Northwest Sportsman – August 2019

90 Northwest Sportsman AUGUST 2019 | nwsportsmanmag.com

to tie up until they could reach Jim’s

wife, who retrieved the truck and

trailer in Charleston and brought it

the 50 miles down to Port Orford.

Again, the port doesn’t have a

regular boat launch. Vessels have to

be lifted in and out with a crane. By

the time Jim’s wife arrived, it was dark

and someone lent them some straps to

get their boat out of the water.

For all the effort and terrifying

moments at sea, they were no longer

in possession of the halibut, as the

ice chest with the fish had gone

overboard when the wave had passed

through the boat.

THE OCEAN IS a beautiful place to fish

on a good day. But conditions can

change in a hurry. It is up to the

captain to recognize the changes

and respond based on the kind of

boat and his boating skills. Despite

the conditions, Jim was successful

in getting himself, his crew and his

boat to safety. He eventually got his

boat fixed and had enough wisdom

to never go back to the Bandon High

Spot again with it.

One thing is for certain: If you

survive these kinds of wilderness

experiences, it makes you a whole

bunch smarter. The upside from

the events of this trip was that it

caused the rest of us to put together

ditch bags that included portable

communications, compass, GPS and

flares. You never wish for a day like

Jim had, but if it comes someday, we

hope to be better prepared.

Then, one day the ocean turned

on me, as it can happen with very

little notice. That’s another story to

be told. NS

Editor’s note: Jim Pex is an avid angler

based out of Coos Bay and enjoys fishing for

albacore, salmon and rockfish. He is retired

and was previously CEO of International

Forensic Experts LLC and a lieutenant

with the Oregon State Police at its crime

laboratory. Pex is the author of CSI:

Moments from a Career in Forensic

Science, available through Amazon.

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