Driving a boat through a waterspout may not be a great idea...
People put all kinds of things on their bucket lists. Most people put travel destinations, athletic goals, or specific species of animals they want to hunt or catch. Then there are the people who put very strange items on their bucket lists. Things that most people would never think to try on their best day, even if opportunity arises.
The anglers in today's video, fall into the group with stranger bucket list items. These guys are headed out for a day of deep sea fishing in the Florida Keys when they spot a towering waterspout swirling on the surface of the water.
In this instance, most people would steer clear. It is, after all, basically a water version of a tornado. A rather dangerous weather event. However, these guys see the opportunity to do something crazy for the pure thrill of it. Rather than motoring away to the nearest safe harbor, they drive straight at the waterspout and come closer than most people will ever come to this natural phenomenon.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there are two types of waterspouts. The fair weather variety, which is likely what the waterspout in this video was, and the tornadic ones, which are much more dangerous. The difference is that tornadic variety often form in association with accompanying thunderstorms. Like tornadoes, these waterspouts can bring with them lightning, hail, and rain, adding to the danger.
Waterspouts are extremely common in the Florida Keys. Hundreds of these weather formations happen every year down there. The coast guard and weather experts recommend giving a wide berth because larger ones have sunk ships in the past.
This was probably not the smartest thing to do, but they did live through the adventure and have footage to share to prove it. Otherwise, their fishing buddies probably would have passed this off as just another fisherman's tall tale. It appears all their clothing and gear were soaked after this encounter though, but that's just part of the adventure. Although we were left wondering if they were successful in their quest for a swordfish later that day. Because catching one of them would just be the icing on the cake!
For more outdoor content from Travis Smola, be sure to follow him on Twitter and check out his Geocaching and Outdoors with Travis YouTube channels.
NEXT: PETA IS NOW GOING AFTER FISHERMEN
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