That was a close one

[VitaBene]

We were coming back in from Akwa last night in the dark (945 or so). I came through the hole in the wall, got on plane and was headed to the graveyard with FL49 as my marker to keep on my starboard side. I was getting a weird pattern out of the light blink. As I started my turn, suddenly an all white light lit, then was gone near FL49. Lit again- it was a black bass boat that must have pulled up to the buoy to figure out where he was, the light was a flashlight (assuming to see his chart) and he was blocking the blinker from me at times. No running lights, nothing. We yelled over at him to turn his lights on with no good response.

There were other boats in the area and I did not feel it was safe to stop at that intersection. He kept his flashlight on and a few seconds later a center console (I believe) headed up into 19 Mile Bay must have missed the bass boat by a few yards and started yelling at the bass boat. It would have been real ugly.

I am still questioning myself as to whether I should have stopped and directed him.

If you are lost on the lake, please turn your lights on, and don't hang out at a buoy without them. The folks running to the islands can make the runs from the mainland to their island homes in their sleep. They know the buoys and will keep tight to them on the correct side but certainly are expecting an unlit boat to be sitting there. If you need help, ask for it.

Be safe out there.