Pope, the good Lord was watching over you for sure. Your boat circling may have been what saved your life as it attracted another boater.
I fish 75% of the time by myself. Even here in the Florida pahandle the water temps are 41 to 48,depending on the day. I do use an inflatable and wear it when running but don't attach the kill swith. Starting tomorrow morning I will use both appropriately and keep the vest on when running and fishing as well, especially when I'm alone.
I almost fell out of the boat a while back while fishing. Was not wearing the pfd.
Your story got my attention.

Nice looking family.

GLAD YOU ARE OKAY AND NICE FAMILY PHOTO

Thank God your still here to share that story. That should save some people. Glad your OK

You might think about calling one of the news stations to share your story. It might help find the good samaritan and also save another life by increasing awareness of how dangerous fishing can be, especially in the winter.

Thanks for sharing, I feel like a complete fool for not wearing a PFD on my last trip last week.

GREAT IDEA!

Praise God for the Miracle you received! and thanks for your witness and bringing safety to the minds of us all!

I know Im gonna get hammered on this BUT here goes last Feb on Twak I fell out of my boat pullin drift sock in 42deg. water by myself layers of coats bibs and a bunch of laundry big boots no lifejacket NO WAY I COULD SWIM WITH ALL THAT STUFF ON BUT GUESS WHAT I DID right back to the ladder.(honestly there is no logical reason for me gettin out of that water) The one thing I learned out of this is if its not your time its not your time no matter how hard you try if the good LORD dont want ya yet you aint goin nowhere and if ya think a lifejacket or kill switch is gonna save ya when its your time to go sorry but WRONG. Glad it wasnt your time Pope

Pope - first of all, thank God you made it back alive.

Thanks for sharing your story - should be a lesson to all of us to not be so confident that we get careless about doing the things that can save our lives. Just because it's inconvenient, uncomfortable, or a hassle, we sometimes do things that well, for lack of a better word, aren't smart.

I'm really just very thankful that you lived to tell about it

praise the Lord & thanks for sharing

Glad you survived, Brandon. Thanks for sharing this lesson for all of us.

Ive also had the boat take an imediate turn on me when I let go of the steering. Was running t-wok when the icechest lid went flying by me and I tried to catch it. The boat took an immediate right and my body shifted to the left. I should of flew out of the boat, but might center seat is about six inches further forward. My left butt cheek hit that corner and stopped me. When I bought my new to me center console, with the safety steer I thought man every boat should have this safety mechanism. Also you dodged another bullet by the boat not running over you. Yes my cheek had an intense bruise and I could barely stand up but thats nothing compared to what might have happened. This was my third near death exp. on a boat. My other ones included being electricuted, think god the motor died. The other one included a bad storm that almost took my life and my sons. God must love us both

I dont know you, but I sure feel like I do after reading what happened to you. I'm so glad you are OK and it sounds like most of your gear made it back safe too. And don't feel alone, we have all overlooked those "little" safety things more than we would care to own up to. I nearly took my best friend and myself out a couple of years ago in July . It was dark and we were in a hurry with a dying rechargeable spot-light. If I had been alone at the time, I would have been in trouble. Water temp wasn't an immediate factor or neither one of us would have made it. No kill switch and life vests under the front deck. Stupid, stupid, stupid and NEVER again.

Thank you sharing your story,that we all might learn from it....pm sent as well

WoW!!! Glad you made it back to fish another day! I always insist on others to put their lifejacket on when with me. Most will not argue there way out of it. Wjhile it may be more comfortable without, I may hint of their not surviving if down under, for any reason.