FWC: Fisherman Killed In Boating Accident in Jacksonville - Dixie Mama

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Jacksonville man died in a boating accident Sunday, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Fishermen near Clapboard Creek Bridge off the St. Johns River found Fred Francis Odom, 57. The fishermen called 911, and the victim’s body was recovered by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, which had the first crew at the scene. Odom reportedly was attempting to secure his commercial fishing vessel, a 1967 31-foot Sea Skiff named “Dixie Mama,” which had broken free from its anchor. According to FWC investigator Kevin Larson, an 8-foot dinghy was found adrift nearby. “It appears that this tragedy was an accidental drowning and emphasizes the importance of wearing a life jacket when on the water,” Larson said. Odom was not wearing a life jacket, according to FWC. FWC continues to investigate the accident.