Couple dies off Bodega Bay after boat capsized

<p>A couple attempting to harvest crabs near Bodega Bay died Thursday after their 20-foot wooden boat apparently capsized in swells just offshore South Salmon Creek Beach, the Coast Guard said.</p><p>Their identities are being withheld while the Sonoma County coroner tries to locate the next of kin.</p><p>The body of an elderly man was found after it washed ashore at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Jeremy Pichette said. At the same time, the Coast Guard received a report that a small boat was reported overdue, Pichette said.</p><p>The boat was a 20-foot wooden hull craft that had been trailered to the coast and launched in seas that were running with swells of 10 to 15 feet.</p><p>The couple apparently went out at 6:30 a.m. to place crab pots, according to the Coast Guard.</p><p>The body of a woman was recovered around 4:15 p.m. after being spotted by a Coast Guard helicopter crew, along with pieces of the boat.</p><p>Pichette didn’t directly blame the couple for going out with the swells that large, but did acknowledge it may have been unsafe.</p><p>Neither was wearing a life jacket.</p><p>“It’s an unfortunate case and we don’t truly know what caused the incident and what occurred,” Pichette said. “If you take even the most experienced mariner and he takes out a vessel not equipped to handle those sea conditions, it is not recommended to test the limits of the vessel.”</p><p>The Coast Guard issued warnings for sea conditions that were expected to remain rough Saturday and Sunday, with swells of 14 to 18 feet.</p><p>“If there is no need to go out in the water, don’t go out,” Pichette said. “Any beachgoers or person viewing the surf from the shoreline or cliff face or rocks needs to be careful. The larger waves can crawl up the beach and you can be swept away unexpectedly.”</p>