail gentle nod of the rod tip.

Deep Sea fishing trips – Winter to late Summer – Wrecking

Typical species caught on the wrecks are predominantly Pollock and Cod with Bass and Ling to a lesser degree. In the winter and through to the summer we usually fish on the drift over the wrecks with lures. From July / August time I also start fishing (Tide dependant) the wrecks at anchor. The greater variety of fish caught at anchor include Cod, Ling, Conger, Bream and several others including the obligatory Pout Whiting.

When anchoring the wrecks with a large bait for Cod, Ling or Conger. Although a general purpose 20-30lb class setup will suffice, it might pay to up size to a 50lb class rod with a larger reel loaded with braid. A braid fishing line is far superior when fishing the wrecks like this. Also it will be easier on the angler when cranking his or her gear up from 200ft

Sussex Fishing

Our main aim, is that for everyone who comes on one of our deep sea fishing trips and is a guest of Sussex Fishing. That he or she  will have a safe, enjoyable, productive day out on the water and then go home with some fish for the table. Regardless of your experience, we will do our best to ensure you have an excellent day out.

Keeping Your Catch

You can keep what you catch so long as it is above the minimum landing size and it is not a protected species. The following link opens a new window on the Angling Trust website minimum landing size . Please note. It is illegal for fish to be sold on.

Sussex Fishing Loyalty Card

I have a loyalty card scheme that has become very popular with my regular customers

If you come on 10 trips, the 11th will be FREE to the value of the current weekday ground / reef fishing trip.

Loyalty Card Terms and conditions Maximum of two Loyalty Cards can/will be redeemed in any one trip.

Offer only valid on trips at non discounted rates.

Charges will be at current rates and subject to change.

Non Transferable.

A completed Loyalty Card must be presented.

More Information

Charter boats uk.

View Catch Photos

Rok Max Sports Fishing Fishing is Rok Max’s passion, and like you guys they regard any fishing trip as a great adventure. Allan and Duncan are here to help you plan your trip, select the correct tackle and even advise on the best tactics. Rok Max offer a huge range for boat fishing, shark fishing, big game fishing and saltwater fly fishing plus a range of clothing and sunglasses. Browse their website at www.rokmax.com

She Likes It II Moored at Hove Enterprise Centre Shoreham, BN41 1UY

Contact Us:

Mobile. 07754 324270

Email. [email protected]

Terms & Conditions

Dates with spaces available

©2023 Sussex Fishing. All Rights Reserved

Telephone (24/7): 01903 721 215 VHF (office hours only): Channel 71 email: [email protected]

Open hours: 10:00 – 16:00 Mon to Fri Weekend Office Opening: April to Sept

Onshore recreational angling occurs all along the Sussex coastline; piers, marinas and harbour walls are particularly important for anglers throughout the year. The open beaches and the many closed bays and estuaries are also significant areas for recreational sea anglers.

The diversity of the nearshore habitats produces a diverse range of fish species. Offshore the Sussex District contains ‘marks’ that are nationally recognised as offering a unique angling experience. These include, but are not limited to, an area known as ‘Utopia’; famed for tope fishing; ‘The Overfalls’ (just outside the 6 miles limit) popular for bass angling (both of these sites are in the eastern Solent) and a bream nesting area near ‘Kingmere’ offshore from Littlehampton.

Angling as well as crabbing is not prohibited within the river however it is requested that lines are kept well clear of mooring and underway vessels. This can be particularly dangerous in the narrows between the piers (by day or night) due to the fast tides affecting maneuverability so be especially aware of boats and bring in your lines to the edge of the channel. RNLI lifeboats departing at speed including in darkness are especially at risk here.

Do you need a license?  It depends exactly where and which species you are targetting. Licenses are required when fishing non-tidal freshwater rivers or when targetting freshwater species (e.g. coarse fish, eels, salmon or sea trout) in tidal rivers/estuaries including the Arun or 6 miles out to sea. If you are fishing on the Arun for sea fish (e.g. bass, flounder, mullet) then there is no need for a license.

Inland rod fishing licenses can be bought from the Environment Agency here .

Littlehampton is home to many resident charter angling boats, for a list  click here .  Littlehampton and District Angling Club   has a club house next to the Lifeboat Station on Fisherman’s Quay.  West Sussex Sea Angling Club   also offer club trips from their vessels in Littlehampton. There are various well stocked Angling shops in the area including  Littlehampton Angling .

More information on recreational angling can be found on the  Sussex Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (Sussex IFCA)’s website .

About Aquanaut Dive Charters

• Modern 9.5 metre Offshore Procharter powered by a 315HP Yanmar engine.
• Moored at Littlehampton marina.
• Fully equipped for diving or angling charters.
• Sea toilet (opening to deck).
• Inside dry area including seating.
• Water boiler & microwave - free tea & coffee!
• Diving kitting up benches.
• Side diver lift.
• Fishing tackle (for hire).
• Comprehensive wreck database.

License, insurance & safety

• MCA/COP category 2 60 mile license for 8 divers and 2 crew (6-7 divers if using twin sets/stages) or 10 anglers and 2 crew - 900kg.
• Safety gear and insurance is provided.
• Divers are on their own risk in the water.
• Oxygen medical therapy kit onboard.

The skipper

• RYA offshore 60 mile license with commercial endorsement.
• Advanced Trimix (open and closed circuit).
• BSAC dive leader.
• Gas blender.
• Experienced ground/wreck angler.
• Novice to technical abilities catered for.
• All wreck and ground angling catered for.

Availability

•             Home

• The Skipper
• Skippers Blog

Contact Details

Recent posts.

• Weymouth Gallery 2022
• Weymouth Gallery 2021
• Weymouth Gallery 2014-17
• Fishing News 13/08/12
• Fishing news 07/08/12

Availability Calendar

Charter Boats UK

Charter boats: littlehampton.

Upcoming trips in Littlehampton

2 lb 8 oz Black Sea Bream

2 lb Black Sea Bream

1 oz Black Sea Bream

1 lb 12 oz Black Sea Bream

1 lb 8 oz Black Sea Bream

12 lb Pollock

14 lb Pollock

13 lb Pollock

8 lb Ballan Wrasse

10 lb Pollock

Bait & tackle.

• Littlehampton angling Littlehampton, West Sussex, South East, England
• The tackle warehouse ltd Crawley, West Sussex, South East, England
• southern angling specialist (SAS) Chichester, West Sussex, South East, England
• Hook A Fish Littlehampton, West Sussex, South East, England
• Ken Dunman Tackle Shop Worthing, West Sussex, South East, England
• Tropicana Littlehampton, West Sussex, South East, England

LINKS FOR SKIPPERS

All website content and designs Copyright © 2001 - 2024 Shore Creative Ltd and its associated authors. All Rights Reserved.

Shore Creative Ltd takes any violations of its proprietary rights, particularly copyrights, very seriously and will enforce its rights to the full extent of the law.

No information on this site is guaranteed. Use is at your own risk. If you log on to or use any part of this website you agree to the Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy .

Find your Harbour

Members' area., other pages, your account, the visitmyharbour business directory, lynander charter boat, contact details, business categories, harbours and regions.

Back on the Water – The Spirit of Bass Lure Fishing

After a long winter, we finally got onto our first boat fishing trip of the year. The chosen boat, the ever reliable Spirit of Arun, skippered by Martin Donald out of Littlehampton. I’ve fished with skipper Martin for almost six years now, on both the new boat and his previous boat, and he’s given me some of the best fishing of my life.

The trip itself was organised by another one of my angling mates, David Taylor. You may have heard David on the Fin and Tide Podcast, he’s an absolute gent of a man and someone you listen to closely when he talks about fishing and life in general.

We also had Tronixpro Brand Ambassador, Daryl Garrett join us, this would be his first introduction to vertical fishing for bass. Daryl is no stranger to a fish or two, you only have to follow his socials or our Tronixpro social media ( Facebook | Instagram ) to see he’s one of the most consistent anglers around. Daryl loves to try new types of angling, and it didn’t take him long to get the feel for it.

Also joining us on this roll call of bass nuts and top blokes was Damo. Last time I saw Damo I was in a poor state after my birthday trip last year! With Damo was Jake, completing the Cornish contingent, they’re both super keen and mega accomplished lads who travel anywhere for a beer and some fish.

Finally, providing some incredible stories and laughs was Dan. One half of Fin and Tide. Stuntman extraordinary (no, he really is), he’s a top guy, a quality angler and no slouch with a camera and a video edit!

We arrived at the marina for an 8:45am cast off. Daz and I were the last to arrive after spending too long in the snack aisle of Tesco, en route! The other boys were already suited and booted, ready to hit the offshore banks and reefs when we arrived.

It was good to catch up with old friends, bid farewell to winter and exit the river over the shallow bar into the blue yonder. The sun was beating down, the sea was flat, and the vibes were absolutely excellent.

After a steam out to the first mark, during which lure selection was discussed, braid was respooled, leaders tied, checked and then double-checked! Finally, we arrived at the first mark and I had that feeling of anticipation running like electricity through me, as I checked and checked my leader knot again before clipping on a shad.

Daryl and I both setup with an HTO Nebula SP 8ft 2in . These rods have been around for a while now and are hard to top in this price bracket. With a maximum vertical rating of up to 160g, but with a tip soft enough to feel a bite or the bottom in 200ft. If you’re thinking of spending any time seriously fishing from a boat with weighted soft plastics, then this should be on the list of rods to consider. I have to say, for under a £200, it will be a short list and this should be right at the top.

I’d also brought along my new 5-22g HTO Nebula too, which I planned to use over slack tide. More on that later…

The general idea for this type of lure fishing is that the skipper sets us up in line with the feature, be it reef, wreck or bank – the common theme being a change in depth over a fairly short distance. This creates disturbance in the water, giving the bass an advantage over its prey of small fish such as sprats, sandeels, pout and mackerel.

Dropping the lures to the bottom, we then move along, lift the rod tips and the lures, then lower the lures back to the sea bed on a tight line, expecting bites to come on the drop. You’ll need to take in line as you lift as the water shallows over the feature. If you don’t, you’ll leave your lure behind you and probably snag the bottom, or, not be fish effectively.

Fish will usually come towards the top of the bank or reef. On this first drift, that’s precisely what happened, before we got over the top of the bank and through the white waves of the crease on the surface, the lads were on the fish!

A steady flow of fish followed on this mark, a combination of top skippering and top-notch angling saw us steadily land more than the commercial boats around us. With fish in the 3 to 5lb bracket giving us all the run around to a variety of different lures with weights between 50g and 90g.

Maximising the “hang time” of the lure on the drop can be key, so we were constantly looking to scale down where possible as the flooding tide eased.

As the tide eased, a couple of better fish appeared, with Daryl into a solid fish and Dave, doing Dave things by nabbing the best fish of the day, somewhere around the 9lb mark.

My best fish of the day came around the same time, it was nice to grab a pic with her before letting her wave goodbye as I returned her to the water. I’m crossing my fingers for some good bass karma for the coming season.

With the tide easing further, I changed to the 5-22g Nebula. Having already fallen in love with this rod for weightless work from the shore, I’m confident I can fish vertically with some care and attention with twice the casting rating of most rods. It's important to note that I can’t recommend you do the same, just in case!

If you decide for yourself to scale down where possible, you’ll be smiling as much as I was because 40g lures were sent down and after some careful persuasion, a bass of 3lbs was coaxed up to the net. A big fish would be some serious fun, mind! It was a brilliant bit of excitement for half an hour before the tide was completely lost.

The afternoon's fishing was more challenging, probably due to the May rot which hasn’t checked the calendar and arrived early. The ebb consisted of Martin running around for miles. Trying his hardest, as always, to get us on some more fish. We did find some on a few marks through the afternoon, enjoying the April sunshine throughout, along with the company of likeminded lads afloat. Living our best lives, I guess.

The steam in led us directly to the nearby pub, where, with a ferry to catch, we nailed a pint, wished the boys every success for the following day and headed off to catch the boat. All in all, it was a cracking day and one I can’t wait to repeat.

Has the season started? It certainly feels like it to me, bass, blue skies, sunshine, happy days.

Be lucky – Rhys.

About the author

JOIN TRONIX BITE

Sign up to receive news of our latest product releases, latest articles from our prostaff, exclusive competitions and top tips on sea and lure fishing.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

We do not spam. Please visit our Privacy Policy for more details.

GDPR & Privacy

Privacy overview.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No description

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Fishing trips and charters to take on Long Island

Captain Patrick GIllen casts off the bow lines as he prepares to sail his 82ft fishing party boat the "Capt. Gillen." Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

Long Island's open fishing boats have all you need — bait and tackle — for a half- or full-day trip out on the water. They'll clean your catch, too. 

Captain Lou charter boat in Freeport. Credit: Amy Onorato

ANGLER FLEET , 405 Main St., Port Washington, 718-659-8181, theangler.com   Season April-Dec. Offering open boat family-friendly fishing trips and cruises. Private charter, full-day, half-day and night fishing for all species in season. Private charter party and sunset cruises upon request. Free parking.  Capacity  1 to 85.

CAPTAIN LOU FLEET , 31 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport, 516-623-5823, captloufleet.com Season year-round. Offering bay and ocean fishing, half-day fishing daily, 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m., for fluke; bait and tackle included; scenic and sunset cruises; private parties and charters.  Capacity 149.

SUPER HAWK , East Marina, Point Lookout, 516-607-3004, superhawkfishing.com Season year-round. Offering half-day fishing daily, departs 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.; sunset and moonlight cruises by request. Capacity 100.

The Captree Princess fishing boat comes in at Captree State Park. Credit: Corey Sipkin

CAPT. GILLEN , Captree State Park Boat Basin, Babylon, 631-586-5511, captreefishing.com Season  May-Nov. Offering fishing daily on the bay and ocean. Weekend bay cruises, Jul.-Aug., Fri-Sun., 8 p.m.  Capacity 125. 

Get ready for the weekend with our picks on where to shop, dine and have fun on Long Island.

By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy .

CAPT. WHITTAKER , Captree State Park Boat Basin, Babylon, 631-587-7087, captwhittaker.com   Season May-Oct. Offering bay and inlet fishing, half-day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.; bait and rods included. Family-friendly. Capacity 85.

CAPTREE PRIDE , Captree State Park, Babylon, 631-848-9857, captreepride.com Season April-Dec.  Offering sails daily, 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1-5:30 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.; rods and tackle included. Private charter and sunset cruises upon request.  Capacity 150.

CAPTREE PRINCESS , Captree State Park, Babylon, 631-404-6817, captreeprincess.com Season year-round. Offering open inshore and deep-sea fishing. Sunset and firework cruises (June-Aug.).  Capacity 150.

CELTIC GRACE/QUEST IV , Port Jefferson Harbor, Port Jefferson, 631-928-3926, celticquestfishing.com Season May-Nov.  Offering Long Island Sound fishing; full-day, half-day and evening trips. Capacity  110-125.

EBB TIDE II , Salivar’s Dock, 470 W. Lake Dr., Montauk, 631-668-2818, ebbtidefishing.com Season  May-Dec.  Offering  full day (8 to 11 hours), half-day (4 hours) and 6-hour trips ; fishing for jumbo fluke, cod, sea bass, blackfish, porgy, striped bass and bluefish. Private charters, sunset fishing and nature cruises available.  Capacity 75. 

FISH ON II , Atlantic Cove Marina, 215 Atlantic Ave., East Moriches, 631-889-5291, fishonfishing.com Season year-round. Offering full- and half-day trips, fishing all species in season; bait and tackle included. Private charters available.  Capacity 90.

FISHFINDER II , Captree State Park Boat Basin, Babylon, 516-287-3704, captreefishfinder.com Season mid-April to mid-Dec. Offering through Sept.: Daily trips, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. for fluke and 5-9 p.m. for striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and fluke; night trips 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Fri.-Sat. for striped bass. Oct.-mid-Dec.: 7-11 a.m. weekends, noon-5 p.m. daily and 7-11 p.m. daily for striped bass and bluefish. Capacity 75.

ISLAND PRINCESS , Captree State Park Boat Basin, Babylon, 631-587-6024, islandprincesscaptree.com   Season April-Nov. Offering day and night fishing: 7-11 a.m. and noon-4 p.m. daily April-Nov.; additional trip, 6-10 p.m. daily, May-Oct. weakfish, bay blues and stripers; rod, bait and tackle included. Private charters on Bay Princess. Capacity 138.

ISLAND SPIRIT ll , Captree State Park, Babylon, 631-404-6817, captreeislandspirit.com   Season May-Nov. Offering  private charters. Sunset and firework cruises. Capacity 125.

ISLAND SPIRIT lll , Captree State Park, Babylon, 631-404-6817, captreeislandspirit.com   Season May-Nov. Offering  private charters. Sunset and firework cruises. Capacity 150.

JAMES JOSEPH II , 84 N. New York Ave., Huntington, 631-651-8235, jamesjosephfishing.com Season mid-April-Dec. Offering fluke fishing, half-day (4-hour) trips. Bluefish and striped bass fishing, 4:30-8:30 p.m. Moonlight and fireworks cruises. Capacity 144.

JIB VI , Captree State Park Boat Basin, Babylon, 516-578-1158, jibvi.com Season April-Nov. Offering bay and ocean fishing, 3 half-day trips daily: 7 a.m.-noon and 1-5:30 p.m. fluke, black fish, sea bass; 7-11 p.m. bay blues, weakfish and striped bass; rod, bait and tackle included. Capacity 77.

A fishing partyboat sails out of Captree Boat Basin in search of fluke. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

LAURA LEE FLEET , Captree State Park Boat Basin, Babylon, 631-661-1867,  captree.com Season  year-round. Offering bay and ocean fishing for fluke, sea bass, stripers, bluefish, codfish, 7 and 8 a.m.; and 1, 2, 6, 7 and 11 p.m.; rod, bait and tackle included. Trips limited to one-third capacity for comfort.  Capacity 90.

LAZY BONES , 474 W. Lake Dr., Montauk Harbor, Montauk, 631-668-5671, lazybonesmontauk.com   Season May-Nov. Offering half-day trips, 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m., in spring and summer for fluke, in fall for striped bass and bluefish. Capacity 35. 

MISS MONTAUK II , Montauk Marine Basin, Montauk, 631-668-1545, missmontauk.com Season  year-round. Offering full-day trips available; summer: fluke fishing; fall: sea bass, porgy, blackfish; winter: cod fishing. Reservations suggested.  Capacity 108.

PECONIC STAR III , Third Street, Greenport, 516-551-4548, 631-522-2002, peconicstarfishing.com Season May-mid-Dec. Offering Full-day trips, 7:30-3:30 p.m.; afternoon charters available, lighthouse tours. Capacity 100. 

PECONIC STAR IV , Third Street, Greenport, 516-551-4548, 631-522-2002, peconicstarfishing.com. Season May-Sept. Offering Half-day trips, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-5:30 p.m. Capacity  90. 

ROSIE , Center Yacht Club, 222 Old Neck Rd., Center Moriches, 631-905-5829, rosiefishing.net   Season  May-Nov. Offering 4- and 8-hour excursions, parking, bait, rods and reels included; private and six-pack charters available. Capacity 78.

SHINNECOCK STAR , Oakland’s Marina, 365 Dune Rd., Hampton Bays, 631-728-4563, shinnecockstar.com   Season year-round. Offering bay or ocean fishing; tackle and bait included; reservations required. Capacity 30.

VIKING FLEET , Viking Dock, 462 W. Lake Dr., Montauk., 631-668-5700,  vikingfleet.com   Season  year-round. Offering open night, day and offshore fishing (plus charter trips).  Capacity  6-150.

Most Popular

Unlimited Digital Access Only 25¢ for 5 months

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

A broken distress call as waves swamped their boat near Seward, then silence

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

May 30—U.S. Coast Guard officials say they tracked an aluminum boat carrying four people in rough seas miles from Seward for hours before what started as a daylong fishing trip turned into a disaster last week.

The 22-foot Hewescraft was taking on water in Aialik Bay, where the group spent the night in a sheltered cove after dangerous conditions and foul weather prevented them from getting home the day before. Mariners in the area described 10- or 12-foot waves and winds gusting to 30 mph.

The Coast Guard was checking in with the boat every half-hour for five hours with no reports of trouble, a spokesman said this week.

But then, just before 7:45 a.m. last Wednesday, came the broken radio transmission with "need help" as the only words watchstanders could make out, according to Lt. Cmdr. Mike Salerno, spokesman for the 17th Coast Guard District.

A Coast Guard helicopter that launched from Kodiak arrived just over two hours later, Salerno said.

By then, the boat had capsized near the mouth of Aialik Bay, leaving one man dead and three others missing.

The body of Soldotna resident Hayden Green, 29, was recovered by a tour boat about three hours after the distress call went out, authorities have said. The helicopter crew spotted the vessel and asked the Major Marine Tours catamaran carrying 80 passengers to bring Green's body to shore before diverting to Seward to refuel, officials said.

Troopers identified the three missing as Joshua Green, 60, of Seward; his son Caleb Green, 29, of Anchorage; and Melanie Porter, 60, of Seward. Hayden Green was Josh Green's nephew.

Concerns surface about Coast Guard future

Local officials say the incident reflects the potential for trouble in a community that attracts scores of visitors to its waters every summer, especially given questions surrounding the future of the Cutter Mustang, the Coast Guard vessel home-ported in the city since 1986.

Bob Barnwell, a Seward City Council member and experienced mariner, said that conversations with officials in Washington, D.C., have indicated Seward could go without a home-ported vessel for several years.

"They have no idea what boating in Gulf of Alaska is like," he said. "I just think having a boat in proximity to this area is fundamentally important. They said the helicopter out of Kodiak is available."

The 110-foot patrol vessel responds to rescues as well as fuel spills and other calls.

Asked why the Mustang didn't respond to last week's incident, Salerno said Coast Guard patrol boats rotate between scheduled operational periods, maintenance periods, and "ready" status. In this case, the Cutter Naushon home-ported in Homer was the "ready" cutter and was sent to the search area, he said.

The Coast Guard plans to decommission the Mustang and replace it, officials said, though they could not provide a timeline.

Salerno said this week that he has no specifics on decommissioning plans. The agency is modernizing and replacing the aging patrol boats with 154-foot fast cutters, he said.

Local officials say they've heard different updates from Coast Guard and other federal officials.

Losing a local Coast Guard vessel, even for a short amount of time, is concerning, said Kat Sorensen, Seward's city manager. Without a cutter physically based in Seward, residents and visitors would need to always rely on helicopters and vessels based in other coastal communities like Kodiak or Homer.

"I definitely think it is a concern for a community that spends so much time on the water and has so many people from all across the world coming up to spend time on the water," Sorensen said. "We are, as a community, grateful and happy with the Coast Guard presence we have in Seward."

Check-ins every 30 minutes before final call

Josh Green's brother this week said he and his brother shared the 22-foot Ocean Pro that went down at the mouth of Aialik Bay.

The Green family moved to Alaska in 1974. Josh Green and his siblings graduated from Anchorage's East High School. Green retired as an Anchorage School District administrator but was teaching special education students in Seward, his brother Tim said.

Former wrestlers at Bartlett High School described Josh Green as a beloved coach who reached hundreds of young people. A GoFundMe established to help Green's widow had raised more than $11,000 by Thursday.

The group was probably fishing for halibut and rockfish, maybe trolling for feeder kings, Tim Green said this week. His brother had just met Porter through a mutual landlord, he said: "Like he did with many people, even strangers, he invited her fishing."

Coast Guard officials say they were alerted to a potential problem by a family member. Hayden Green's fiance realized the boat was overdue and reached out to his father, who called the Coast Guard, according to Tim Green.

The Coast Guard "immediately began trying to locate the vessel," Salerno wrote in an email this week. They made radio contact just after 2 a.m. Wednesday "and confirmed the vessel and four passengers were not in distress and not requesting any assistance. At this time the Coast Guard maintained radio contact with the vessel every 30 minutes while they awaited favorable weather to transit back to Seward."

The last clear message the Coast Guard received from the boat came at 7:10 a.m. Wednesday, Salerno said: There had been no changes and the boat was safely anchored.

Tim Green said that's when his brother told them that he had motored out to test the conditions but it was still rough. Then he missed the next radio check-in.

The distress call came at 7:43 a.m., according to the Coast Guard.

Another mariner in the area last week told Tim Green he saw more logs than he's ever seen. Green said it's possible the boat hit a log that sheared off the propeller, cutting the power and leaving the boat at the mercy of the waves.

He said he's spent 40 years going in and out of Seward to hunt and fish and his brother was well aware of taking personal responsibility for safety.

But, Green said, he's also personally witnessed the vital role the Coast Guard plays. Some years ago, he watched the agency rescue hypothermic sailors near Seward within an hour of a call for help.

"That's something they wouldn't have been able to do out of Homer," he said.

Recommended Stories

'made my daily commute safer': this top-selling phone mount is key for road trips, and it's down to $11.

This easy-to-use gizmo can be installed in three different spots, and it doesn't slip around, shoppers say.

These 9 swim dresses are floating shoppers' boats — all under $40

Prepare to be swimming in compliments thanks to these curve-hugging, feminine and slimming styles.

Jennifer Lopez cancels summer tour amid rumors of Ben Affleck marital strain: 'I am completely heartsick'

Jennifer Lopez has called off her "This Is Me … Live Tour," calling the last-minute decision "absolutely necessary."

'Better in every regard': Fans prefer these Tozo headphones to Sonys — now 30% off

These cans cancel everything from office noise to the rumble of a subway and have a bonkers 60 hours of playback time.

DJT stock drops 5% one day after Trump conviction

Shares in Donald Trump's social media company have been on a wild ride after the former president was convicted on all counts in his hush money trial.

These aromatherapy steamers turn your shower into a spa — and they're on sale for just $2 a pop

Unwind with mess-free scented tablets that last up to 30 minutes each: 'They smell heavenly.'

Amazon Prime Day 2024: Everything we know, including deals you can shop now

Prime Day is confirmed to be kicking off sometime in July. Here's all the info we have, along with super deals you can shop early.

The Tribeca Film Festival will debut a bunch of short films made by AI

The Tribeca Film Festival will debut a bunch of short films made by AI. They are being made using OpenAI’s Sora model.

How to pack like a pro: Travel experts share their tips for making the process less overwhelming

Bring more tops, roll instead of fold and more expert packing hacks for your next trip.

What went wrong with Google's new AI search feature — and what the company is doing to try to fix it

Google's new AI search feature was bound to have its issues. Now, after weeks of jokes and memes on social media, the tech giant is responding.

This week in Bidenomics: Something bigger than 'Bidenflation'

Donald Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts might finally distract voters from thinking about what they don't like about Joe Biden.

How to get a car loan

The five steps you need to take in order to finance the purchase of a new car.

Meghan Markle loves this ultra-hydrating moisturizer — get it at a rare discount

Reviewers over 50 say this formula transforms their skin — scoop it up at the lowest price it's been all year.

'My pores appear smaller': This No. 1 bestselling facial steamer is now just $33

31,000+ shoppers swear by it for combatting dry skin, sinus pressure and more.

Trump's legal team plans to appeal his guilty verdict. Here's a timeline of how that could play out.

Hours after a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, his legal team vowed to appeal. Here's a timeline of what that could look like.

20 cult-fave beauty products for head-to-toe gorgeousness — from $5

Shoppers can't stop raving about these affordable anti-wrinkle creams, hair fixes and all-over beautifiers.

The Scorecard: 5 starting pitchers making waves in fantasy baseball

Fantasy baseball analyst Dalton Del Don highlights a quintet of starting pitchers we should focus on a lot more.

What is a digital wallet, and do you need one?

A digital wallet is a mobile app that stores credit and debit card information, as well as other digital documents. Here's how it works.

The 10th-gen Apple iPad hits a low of $300, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

This week's best tech deals include the Apple iPad for $300, the PS5 for $450, a year of Peacock for $20 and several discounts on Sonos speakers.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is $85 off right now

The Apple Watch Ultra 2, our pick for the company's best wearable, is available for $85 off.

1. Manor Valuevo

2. Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin