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Mullet Fisherman Rescued After Boat Runs Out Of Gas

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2009

ST. PETE BEACH - A fisherman who had loaded too much mullet in his vessel and had run out of gas needed to be rescued Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico, St. Petersburg fire officials said.

The man, whose name was not available, was picked up by the Coast Guard about two miles west of Johns Pass about 6:40 p.m., Lt. Joel Granata of St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue said.

He was still in his 17-foot skiff when he was rescued, said Sandra Kneen, a petty officer with the Coast Guard.

There was another rescue Thursday, when someone was plucked from a boat in the Gulf, Kneen said, but details were not available.

The mullet fisherman had approximately 2,000 pounds of mullet onboard, Granata said. His boat took on water, despite his efforts to bail the water from the vessel, and he couldn't set off his flares because they had become wet, Granata said.

The fisherman then called his wife on his cell phone, Granata said. His wife called 911 and met firefighters on the beach, Granata said.

When he was brought ashore, he was shaken up but not injured, Granata said.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336.

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