Tag Archives: Estero Bay
Shipwrecked ‘ghost boat’ looms on SLO County coast. Where did it come from?
Rumors circulate about how the so-called “ghost boat” came to rest off the coast of Estero Bluffs, with some claiming that its owner fell asleep at the helm while returning home from a fishing trip. According to a U.S. Coast Guard incident report, boat owner Jonathan Smith was fishing on July 28, 2017, when his boat drifted too close to the Estero Bay shore. Smith’s deckhand wasn’t feeling well and “went below deck to rest” — leaving Smith to fend for himself, the incident report said. At about 3:45 a.m., the boat’s propeller caught on a crab pot line, so Smith stopped the engine to try to untangle the line, the report said. photos, >click to read< 08:15
Estero Bay captains concerned over slow progress in stranded shrimp boat removal
Almost two months after Hurricane Ian, shrimp boat captains say not much has changed with the mangled mess of boats on Estero Bay. Approximately 50 boats are either lodged ashore or sitting at the bottom of the bay. Almost two weeks ago, a 160-foot crane was brought in to help move the boats and help them float once again. “Nothing is getting done out here. As far as I know, they have the one crane out here. This is the second boat in two weeks,” said shrimp boat Captain Roger Schmall. This week the crane finally began to refloat a second shrimp boat called “Lexi Joe”. Video, >click to read< 16:51
