Jump from fishing boat off Muir Beach costs man $5,000

A man who jumped off a commercial fishing boat on a dare off the coast of Marin County last week is probably reconsidering his actions after the U.S. Coast Guard issued him a hefty ticket for the offense.

The man, who was not identified, was aboard the charter fishing vessel Bass Tub off of Muir Beach on June 22 when his friends dared him to jump into the frigid waters, a Coast Guard spokesman said.

“Commercial passenger vessel crews are responsible for the safety of all passengers aboard their vessels, and in this case, their attention was diverted away from the safe operation of the vessel when they were forced to retrieve the jumper from the water,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Jumpers are at risk because they could get sucked into the vessel's propellers or drown from the effects of cold water shock, swimming failure and hypothermia.