1987 — Feb 5, Fishing Vessel Fish-N-Fool (LA, CA) capsizes ~Isla de San Martin, MX– 10

— 10 Los Angeles Times/Gutierrez. “Fish-n-Fool Survivor Tells of Bitter Ordeal…” 3-6-1987.

— 10  USCG.  Marine Casualty Report. Fishing Vessel Fish-N-Fool… Dec. 1987, p. 1.

 

Narrative Information

 

USCG Abstract: “At approximately 1300 on 5 February 1987, the Coast Guard-inspected small passenger vessel FISH-N-FOOL[1] was struck on its starboard side by a large breaking swell[2] near ‘Ben’s Rock,’[3] 2.6 miles south of Isla de San Martin, Mexico.[4] The unexpected swell caused the vessel to broach[5] and capsize.[6] Of the three crew members and nine passengers on board, two survived, two drowned and the remaining eight are missing and presumed dead. One survivor managed to swim to Isla de San Martin and was rescued by local fishermen. The other survivor lashed four lifefloats from the sunken vessel together and activated an electronic position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB). Coast Guard aircraft picked up the EPIRB signal and eventually located the survivor by following its signal.

 

“The Commandant has concurred with the Board that the cause of the casualty was the operator’s positioning of the vessel in close proximity to, and down the swell line from, Ben’s Rock, a charted navigational hazard.”[7] [Abstract, p. 2 of f 33.] ….

 

USCG “Findings of Fact….At about 1830 on 3 February 1987, the FISH-N-FOOL departed H & M Landing, Point Loma, California, on what was to be a four day sportfishing trip. Two licensed ocean operators, one deckhand and nine passengers were onboard. The managing operator listed on the Certificate of Inspection, Gary LaMont, was in control of the vessel’s operation for this voyage. This yellowtail tuna fishing excursion had been arranged by…[blacked-out] a private contractor who had done work on the FISH-N-FOOL for Gary LaMont…. [p. 9 (17 of 33).]

 

“Crewmember [blacked out] reported that prior to the vessel getting underway on 3 February 1987, she announced where the life preservers were located and general safety rules about movement around the vessel. Her briefing did not include instructions on the proper doning of life preservers, the type and location of all lifesaving devices and the location of the emergency checkoff list. Sole surviving passenger [blacked out] reported not hearing any manner of verbal briefing from vessel crewmembers. Although [blacked out] reported that an instructive placard with a portion of the required information was posted, passenger [blacked out] did not recall seeing it, and Coast Guard records did not indicate that such a notice was observed. Investigation also revealed that the emergency checkoff list, required by 46 CFR paragraph 185.25-a(a), had been recently removed due to deterioration. Neither a replacement for this checkoff list, nor a Coast Guard waiver letter, were obtained prior to departure.

 

“A list of persons onboard M/V FISH-N-FOOL was not given to H & M Landing prior to the vessel’s departure. Such a precaution is neither required by current regulation, nor accomplished as a matter of routine within the local industry. This became an issue when Coast Guard shoreside personnel attempted to determine the number and identities of involved persons for critical input into search pattern planning and briefing of responding resources…. [pp. 9-10 (17-18 of 33).]

 

“….In spite of Operator LaMont’s attempt to react at the last moment by turning the bow to starboard, the vessel broached, travelled up the side of the swell, and quickly capsized. The event occurred so rapidly that witnesses reported a total lack of verbal comment or exclamation from those onboard. Passenger [blacked out] was seen diving into the swell from his position outside the galley door. [Blacked out] reported experiencing the sensation of the vessel rolling 360 degrees three times before coming to rest…

 

“Following M/V FISH-N-FOOL capsizing, [blacked out] was momentarily trapped underwater inside the galley. Able to find her way to the galley door for escape, she surfaced near the vessel which was now floating in an inverted position in the turbulence from Ben’s Rock. On the surface near her were [blacked out], motionless and face down in the water, and [blacked out] who was severely injured with a head wound….Operator Gary LaMont was not seen after the capsizing….

 

“Immediately following the incident, [blacked out] reported that…[a] group of eight began to informally assess their options for survival. From their surface perspective, he indicated that the large swells of Ben’s Rock seemed to be separating them from M/V FISH-N-FOOL. Although they could not see the vessel or [blacked out] reported hearing her call for help. With minimal flotsam to cling to, they chose to swim to Isla de San Martin, which was visible on the horizon and approximately 2.6 miles distant. General sea conditions were picking up by this time, eventually reaching six to eight foot swells prior to sunset. [Blacked out] reported that the decision to swim to the Island was made as a group effort, with no single individual assuming a leadership role. Passengers [blacked out] and [blacked out] shared the use of an ice chest for buoyancy, [blacked out] had a piece of plywood and [blacked out] used a Clorox bottle. Passengers [blacked out], and [blacked out] were reported to be swimming unassisted.

 

“Remaining near the vessel, [blacked out] used a fish hatch cover and a 50 gallon water barrel to remain afloat. As she attempted to encourage [blacked out] to hang onto the available hatch, his eyes rolled back and he eventually slipped from view….Within an hour after the capsizing, the inverted vessel shifted and four lifefloats, several life preservers and the EPIRB floated to the surface. [Blacked out] was able to swim to one of the lifefloats, board it, and don a life preserver that was found inside….Lashing all four lifefloats together [blacked out] checked the EPIRB to ensure that it was operating and then secured the device in the center of the floats. At approximately 1600, with the floats still attached to the sinking vessel by the painter,[8] [blacked out] began to sever the line through chewing, eventually completing the task by arduous effort at approximately 1700. At that time, the vessel was observed to be still floating, but with only an estimated six feet of the bow protruding from the water. With nightfall approaching and hypothermia a concern, [blacked out] fashioned an available wood board across the tops of the lifefloats to have a relatively dry platform to sit on.

 

“Within one hour of the time the eight survivors started their swim toward the Island, [blacked out] was heard thrashing in the water at the rear of the group. With everyone essentially spread out at this point, no one was able to reach [blacked out] as he slipped from view. Soon thereafter, [blacked out] was seen thrashing in the water, also slipping from view. Visual contact between swimmers was continually hampered by the height of the increasing swells.

 

“With sunset being at approximately 1720 on 5 February 1987, the group of now six swimmers had come within an estimated 300 yards of Isla de San Martin prior to nightfall. As attempts were made to reach the Island, the group noted that a current close to the land mass was sweeping them away from their goal and towards open water. By this time, darkness had fallen and the swimmers were reportedly experiencing disabilitating [sic] effects from fatigue and hypothermia. [Blacked out] reported that at this point, [blacked out] relinquished his partial use of the ice chest that he had been sharing with [blacked out] to afford the older man a better chance for survival….A short time later [blacked out] reported hearing [blacked out] who had swam ahead, calling for help. Unable to reach him in time, [blacked out] believes [blacked out] drowned moments later.

 

“At about 1930, [blacked out] saw a light on Isla de San Martin and was able to attract the attention of local Mexican fishermen through his cries for help. Responding in their 14 foot smallboat, they rescued [blacked out] shortly thereafter…. [pp. 14-15 (22-23 of 33).]

 

“By 2020 on 5 February 1987, HH65A[9] had arrived on scene and successfully hoisted [blacked out] onboard….” [p. 17 (or 25 of 33).] (USCG. MCR. Fishing Vessel Fish-N-Fool, D.N. 293888, Capsizing and Sinking… Dec 1987.)

 

Newspaper

 

March 6, LA Times: “One of two survivors of the fishing boat accident that killed 10 people off the Baja California coast a month ago told her story to an investigative panel for the first time Thursday. Cathy Compton’s testimony was often emotional, rambling and contradictory, a result, her attorney said, of the trauma of watching her friends drown and her own ordeal of waiting eight hours in the sea before being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

 

“Her testimony is likely to raise more questions about what happened to the Fish-n-Fool in the minutes before and after a 20-foot wave capsized the 57-foot vessel on Feb. 5, about 150 miles southeast of San Diego. Moreover, her testimony will likely renew the criticism of the Coast Guard’s handling of the rescue operation.

 

“Compton’s lawyer, Gary K. Green, admitted that the 38-year-old licensed ship operator had contradicted herself on several issues. He explained that Compton and Jim Sims, 29, a passenger and the only other survivor, have been going through a period of “post-traumatic stress” and may not be able to clearly explain the events surrounding the shipwreck….” (Los Angeles Times (Hector Gutierrez). “Fish-n-Fool Survivor Tells of Bitter Ordeal…” 3-6-1987.)

 

Sources

 

Los Angeles Times (Hector Gutierrez). “Fish-n-Fool Survivor Tells of Bitter Ordeal…” 3-6-1987. Accessed 11-13-2016 at: http://articles.latimes.com/1987-03-06/local/me-4752_1_coast-guard

 

United States Coast Guard, Marine Board of Investigation. Marine Casualty Report. Fishing Vessel Fish-N-Fool, D.N. 293888, Capsizing and Sinking on 5 February 1987 in the Pacific Ocean Approximately 2.6 miles South of Isla de San Martin, Mexico with Multiple Loss of Life and Injuries to Passengers. Washington, DC: Commandant, USCG, December 1987, 33 pages.  Accessed 11-13-2016 at: https://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg545/docs/boards/fishnfool.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] A U.S. national vessel with U.S. passengers on board. (USCG 1987, p. 1.) Notes on p. 2 of the Marine Board of Investigation report to USCG Commandant that vessel was built in 1964 in Wilmington, CA, home-ported out of Los Angeles/Long Beach, hailed out of San Diego for this trip, and was owned by Bernst, Inc, San Diego.

[2] “…reportedly twenty feet high.” (USCG 1987, p. 14 {or 21 of 33}.)

[3] Or, “…‘Roca Ben,’ an awash pinnacle which is occasionally visible…” (USCG 1987, p. 13 of 33.)

[4] “…Isla de San Martin, an island off the Mexican Baja Peninsula, approximately 150 miles south of San Diego.” (USCG 1987, p. 10 {or 18 of 33}.)

[5] Turn broadside to sea waves or swells.

[6] On page 9 it is noted that “The stricken vessel subsequently drifted for at least eight hours before sinking in 180 feet of water…”

[7] On page one it is noted that “The chart is annotated to indicate that occasional breakers occur in this area.”

[8] Rope attached to bow of small boat.

[9] U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter.